The digest of justinian volume 1 book description when justinian became sole ruler of the byzantine empire in ad 527 he ordered the preparation of three compilations of roman law that together formed the corpus juris civilis. The digest of justinian volume 1 edited by alan watson revised edition 768 pages 7 x 10 paper 2009 isbn 9780812220339 3750s outside the americas gbp3100 ebook editions are available from selected online vendors a major achievement and an event of the first importance journal of legal historydefinitive the retainer a landmark. The digest of justinian volume 1 books 1 15 alan watson when justinian became sole ruler of the byzantine empire in ad 527 he ordered the preparation of three compilations of roman law that together formed the corpus juris civilis these works have become known individually as the code which collected the legal pronouncements of the roman . The ancient writers and the books produced by them from which the present corpus of the digest or encyclopaedia is derived pages lxiii lxx get access to full text. The most famous and influential collection of legal materials in world history now available in a four volume english language paperback edition