To Date and Not to Date : On the Date and Status of Byzantine Law Books

Scientific reserach implies progress. Sometimes, however, progress merely consists of a step back to the past, as in the case of the dating of the Prochiron, one of the Byzantine law books dealt with in this study. Recently, progress seemed to imply that the Prochiron had been issued by Leo the Wise in the year 907. This book sets out to show that the Prochiron was promulgated by Basil the Macedonian in the years 870-879, thus confirming the view of Karl Eduard Zachariä von Lingenthal, one of the first scholars who paved a way in the 'ungodly jumble' of Byzantine law books. Of course, the present study does not exclusively deal with the dating of law books: their status appeared to be inextricably bound up with their dating. Moreover, recent research has come up with results that shed new light on the Basilica and the Novels of Leo the Wise. Reason enough to investigate Leo's legislative intentions..... To date and not to date, that is the issue in the realm of Byzantine legal history. Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Preface Abbreviations Bibliography Introduction Chapter 1 Dating the Eisagoge Chapter 2 Dating the Prochiron Chapter 3 Ecloga, Prochiron and Eisagoge. On Their Interrelation Chapter 4 Arethas, Proch. 4,25 and the Issue of Leo's Fourth Marriage Chapter 5 'Of Our Pious Emperor'. On the Scholia on the Eisagoge Chapter 6 One Text, Different Versions? On the Sixty Books, the Basilica and the Florilegium Ambrosianum Chapter 7 On the Eisagoge cum Prochiro composita Chapter 8 Eisagoge cum Prochiro composita and τò πλάτος Chapter 9 'Exemplary, My Dear Watson'. On B. 60,58,l Chapter 10 'Αείμνηστος πατήρ. On the Novels of Leo and the Prochiron Chapter 11 Chaotic Cleansing. Basil's Purification of the Old Laws Chapter 12 Unadorned Prologue. On the Preface to the Basilica Chapter 13 Σωματοποιία. On Leo's Legislative Intentions Conclusions Indices Th. E. Van Bochove. Recently, Progress Seemed To Imply That The Prochiron Had Been Issued By Leo The Wise In The Year 907. This Book Sets Out To Show That The Prochiron Was Promulgated By Basil The Macedonian In The Years 870-879, Thus Confirming The View Of Karl Eduard Zachariä Von Lingenthal ... --p. 4 Of Cover. Includes Bibliographical References (p. Xiii-xxx) And Indexes. Text In English With Greek Interspersed.