Basilĭca
(
τὰ βασιλικά). The Greek code of Roman law, commenced
about A.D. 876 by the emperor Basil I., and finished by his son, Leo the Philosopher, who
reigned A.D. 886-911. It comprised the Institutes, Pandects, Code, the Novellae, and the
imperial Constitutions subsequent to the time of Justinian. It is in sixty books, subdivided
into titles. The publication of this authorized body of law in Greek led to the gradual disuse
of the original compilations of Justinian in the East; but by its means the Roman law was so
firmly established in Eastern Europe and Western Asia as to maintain its hold there among the
Greek populations to the present day. See Rudorff,
Röm.
Rechtsgeschichte (Leipzig, 1876), and the article
Iustinianus. The best modern edition of the
Basilica is
that of Heimbach, 6 vols.
(Leipzig, 1833-70).