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Urbian’s Main Idea

Domitius Ulpianus (about 170-228) was a famous Roman jurist. In the 5th century AD, the Roman Emperor Valentinian III (423-455) reigned and was named one of the five jurists. He was the commander-in-chief of the Imperial Guard and chief advisor to the emperor. Murdered by a subordinate in 228 AD. The main works are “On the Sabin School” 51 and “Decree Collection” 81.

During the reign of Emperor Justinian of the Eastern Roman Empire (527-565), about a third of the contents of the “Xuehui Compilation” promulgated at the end of AD 533 were quoted from his works. He pioneered the system of “public law” and “private law” in jurisprudence, advocated the protection of the private property system of slave owners, and had a great influence on later bourgeois jurisprudence.

Brief biography

Born into a well-to-do family in Syria, he may have been a law professor in Beirut for a time. Co-judge of the Pabinian Supreme Court with Paul. In 222 AD he was the supreme magistrate.

In 222 AD, Alexander ascended the throne, and his grandmother Mameya became the regent of the empire. On the whole, Mameya’s employment and administration were in the interests of her son and the Empire. With the consent of the Senate, she elected 16 members who were excellent in wisdom and virtue to form a permanent council of state, and every major public matter had to be discussed and decided by them.

The famous Urbian, not only proficient in Roman law, but also respected by the people, he served as the chairman of the meeting, exerted the prudence and firmness of the aristocracy, and restored the order and authority of the government. At that time, “the recommended standard for civil servants is knowledge and impartiality, and the qualifications for military officers are heroism and discipline.”

Alexander’s diet was very simple and frugal, and some of Urbian’s selected friends were very learned and virtuous people. In order to facilitate Alexander’s consultation, Urbian was often invited to some of Alexander’s dinners. Their conversation was intimate and enlightening.

However, as a friend of the law and the people, he is regarded as an enemy by the military, and every reform plan owes his malicious advice. The antipathy of the Praetorian Guards erupted into a violent mutiny by means of a few minor incidents. When the whole city of Rome was threatened by arson, and the people sighed, they could only give up the unfortunate Urbian and let fate dictate. He was chased to the palace hall, and killed right in front of the emperor. Even if he was covered with purple robes, he still could not get the pardon of the ruthless soldiers.

The emperor ruled the country with fairness and justice, and the army suspected that the loyal ministers intended to rectify their chaos, and atrocities executed the ministers, which is really intolerable. Alexander used his own money to pay for Urbian’s honorable funeral.

Theoretical Achievements

An important theoretical contribution is the division between public law and private law. There are 23 works, of which the 83 “Review of the Imperial Order” are the most valuable. He is also the author of 51 “Sabini Commentaries” and “On the Law”, “On Controversy”, 10 “On the Tribunal”, 5 “On Adultery”, 2 “Ladders of Law”, “On Governance”. 3 articles on “Duties of Officials”, 1 article “On the Duties of Guardian Judges”, etc.

There are 2,464 citations of his expositions in the “Xuehui Compilation”, accounting for more than 1/3 of the theories cited, and he is the first of the five jurists. Urbian proposed at the time that law is “the knowledge of divine and human affairs, the science of justice and injustice”. This classic legal discourse is still recognized by most scholars.