Aspects of the Codex Îndreptarea Legii (Correction Law) and some Provisions on Religious Freedom, in the Social Context of the 17th-18th Century

Abstract

The study aims to present some general aspects of the historical frame in which the Codex Îndreptarea legii (Correction Law) appeared and what were its provisions on freedom of religion. The Codex (enactment) Îndreptarea legii (Correction Law) was intended for all Romanians from the three Romanian historical provinces, namely: Wallachia, Moldavia and Transylvania, where this Codex (enactment) was used ‘... as a Church official code, even by the Eastern Catholics – Uniates – which in 1700 came into contact with the Church of Rome1. This code of laws, Îndreptarea legii (Correction Law), represents the translation of the Greek statutes, but containing in addition, at the same time, several texts taken from the Codex of Vasile Lupu. The Codex Îndreptarea legii (Correction Law) is the main Romanian law book that appeared during the reign of Matei Basarab. Îndreptarea legii (Correction Law) appears as a legal reply to the Romanian book, which it reproduces almost entirely2. This code of laws, Îndreptarea legii (Correction Law) or the Codex of Targoviste remained in force until the modern era after Alexandru Ioan Cuza when new codes of law of Western orientation started to appear.