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Napoleonic Code

The first modern organized body of law governing France, also known as the Code Napoleon or Code Civil, enacted by Napoléon I in 1804.

In 1800, Napoléon I appointed a commission of four persons to undertake the task of compiling the Napoleonic Code. Their efforts, along with those of J. J. Cambacérès, were instrumental in the preparation of the final draft. The Napoleonic Code assimilated the private law of France, which was the law governing transactions and relationships between individuals. The Code, which is regarded by some commentators as the first modern counterpart to ROMAN LAW, is currently in effect in France in an amended form.

The Napoleonic Code is a revised version of the Roman law or CIVIL LAW, which predominated in Europe, with numerous French modifications, some of which were based on the Germanic law that had been in effect in northern France. The code draws upon the Institutes of the Roman Corpus Juris Civilis for its categories of the civil law: property rights, such as licenses; the acquisition of property, such as trusts; and personal status, such as legitimacy of birth.

Napoléon applied the code to the territories he governed—namely, some of the German states, the low countries, and northern Italy. It was extremely influential in Spain and, eventually, in Latin America as well as in all other European nations except England, where the COMMON LAW prevailed. It was the harbinger, in France and abroad, of codifications of other areas of law, such as CRIMINAL LAW, CIVIL PROCEDURE, and COMMERCIAL LAW. The Napoleonic Code served as the prototype for subsequent codes during the nineteenth century in twenty-four countries; the province of Québec and the state of Louisiana have derived a substantial portion of their laws from it. Napoléon also promulgated four other codes: the Code of Civil Procedure (1807), the COMMERCIAL CODE (1808), the Code of Criminal Procedure (1811), and the Penal Code (1811).

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about 1 month ago

this helped me get an idea of what the napoleonic code is. however, i feel you need to add in some laws from the code... perhaps add more on what the laws stated.

4 months ago

Americans, I mean, people who live in USA, are completly donkys, they belong to a young nation which has a small history, but they should know more about worlds history, especially about the men and women who create is nation departing from Europe. Joao

5 months ago

Louisiana was already part of the Code of Civil Procedure, even before Napoleon revised it.

10 months ago

Louisiana was originally a French area. Napoleon sold it to the United States. This, as well as the deportation of loyalists from Upper Canada much later on, is why Louisiana has a large french-speaking population and French-based laws. French is also a large part of the cajun culture.

11 months ago

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

11 months ago

as we all know napoleon didnt actually exist!

about 1 year ago

omg!!this is so totally helping me on my world history work in the comp. room!!!thanx a lot and hope 2 fond loads of this one it sux that i have to go to third after this butt thanx anyways!!!!!!1

about 1 year ago

Why does Louisiana have a law system that is based on French law, while the other 49 US states have law systems based on English law?

about 1 year ago

Thank you, History Day is ssoo much easier...

about 1 year ago

thank you so much dude this article helped me and my friend sam in a project that were doing for Global 2 once again thank you

about 1 year ago

omg this artical is like totaly accurate and was a great help in my report.

about 1 year ago

thank you

about 1 year ago

this was very helpful thanks:))

about 1 year ago

thank you for showing me wat the nepolionic code means i just got an ''A'' in social studies

about 1 year ago

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about 1 year ago

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about 1 year ago

This really didn't help me all that much. It lacked what the Napoleonic code was all about. It just said the very basics and that annoyed me. It was pretty much useless for my paper.

about 1 year ago

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about 1 year ago

a link to an actual copy would be great! anyone?

about 1 year ago

i used this on a research paper and it helped a lot!!

about 1 year ago

WHat's the Roman code supposed to be?

about 1 year ago

i used this to write a report on the napoleonic code. it really helped me understand how it started. kudos!

about 1 year ago

I used this site to help me out with a Social Studies group project. c: I thank you =DD

about 1 year ago

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about 1 year ago

this is a great site

about 1 year ago

thanks for the help i needed the boost in confidence for my project. Maybe i won't fail life and school now. :)

about 1 year ago

this site helped me in concoring the french Napoléon army. i thank you. sincerely the american army

about 1 year ago

Hey this site really helped me when i found napoleons army and bombed them because of the great historian ace pilot that i am.every on thought i died but i just laid low for a while.Im actually a recruit for the Canadien army so u cant delete this,because im basically a veteran!!!

about 1 year ago

Napoléon applied the code to the territories he governed—namely, some of the German states, the low countries, and northern Italy. It was extremely influential in Spain and, eventually, in Latin America as well as in all other European nations except England, where the COMMON LAW prevailed. It was the harbinger, in France and abroad, of codifications of other areas of law, such as CRIMINAL LAW, CIVIL PROCEDURE, and COMMERCIAL LAW. The Napoleonic Code served as the prototype for subsequent codes during the nineteenth century in twenty-four countries; the province of Québec and the state of Louisiana have derived a substantial portion of their laws from it. Napoléon also promulgated four other codes: the Code of Civil Procedure (1807), the COMMERCIAL CODE (1808), the Code of Criminal Procedure (1811), and the Penal Code (1811).

about 1 year ago

this site was interesting and i learned alot thanks for the help.

about 1 year ago

i love this book it helped me so much when i went back in time.love all ya even you lucy<3....

about 1 year ago

omg! i totally loved this website! it totally made me pass my essay. i just copy pasted everything! god, im such a genius!! =) =) love you alllllll!! kissiess!! mua!

about 1 year ago

thank-you this info really helped me with my history homework! love ya! x

about 1 year ago

this was awesome thank you so much for posting this

about 1 year ago

I found this a very useful resource, especially as an introductory guide to reading the full text of the Napoleonic Code. Thank you!

about 1 year ago

For other students doing a 'Mock Trial of Napoleon' in history class - this piece of information, along with other resources like it, is very helpful for the witness "Cheif Justice of the French Court" when you're coming up with your comments about Napoleon. |MSamp|

about 1 year ago

hey thanks alot! This really helped me with a paper in school! Interesting stuff!

about 1 year ago

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about 1 year ago

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about 1 year ago

This was very useful thank you for putting it on the web

over 2 years ago

Coup d'etat means "blow of state" or sudden seizure of power. Like when napoleon took over the Directory in two days.

over 2 years ago

i think this site is good because when i had to write a report on this i knew exactly what i was looking for.

over 2 years ago

This site is cool but i need to know like what is the Coup d'etat and like Napoleonic code!