"Ad meliorem statum et clementiorem remedium". Ossequio alla tradizione e novità legislative nell'opera di Grimoaldo

Grimoaldo’s few laws are usually considered a mere appendix to the Edict of Rotari, not worthy of particular interest because they lack the innovative capacity of Liutprand’s reforms. Historians have merely recognized in them a ten- dency to mitigate the previous approach, also by virtue of Christian influence. On closer examination, they show several points of interest on important issues such as thirty-year possession, servants’ tort, inheritance, and marriage. Grimoald’s stat- utes innovate the Edict without betraying tradition.