SPAIN. This country, even more than France, has developed the Roman Law to its modern state in which it now divides the world with the English Common Law. The earliest codification, Fuero Juzgo or Forum Judicum, known to us as the Visigothic Code, appeared about 650 and embraced the Visigothic traditions that were first reduced to writing by Euric, in the latter half of the fifth century, the original of which is lost, and also much of the Breviarium Alariei anum, composed largely of the Justinian and Theodosian Codes and promulgated early in the sixth century by Alaric IL The Com parative Law Bureau of the American Bar Association in 1910 published a translation by S. P. Scott who says in the preface that it is "the most remarkable monument of leg islation which ever emanated from a semi barbarian people and the only essential memorial of greatness or erudition bequeath ' ed by the Goths to posterity." Fuero Real or Fuero de las Leyes, a col lection of laws and usages of the Castilian monarchy as well as Roman doctrines was promulgated by Alfonso X, the Wise, in 1255, and is considered an important monu ment of Spanish jurisprudence. It is in course of translation by S. P. Scott for the Comparative Law Bureau.
Las Siete Partidas (The Seven Parts) was also the product of Alfonso X, having been begun in 1256 and published in 1263, as Libro de las Leyes. The final popular title was not officially given to it until 1347, by Al fonso XI. Embracing the laws and customs contained in former codes, this was also a work of wisdom and philosophy and the most complete treatise of jurisprudence that had been published up to that time. It is still
the authority of last resort wherever Span ish law once dominated. A translation has been made by S. P. Scott for the Compara tive Law Bureau and is about to be pub lished.
In 1507, under Phillip II, La Nueva Reco pilacion was sanctioned and La Novisima Recopilacion was decreed in force on July 15, 1805, and while collections of laws, they were dearly utilitarian measures to create order in a vast mass of systemless legisla tion conflicting with the older but controlling codes.
The modern Civil. Code had its origin in the Constitutional Cortes of Cadiz which in 1810, by special commission, undertook to codify the most important branches of the law; after many idle intervals it was com pleted and promulgated in Spain July 24, 1889. By decree of July 31, 1889, it was ex tended to Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philip pine Islands. It has been translated by the War Department of the United States and also by Clifford S. Walton in his work "Civil Law in Spain and Spanish America," 1900. In its conciseness, scientific classification and underlying doctrines it shows the influ ence of the Romans, the Visigoths and the Moors.
Other modern codes and the years of their adoption are as follows: Civil Procedure, 1881; Criminal Code, 1870 ; Criminal Pro cedure, 1882 ; Commercial Code, 1885, and Military Code, 1890.