Chapter 1391: The Code Louis
Joseph had ordered the Ministry of Justice to begin drafting this Code more than a year ago, and all auditing and revisions were only completed a month prior.
It was, after all, the world's first true legal code to possess a modern legal system.
Before this, even the French Ministry of Justice didn't know how many decrees were in effect across the nation — laws valid in Paris were entirely different from those in other provinces, and many northern provinces still relied on customary practices as their legal framework.
With the advent of the Code Louis, this phenomenon would be completely eradicated, mandating a uniform legal system across the entire nation.
In truth, if Joseph hadn't directly copied later generations' legal systems as the main framework, it would have been utterly impossible for the Ministry of Justice to compile such a comprehensive code in just over a year.
The historical Napoleonic Code took a full three years from its initial drafting to its official completion.
Moreover, the Code Louis encompassed far more than just the civil law represented by the Napoleonic Code; it integrated aspects of criminal and commercial law, making it more comprehensive and scientifically structured.
Joseph gently patted the legal text, looking at everyone. "From this day forward," he declared, "this shall be the clear and unified cornerstone of the nation."
Baron Cambaceres, standing nearby, then began to read:
"Uniformity of legal effect; non-retroactivity of laws; principle of territoriality; rules of judicial decision-making...
"I. Part on Civil Law.
"Law of Civil Rights; Law of Finance; Law of Property Acquisition; Colonial Regulations...
"II. Part on Criminal Law.
"Penalties for minor and major offenses and their effects; punishments and liabilities for minor and major offenses; definitions and penalties for various crimes; penalties for petty offenses...
"III. Part on Commercial Law.
"Law of Commercial Affairs; Law of Maritime Trade; Commercial Litigation Procedures; Bankruptcy Law..."
He didn't elaborate on the Code's specifics, merely giving a brief overview of the areas it covered. Even so, many officials who had studied law nodded continuously.
The legislative perspective of this Code was clear, and its entire system was structured and complete. No wonder the Crown Prince referred to it as a "cornerstone."
This cabinet meeting, significant enough to influence all of Europe, concluded at four in the afternoon. Yet, the dozens of French officials present remained remarkably composed, as if this meeting were no different from countless previous ones.
After courteously escorting Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince out of the assembly hall, everyone immediately gathered around Archbishop Brienne, eager to inquire about the Senate's sequence of members.
Three days later.
Joseph, standing in the Tuileries Palace square, announced to everyone that France was officially enacting the Code Louis and simultaneously forming a bicameral legislature.
This time, Louis XVI and Queen Marie were both present, standing behind him.
When Joseph declared, "Beginning July 5th, the first nationwide elections for the Chamber of Deputies will commence," the people, unlike the composed cabinet officials, erupted like water dropped into hot oil.
In fact, three days prior, major newspapers had already begun publicizing His Majesty the King's authorization to establish two houses, even revealing the initial 80 names on the Senate's roster.
But when people actually heard about the elections for the Chamber of Deputies, they still couldn't suppress their joy and excitement.
What captivated them was not merely the prospect of ordinary citizens participating in national legislation and taxation, but more importantly, the very name of the representative body.
It was the "Chamber of Deputies," not the "Estates-General"!
This signified that within the Chamber of Deputies, there would no longer be distinctions between clergy, nobility, and commoners; all deputies would possess identical rights.
In truth, under Joseph's deliberate influence, France's three estates had already begun to blur. Commoners like Bailly, Gensonné, and Vergniaud had entered his cabinet in important positions quite early, while hereditary nobles in the cabinet were limited to just the Duke of Broglie and Baron Breteuil.
Following land reform, the old nobility began to merge with the new aristocracy. The new aristocrats, by their very nature, were less concerned with their noble status, prioritizing capital instead.
Consequently, no members of the old nobility voiced dissatisfaction with the transformation of the Estates-General into the Chamber of Deputies.
'Hm, the truly great nobles were focused on the Senate, not bothering themselves with seats in the Chamber of Deputies.'
A momentary hush fell over the Tuileries Palace square, then erupted into a thunderous roar of cheers:
"Long live His Majesty the King!"
"Long live His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
"Long live the Code Louis!"
"May God protect our King..."
At the edge of the square, the 8-sou copies of the Code Louis in the newsboys' hands were snatched up in an instant. These were abridged summaries printed in advance by the Paris Business Journal — few could understand the actual legal code anyway — but in just half a day, 160,000 copies were sold!
Perhaps only the Bible could boast more explosive sales among printed works.
After the proclamation ceremony concluded, the crowds in the square collectively bowed to the King's carriage. It wasn't until the figures of the palace guards had gradually disappeared that various music burst forth, and people immediately began dancing in the square, giving vent to their excitement.
Soon, countless speakers appeared in the streets and alleys of Paris.
Most of them hadn't prepared beforehand, delivering impromptu speeches purely out of an irrepressible excitement.
A young man in a white short jacket and felt hat stood on the base of a statue, proclaiming loudly: "Citizens! Do you know what July signifies? Not just longer days and hotter weather! It signifies the Chamber of Deputies, that sacred altar allowing the Third Estate to participate in the destiny of France!"
A lawyer standing not far away immediately leapt onto the roof of a carriage, retorting: "You're mistaken! There are only deputies representing citizens there, no Third Estate. And of course, no First or Second Estates either!"
The crowd immediately responded with enthusiastic applause and cheers.
On the south side of the Louvre Palace, a middle-aged man dressed as a nobleman waved to the crowd, declaring: "His Great Majesty the King has bestowed upon us a stable and sacred Code — it belongs not just to nobles, lawyers, and factory owners, but to every Frenchman..."
In the streets of the Faubourg Saint-Antoine, a young man who worked as a clerk delivered an even more direct speech: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince always leads us, from policing to land, from taxation to education, and now, he has brought us true equality and rights!"
Of course, there was also a group of people looking at the Code Louis with worried expressions.
Not the abridged version, but the original, complete Code.
They were all lawyers.
They had to familiarize themselves with this thick, weighty Code as quickly as possible, and the judicial examination based on it would be held in August. They had only a little over three months to study...
Meanwhile, those with political ambitions had already begun campaigning and canvassing for votes, preparing to contend for the 380 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.
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