I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 1391 The Louis Code

Joseph had started drafting the code at the Department of Justice more than a year ago, and the auditing and revisions were only completed a month ago.

It's important to know that this is the world's first code of law that truly possesses a modern legal system.

Prior to this, even the French Ministry of Justice was unsure how many laws existed nationwide—the laws governing Paris were completely different from those in other provinces, and many northern provinces even relied on customary codes of conduct as their legal framework.

This phenomenon will be completely eliminated after the Louis Code is enacted, and the same legal system will be enforced throughout the country.

In fact, if Joseph hadn't directly copied the legal system of later generations as the main framework, the Department of Justice would never have been able to compile such a comprehensive code in just over a year.

Historically, the Napoleonic Code took three years from its initial drafting to its final completion.

Moreover, the Louis Code's content extends far beyond the civil law represented by the Napoleonic Code, incorporating criminal and commercial law, making it more comprehensive and scientific.

Joseph patted the text of the legal code and looked at everyone: "From this day forward, this will be the clear and unified cornerstone of the nation."

Cambacés, standing nearby, then read aloud:
"General Chapter and Preface".

"The uniformity of legal effect; the principle that laws do not apply retroactively; the principle of territorial jurisdiction; the rules of judicial adjudication..."

"I. The Civil Code section."

"Civil rights law; financial law; acquisition of property law; colonial rules..."

"II. Criminal Law Section."

"The penalties and effects of minor and major crimes; the punishments and responsibilities for minor and major crimes; the definitions and penalties for various crimes; the offenses of violating the law and their penalties..."

"III. Commercial Code Section."

"Commercial law; maritime trade law; commercial litigation procedures; bankruptcy law..."

He didn't go into detail about the code's contents, but only gave a brief overview of the areas it covered. Even so, many officials who had studied law nodded repeatedly.

This legal code has a clear legislative perspective and a systematic and complete system, which explains why His Highness the Crown Prince calls it a "cornerstone".

This cabinet meeting, which could influence the whole of Europe, ended at four o'clock in the afternoon, but the dozens of French officials present seemed very calm, as if it were no different from countless previous cabinet meetings.

After everyone had seen Her Majesty the Queen and His Highness the Crown Prince off from the conference hall, they immediately began to surround Archbishop Brian and inquire about the order of the elders.

Three days later.

Joseph then announced to everyone in the Tuileries Palace Square that France had officially promulgated the Louis Code and established two houses of parliament.

Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette were both present, standing behind him.

When Joseph said, "The first House elections will begin nationwide on July 5th," people reacted with a stark contrast to the composure of cabinet officials, as if water had been dropped into boiling oil and instantly exploded.

In fact, as early as three days ago, major newspapers began to publicize His Majesty the King's authorization to establish two houses, and even published the list of the first 80 members of the Senate.

But when people actually heard about the House election, they still couldn't contain their joy and excitement.

What interests them is not only the participation of ordinary people in the country's legislation and taxation, but more importantly, the name of the House of Representatives. It's the "House of Representatives," not "Three Levels of Parliament"!
This means that in the House of Representatives, there will no longer be a distinction between clergy, nobles, and commoners, and all members will have the same rights.

In fact, under Joseph's deliberate influence, the three classes of French society had already begun to blur. People of commoner origin, such as Baie, Jeanson, and Vennio, had long since entered his cabinet and held important positions, while the only hereditary nobles in the cabinet were the Duke of Broy and the Baron de Breteau.

Following land reform, the old aristocratic class began to merge with the emerging aristocracy. The emerging aristocracy, by nature, was less concerned with their noble status and placed more emphasis on capital.

Therefore, no old noble family expressed dissatisfaction with the change of the Estates-General to the House of Representatives.

Well, the real nobles are all focused on the Senate and don't care about the seats in the House of Representatives at all.

There was a moment of silence in the Tuileries Palace Square, followed by a thunderous roar of cheers:

"Long live His Majesty the King!"

"Long live His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Long live the Louis Code!"

"May God bless our King..."

At the edge of the square, the copies of the Louis Code, priced at 8 sous each, held by newsboys were snapped up in the blink of an eye. These were pre-printed copies by the Paris Commercial Daily, only summaries of the code's contents—few people could understand the actual code anyway—yet 16 copies were sold in just half a day!

The only printed material that might sell better than it is the Bible.

After the proclamation ceremony concluded, the crowd in the square bowed to the king's carriage. As the palace guards gradually disappeared from sight, various kinds of music immediately filled the air, and people began to dance in the square to express their excitement.

Soon, countless speakers appeared on the streets of Paris.

Most of them had not prepared in advance; they were simply giving impromptu speeches because they were too excited to contain themselves.

A young man in a white jacket and felt hat stood on the base of the statue and proclaimed, “Citizens! Do you know what July means? It’s not just that the days will get longer and the weather will get hotter! It means the Chamber of Deputies, the altar where the Third Estate can participate in the fate of France!”

The lawyer standing not far away immediately jumped onto the carriage roof and retorted, "You're wrong! There are only councilors representing the citizens there; there's no Third Estate. Of course, there are no First or Second Estates either!"

The crowd immediately responded with enthusiastic applause and cheers.

On the south side of the Louvre, a middle-aged man dressed as an aristocrat waved to the crowd and said, "His Majesty the Great King has bestowed upon us a sound and sacred legal code—it belongs not only to nobles, lawyers, and factory owners, but also to every Frenchman..."

On the streets of San Antonio, a young man doing clerical work gave a more direct speech: "His Highness the Crown Prince has always guided us, from the police to the land, from the tax office to the schools, and now, he has brought us true equality and rights!"

Of course, there is also a group of people who are looking at the Louis Code with worried expressions.

Not an abridged version, but the original, true legal code.

They are both lawyers.

They need to familiarize themselves with this thick legal code as quickly as possible, and the judicial examination based on the code will be held in August, leaving them only a little over three months to study...

Meanwhile, those with political ambitions have begun campaigning and canvassing for votes, preparing to vie for the 380 seats in the House of Representatives.

(End of this chapter)