Prochiro

PROCHIRO. - An Eastern compilation, in a proem and forty titles, probably promulgated in 879, during the reign of Basil I, Constantine and Leo. It takes its name from what is the most frequent designation in the manuscripts (ὁ πρόχειρος νόμος); but it is also known as διάταξις τῶν τριῶν βασιλέων or as ἐγχειρίδιος νόμος.

The material of which it is composed is drawn predominantly from the Institutiones and the Novels of Justinian, while the passages coming from the Digesta and the Codex are scanty. The P. was much used, also in ecclesiastical courts, and was adopted by Constantine Harmenopoulos as the basis for his Manual. It was edited by Zachariae von Lingenthal (Heidelberg 1837); noteworthy, also for the introduction prefixed to it, is the English translation by E. H. Freshfield (A Manual of Eastern Roman Law, Cambridge 1928).