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Diocletian's bequest includes a vast number of constitutions, mainly
rescripts, dealing with matters concerning private law. Legal historians have still not reached a firm verdict on that
law. His conduct of matters concerning public law, that he made in order to achieve stability and unity of the Roman
empire, have almost unanimously been regarded as innovative. However, his activities concerning creation of private law have mainly been regarded as
marginal. The author portrays Diocletian as a creator of private law, presents the most important opinions of the Roman Law scholarship on his private law
legacy, comments on those opinions and argues that such a Diocletian's activity in the field of private law was important part in the context of his entire work as a
statesman.
Key words: Diocletian, rescripts, private law, Dominat.
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