Papinian (redirected from Aemilius Papinianus)

Papinian (Aemilius Papinianus) (pəpĭn`ēən), d. 212, Roman jurist. He was a close friend of the Roman emperor Septimius Severus, under whom he was libellorum magister [master of the rolls] and later Praetorian prefect; but Severus' son Caracalla had Papinian put to death for reasons that are obscure. Papinian was a jurist of enormous erudition, perhaps the greatest figure in Roman law, and a stern moralist. A constitution of Theodosius II and Valentinian (426) reflects the Roman attitude toward him: five jurists (and the authors whom they quoted) were set up as the sole authorities to be cited—Paulus, Gaius, Ulpian, Modestinus, and Papinian. If they were not unanimous the majority was to prevail, but, in case of equal division, the opinion of Papinian was to decide. His chief works were Quaestiones (37 books), Responsa (19 books), Definitiones (2 books), and De adulteriis (2 books). They are known through quotations in the Theodosian Code and in the Digest of the Corpus Juris Civilis.

Bibliography

See H. F. Jolowicz, Roman Foundations of Modern Law (1957); B. W. Frier, The Rise of the Roman Jurists (1985).

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Papinian 

(Aemilius Papinianus). Born circa A.D. 150; died circa 212. Roman jurist.

Papinian held high state positions, including the post of praetorian prefect. His works, especially Quaestiones and Responsa, represent a high point in the development of Roman law. Papinian is noteworthy for his understanding of practical needs and his ability to relate particular cases to general legal principles. His works are written in a brilliant legal style, his statements are concise and exact, and his conclusions are logical and well founded. The Law of Citations (A.D. 426) included 595 fragments from the works of Papinian, giving the force of law to the writings of Papinian and those of four other great jurists.