Theodosian Law:

Often referred to as the Theodosian Code, Theodosian Law is a collection of approximately 2500 imperial laws, from the Roman Empire under the rule of two Christian Emperors Theodosius II and Valentinian III, and published in the year A.D. 438.

Roman Law had always regulated the transfer of wealth from one generation to the next, with much of this wealth being channelled to the Patricians, and away from the Plebeians.

Note: The Patricians were the wealthy upper class of people, and were the ruling class of the early Roman Empire before its collapse which began in A.D. 395 and Ended in A.D. 476.

While the Roman Empire was becoming Christian, emperors sought a greater share of the wealth taken from the Plebeians, and called upon the Imperial Church to control the Plebeians through the control of wills and testaments.

The Theodosian code always punished violators, with severe punishments such as flogging and torture, and became intertwined with Roman Civil Law.

However, although punishment was severe this did not stop the people who ultimately turned their backs on Civil Law, which lead to the collapse of Rome.