Ekdikos (defensor civitatis) in Roman empire and Byzantium

Abstract

During the 5th and 6th centuries a significant change occurred in the nature of defensor civitatis, in line with the social and political context. After the reign of Emperor Justinian I, the competences of the defensor decreased. In cities, bishops took over tasks previously carried out by the defensores, a probable consequence being the disappearance of ekdikoi from administration and civil law, believed to have occurred in the 6th and 7th centuries. The conclusions of this study support the thesis that the ekdikoi functioned in the Eastern Roman Empire as late as in the 8th century, and in some forms until the 9th century. In some parts of the Empire the ekdikoi acted until the early 10th century, which was proven by the discovery of the Cherson seals. The methods used are linguistic interpretation of middle-Byzantine legal codes and comparative-historical method based on identification of Byzantine adoptions of Roman provisions.

Keywords

• roman administration
• codex theodosianus
• justinian law
• novels of leo vi the wise
• ecloga