Concerning those who in Osroena contract unlawful marriages.

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Novel 154. 

 

Concerning those who in Osroena contract unlawful marriages. 

(De iis qui in Osroena illicitas nuptias contrahunt.) 

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Emperor Justinian Augustus to Florus, Count of the Crown Domain. 

 

Preface.  An incredible report has come to us, namely that people in the province of 

Mesopotamia and Osroena, dare to enter into unlawful marriage, violate Roman 

laws and become liable to the old and new penalties prescribed therein, contracting 

these unlawful and prohibited marriages in following the custom of the neighbors.  

Now we have not credited this, for we consider it unbelievable that persons who are 

part of our republic would dare to do anything of the kind, and disgrace and 

confound the names of their offspring. 

 

c. 1.  We have, therefore, desired that inquiry should be made into this, and if 

anything of the kind has happened, to punish the violators by the extremest 

punishment.  But inasmuch as we believe that it has been long since any such 

offense has been committed, yet if anything of the kind has happened among those 

who live in the provinces of Osreona and Mesopotamia, we forgive them for these 

matters of the past, in whatever manner it has happened, because of the various 

invasions made therein, and particularly because the country-people are said to be 

generally the violators in this respect.  We permit the status therein to be as it is at 

present, without caring to scrutinize the violations committed up to the time of the 

enactment of our new

a

 constitution but we ordain that all inquisition in regard to 

these matters against the persons and affairs of the inhabitants of these provinces 

shall be prohibited.  But if any one has dared or dares to violate the law recently 

enacted by us on the subject, he shall be subjected to the severest punishment, and 

he must know that a pecuniary penalty will not be substituted, but that we shall 

pursue him, his wife and his children, born after the enactment of the aforesaid 

constitution, and inflict capital and pecuniary penalty upon them, sparing no one 

whether of high or low station or fortune, or whether of the priesthood—for that 

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would be so much the worse—but visiting upon all alike, we shall follow the course 

that is customary and worthy of Roman laws, and shall not only take away part of 

their property, but the whole of it and part of the body, and even life itself if we find 

the unlawful marriage to be one of the more inexcusable character, so that no one 

will escape who, in sinning, follows the example of his neighbors.  For men should 

know what is right and proper and should excite others to emulate them (in right 

and proper conduct), and not act contrary to the laws or resort to mutual imitation 

therein.  We want these directions obeyed in the aforesaid provinces, and both the 

civil and military magistrates shall take care that punishment is visited upon the 

offenders.  We want this, moreover, to be made known pursuant to your order, to 

the provincials by the proper magistrates through edicts, and they (the magistrates) 

will be subjected to the severest punishment and will lose their magistracies and 

their property, if they neglect anything herein. 

 

a.  Probably Nov. 12, c. 1-3, appended to C.9.9 [not appended in this version]. 

 

Epilogue.  Your Glory must take care to carry this our will, declared in this imperial 

law, into force and effect. 

(Date lacking.)