Augustus and the Roman Legal System: The Praetor's Edict

In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into Augustus's reform of the Roman legal system, focusing on the praetor's edict and the creation of the ius respondendi. They explore how the first emperor centralized legal interpretation, empowering a select group of jurists like Masurius Sabinus and Antistius Labeo, and how this shifted Roman law from a tool of the aristocracy to an instrument of imperial control. The discussion covers the transition from the praetor's annual edict to the Perpetual Edict under Hadrian, the role of the centumviral court, and Augustus's use of the ius appellandi to override verdicts. Lucas explains how these changes laid the groundwork for later codifications like the Corpus Juris Civilis, while Luna questions the balance between consistency and the loss of republican flexibility. The episode closes with a reflection on how law became a pillar of Augustan power. #Augustus #RomanLaw #PraetorsEdict #IusRespondendi #MasuriusSabinus #AntistiusLabeo #PerpetualEdict #CentumviralCourt #IusAppellandi #CorpusJurisCivilis #RomanJurists #LegalReform #AncientRome #ImperialPower #FexingoHistory #RomanHistory #History #LegalHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo