Code Napoléon

The Code Napoléon, officially called the Napoleonic Code, is a comprehensive set of laws established in France in 1804 under Napoleon's leadership. It systematically organized legal principles relating to property, contracts, family, and individual rights, replacing a patchwork of regional laws. The code emphasized equality before the law, protection of private property, and secular authority, shaping many modern legal systems worldwide. Its clear, organized structure made laws more accessible and consistent, influencing civil law traditions across numerous countries beyond France.