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[ACTS OF THE ROMAN SENATE

ON PUBLISHING THE THEODOSIAN CODE

A.D. 438]

1 In the consulship of our Lord Flavius Theodosius Augustus in his 16th consulship and Anicius Achillius Glabrio Faustus, vir clarissimus most distinguished man, Anicius Achillius Glabrio Faustus, vir clarissimus and illustris illustrious, three-time former urban prefect, praetorian prefect, and ordinary consul, held a meeting in his house, which is at the Palma. Flavius Paulus, vir clarissimus and illustris, urban prefect; Junius Pomponius Publianus, vir spectabilis admirable man, vicar of the eternal city; the nobles and the most eminent order of the Senate having convened and held a discussion among themselves for some time, Anastasius and Martinus, the constitutionarii officials in charge of constitutions, entered by order. Anicius Achillius Glabrio Faustus, vir clarissimus and illustris, three-time former urban prefect, praetorian prefect, and ordinary consul, spoke:

2 The happiness of the eternal princes proceeds with such growth that it provides the ornaments of peace to those whom it defends by the fate of war. Last year, when I accompanied the most happy union of all sacred things for my devotion, the most sacred prince, our Lord Theodosius, wished to add this dignity to his world: that, with the legal precepts gathered into one, he ordered it to be established as an abridgment of sixteen books, which he wished to be consecrated by his most sacred name, to be followed throughout the world. This matter, our eternal prince, our Lord Valentinian, approved with the devotion of a partner and the affection of a son.

3 Anicius Achillius Glabrio Faustus, vir clarissimus and illustris, three-time former urban prefect, praetorian prefect, and ordinary consul, spoke:
Therefore, having called me and the illustris man who was prefect of the East at that time, he ordered the individual codes to be handed to us by his own divine hand, to be sent through his world with reverence, in such a way that the most sacred prince ordered his provision to be offered first to the consideration of your sublimity. The code, directed by the precept of both princes, is received in hand. The constitutionarii are present: if it pleases your greatness, may your greatness order these very laws, by which they ordered this same thing to be done, to be read aloud to you, so that we may obey the most wise precepts of the eternal princes with congruent devotion.

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1, 2 These acts were written, as the constitution of A.D. 443 testifies, under the names of the emperors, which names were in the archetype directed to the Senate by the precept of both princes (c. 3). 4 To our Lord son Th[eodosius] A[ugustus] 16th [consul] we added. Anicius A. Glabrio A. 5 v.c. [vir clarissimus] consuls A. [The date is missing after 'consuls'] illustris was without doubt in the archetype here and thereafter, illustris A, illustrious A. urban A. 6 praetorian A. at the Palma] cf. Anon. Valesianus c. 66 (chron. min. I p. 324): he addressed the people at the Palma. 7 v.c.] vicar A

illustrious A. admirable A. 9 entering A. Marcius A (see p. 4, 19). 10 v.c.] vicar A. illustrious A. 12 happiness A. growth] Haenel, growth A. 13 defends A. 14 accompanied] we, accompanied A, we accompanied Tafel. happily A. 16 sixteen] sixteen A. 18 affection A. 20 illustrious A. 22 singular A. 23 ordered to be handed] expect "handed". 24 your sublimity A. 25 accepted A. perception A