The praetors were the main issuers of edicts in Ancient Rome.
An edict is a mandate or decree issued with the authority of a magistrate . The concept comes from the Latin edictum , a word used to refer to the pronouncements of Roman magistrates on matters relating to their jurisdiction .
In Ancient Rome , praetors were the main issuers of edicts. The praetor was a magistrate who was in charge of administering justice . He could be an urban praetor (dedicated to resolving matters between Roman citizens) or a peregrine praetor (who settled disputes between Roman citizens and foreigners or pilgrims).
At the beginning of their mandate , magistrates issued an edict to inform how they were going to carry out their task. Each edict was published in view of the citizens and consisted of three parts: an introduction (which ensures the obedience of the people), a central part (with the modifications with respect to the previous praetor) and an appendix.
Types of Roman Edicts
Edicts could be perpetual (valid throughout the praetor's term of office) or sudden (issued for a specific case and valid exclusively for him). Another classification speaks of edicts traslaticium (written by the old praetor and used by the new one without any modification) and edicts novum (issued by the old praetor and reused by the new one with some changes).
Throughout history there have been many important edicts that have been a milestone for certain reasons. Thus, for example, we would have to refer to the well-known Edict of Milan , which was promulgated in the year 313 in the same city that gives it its name. It has also come to be known as "The tolerance of Christianity" since it determined freedom and religious tolerance in the Roman Empire .
The emperors Licinius and Constantine I were the ones who signed the document, which put an end to the endless, tragic and massive persecutions that were carried out because of religion, especially against Christians. Thanks to it, the so-called Peace of the Church would begin.
Currently, edicts are judicial communications.
Another historical example
However, we must not forget other important edicts such as the Edict of Nantes . This was issued at the end of the 16th century , specifically in 1598 , by order of King Henry IV of France . Thanks to it, the religious wars that were ravaging the country and that had brought with them numerous victims who had died for their faith were also put to an end.
What was established in it was freedom of worship, especially for Protestants. This is demonstrated by the fact that in the almost 100 articles that made up the edict, it was established that even those could be protected from the actions of the Holy Inquisition when they travelled outside France and could also form part of the country's high authorities.
Edicts today
Nowadays, the notion of edict refers to a judicial communication that is made public to give notice of something that should be known to everyone.
An example of the use of the term is the following: "Court No. 8 published an edict in the newspaper La Gaceta notifying users that they must change companies in the next thirty days."