TRIBONIANO. - Jurist of the 6th century, probably born in Pamphylia, died in 542 or 543; he was the principal collaborator of Giustiniano I in the work of systematizing the texts of Roman law (v. CORPUS IURIS CIVILIS).
Magister officiorum in 528 (little is known of his life before this date), he was a member of the commission which, under the presidency of Giovanni di Cappadocia, completed the first Codex Iustinianus.
He subsequently directed, as quaestor sacri palatii, the work of the commission entrusted with the compilation of the Digesta (530–33),
the conception of which probably originated with him. In this great undertaking many extremely rare works from his private library were used; and the entire activity of the commission, as well as the legislative activity that accompanied the drafting of the Digesta (Quinquaginta decisiones, constitutiones ad commodum propositi operis pertinentes), bears the imprint of his strong personality. interpolations (v.) introduced into the classical texts in order to bring them into harmony with the principles in force in the Justinianic age were named after him (Emblemata Triboniani).
(Ist. G. Fini)