LAWS OF OLERON, maritime1 law. A code of sea laws of deserved celebrity2. It was originally promulgated3 by Eleonor, duchess of Guienne, the mother of Richard the First of England. Returning from the Holy Land, and familiar with the maritime regulations of the Archipelago, she enacted5 these laws at Oleron in Guienne, and they derive6 their title from the place of their publication. The language in which they were originally written is the Gascon, and their first object appears to have been the commercial operations of that part of France only. Richard I., of England, who inherited the dukedom of Guienne from his mother, improved this code, and introduced it into England. Some additions were made to it by King John; it was prormulgated anew in the 50th year of Henry III., and received its ultimate /confirm/iation7 in the 12th year of Edward III. Brown's Civ. and Adm. Law, vol. ii. p. 40.
2. These laws are inserted in the beginning of the book entitled Us et Coutumes de la Mer, with a very excellent commentary on each section by Clairac, the learned editor. A translation is to be found in the Appendix to 1 Pet. Adm. Dec.; Marsh8. Ins. B. 1, c. 1, p. 16. See Laws of Wisbuy: Laws of the Hanse Towns; Code
LAWS OF WISBUY, maritime law. A code of sea laws established by the merchants and masters of the magnificent city of Wisbuy. This city was the ancient capital of Gothland, an island in the Baltic sea, anciently much celebrated9 for its commerce and wealth, now an obscure and inconsiderable place. Malyne, in his collection of sea laws, p. 44, says that the laws of Oleron were translated into Dutch by the people of Wisbuy for the use of the Dutch coast. By Dutch probably means German, and it cannot be denied that many of the provisions contained in the Laws of Wisbuy, are precisely10 the same as those which are found in the Laws of Oleron. The northern writers pretend however that they are more ancient than the Laws of Oleron, or than even the Consolato del Mare11. Clairac treats this notion with contempt, and declares that at the time of the promulgation12 of the laws of Oleron, in 1266, which was many years after they were compiled, the magnificent city of Wisbuy had not yet acquired the denomination13 of a town. Be this as it may, these laws were for some ages, and indeed still remain, in great authority in the northern part of Europe. Lex Rhodia navalis, says Grotius, pro4 jure gentium, in illo mare Mediteraneo vigebat; sicut apud Gallium leges Oleronis, et apud omnes transrhenanos, leges Wisbuenses. Grotius de Jure bel. lib. 2, c. 3.
A translation of these laws is to be found in 1 Peter's Adm. Dee. Appendix. See Code; Laws of Oleron.
LAWS, RHODIAN, maritime. law. A code of laws adopted by the people of Rhodes, who had, by their commerce and naval14 victories, obtained the sovereignty of the sea, about nine hundred. years before the Christian15 era. There is reason to suppose this code has not been transmitted to posterity16, at least not in a perfect state. A collection of marine17 constitutions, under the denomination of Rhodian Laws, may be seen in Vinnius, but they bear evident marks of a spurious origin. See Marsh. Ins. B. 1, c. 4, p. 15; this Dict. Code; Laws of Oleron; Laws of Wisbuy; Laws of the Hanse Towns.
