Constitutions of Melfi
The Constitutions of Melfi (Latin: Constitutiones Regni Siciliae, also: Liber Augustalis ) are one of Frederick II in 1231 issued collection of laws for the kingdom of Sicily.
The Constitutions fulfilled several functions. Besides the obvious purpose to commit the hitherto not precisely and comprehensively codified law of Sicily, Friedrich used the body of law primarily as a fighting instrument in the confrontation with the Pope. In addition, the emperor stood thus in the tradition of the Roman emperors, especially Justinian, and legitimized his claim to power.
Trigger for the work on the Constitutions of Melfi were rumors that the Catalan Dominican Raymond of Penyafort on behalf of the Pope make a similar collection. Frederick II wanted to beat him, to thereby obtain the legal authority over Sicily and to profile like other rulers of his time as a legislator. The time pressure in the preparation of the Constitutions with the result that 1232 and 1233 had to be made to each of them changes. Instrumental in was probably Peter de Vinea.
Continuous motif of the body of law is the alignment of law and administration to the king and his officials, and the assurance of the royal revenue. Where they did not conflict with the royal claim to power, the rights of the nobility were strengthened and accelerated legal processes.
The most important individual settlements were the prohibition of violent self-help and the restriction of the judicial system of the stands. The royal justice said the laws work the sole right to prosecute, even in cases that bordered on the religious right, for example, adultery, blasphemy or gambling. In the so-called "Edict of Salerno" was the legal definition of the medical profession from the apothecary. The individual rules were adopted from the Byzantine canonical, Lombard, Norman and Roman law.
Unless otherwise determined in the constitutions, the rights of the various ethnic groups were considered further. Was taken on the legislation of Roger II ( Assizes of Ariano ), the Kings William I and II as well as the self-proclaimed by Friedrich Assizes of Capua. The Constitutions were in the Kingdom of Naples until 1809, in Sicily until 1819.