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Domat, Lois Civiles, & Droit Publique (1689-99)

Author(s): Jean Domat (1625-1696)

Title: Les Lois Civiles dans leur ordre naturel (vols 1 to 3, publisher Robert Pepie) Le Droit Publique suites de Lois Civiles dans leur ordre naturel (vols 4 and 5, publisher J-G Coignard)

Remarks:

Domat was born in Clermont-Ferrand where he practised after 1655 before moving to Paris in 1680. He was, excepting Pothier, the most influential of the French jurists, and like the latter an influence upon the Code Civil (1804). Domat sought to systemize the natural law within a Christian idea of order and a defence of absolutism (Louis XIV rewarded him with a pension). In this he largely succeeded, clearing the field for later developments. He is also remembered as a friend, and portraitist, of Blaise Pascal (1623-1662). Edition(s): 1689, 1695, 1697 and later editions. The five volumes presented here, although seemingly a published series, calling themselves the second edition, are in fact variously dated from 1689 to 1699. On the publication history see Renoux-Zagamé, cited below. An English translation, by J. Strahan, of Les Lois Civiles was published in London in 1722. Provenance of this copy: St John Robilliard Collection.

Further reading:

M-F. Renoux-Zagamé, "Domat, Jean", in P. Arabeyre, J-L Halpérin, and J. Krynen (ed.), Dictionnaire historique des juristes français xiie -- xxe siècle (Paris, 2007).

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