OLERON, LAWS OR ROLLS or. The chief code of maritime law of the Middle Ages, which takes its name from the island of Oleron.
Both the French and the English claim the honor of having originated this code,—the former attri buting its compilation to the command of Queen Eleanor, Duchess of Guienne, near which province the island of Oleron lies; the latter ascribing its promulgation to her eon, Richard T. An English writer considers that the greater part of it is prob ably of older date, and was merely confirmed by Richard; 1 Soc. Eng. 313. He, without doubt, caused it to be improved, if he did not originate it, and he introduced it into England. He did at Chinon, in 1190, issue ordinances for the government of the navy which have been fairly described as the basis of our modern articles of war, and what they did for the navy, the code of Oleron, to which they were allied, did for the merchant service. Aft er much learned discussion all are agreed now that the home of these judgments was Southern France; Studer, Oak Book of Southampton, Vol. II. Twies
considers that they were judgments of the Mayor's Court of Oieron. Other writers hold the view that they were a compilation of customs. Some addi tions were made to this Code by King John. It was promulgated anew in the reign of Henry fir., and again confirmed in the reign of Edward III., at which time they had acquired the statue of laws. There is a translation in 1 Pet. Adm. Dec. The text will be found in the Black Book of the Admiralty. The French version, with Cleirac's commentary, is contained in Ua et Coututnea de la Mer. Studer's work, discusses the subject at length, giving the various extant MSS. together with a critical translation of the text with variorum notes. The subjects upon which it ie now valuable are much the same as those of the Conaolato del Mare.
Osm000narc. The code promulgated by Theodoric, king of the Ostrogoths, at Rome, A. n. 500. It was founded on the Roman law.