The imperial policy against heretics of restricting succession in the fourth century AD, with an appendix on the Theodosian Code
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Level 5 by design analogy; qualitative historical and legal textual analysis.
OpenAlex W4225486490 · doi:10.1163/15718190-12340023
What was done
The author analyzed fourth-century AD Roman imperial legal constitutions preserved primarily in the Theodosian Code concerning restrictions on succession and inheritance rights of heretics and apostates. The analysis evaluated the legal mechanisms used, examined whether a coherent imperial policy existed, and assessed competing hypotheses regarding the underlying intent (family asset retention, financial containment of sects, or theological motivations).
What was found
The abstract reports no quantitative measurements or empirical statistical findings. It frames the research questions regarding how succession rights were curtailed or removed and outlines the potential rationales behind imperial legislation in the Theodosian Code.
Why it matters
This work contributes to legal history by elucidating the intersection of late Roman imperial succession law, religious orthodoxy enforcement, and the political-economic containment of heterodox groups.
Limits
The abstract provides no empirical data, sample sizes, or explicit details on the specific constitutions analyzed. As a qualitative historical analysis based on surviving legal codifications, findings are constrained by the preservation bias of historical texts and the inherent subjectivity of legal-historical interpretation.
Cited by
- supports Roman emperors enacted legal restrictions on traditional pagan religious practices, outlawing animal sacrifices, rustic rituals, holding high offices, and placing restrictions on wills.
- supports In the 430s, Roman law in Latin was codified in Constantinople and sent to the Western Roman Empire.