BJUS Project (Virtual Library of Jurists from the States of Savoy)

The BJUS Project aims to examine the legal doctrine of the former States of Savoy from the sixteenth century until their dissolution in 1860. This polity—encompassing present-day Savoy and Haute-Savoie, the former County of Nice, Piedmont, and later Sardinia and Liguria—developed a distinct legal system situated at the crossroads of multiple influences. Within this context, legal doctrine constituted a fundamental source of law. It played a central role in structuring legal knowledge, shaping both the evolution of case law and the development of normative frameworks.

By commenting on, interpreting, and systematizing legal texts, Savoyard-Piedmontese jurists contributed to the organization and dissemination of legal thought. Building upon the traditions of the ius commune—namely, Roman law as received in the Middle Ages and canon law—they developed a coherent body of scholarship, grounded in these learned traditions yet open to external influences. Their works reflect these cultural intersections and, more broadly, illuminate the circulation, transmission, and reception of legal knowledge across Europe.

A comprehensive analysis of this body of texts requires the use of advanced artificial intelligence tools. The project will result in the creation of a virtual library, providing researchers with access to a digitized and indexed legal corpus supported by a unified database. This resource will enable the identification of intellectual sources, key concepts, and interactions among different schools of thought.
Beyond its analytical contributions, the project will preserve and promote the legal heritage of a now-defunct state. It will also enhance our understanding of legal doctrine in Europe by shedding light on how legal concepts have circulated and evolved over time. To achieve these objectives, the project adopts an interdisciplinary approach, bringing together legal scholars, historians, linguists, and computer scientists.

Project Leader

Gwenaelle Callemein, Associate Professor, Université Côte d’Azur, ERMES

Project Participants

  • Marc Ortolani, Full Professor, ERMES
  • Karine Deharbe, Associate Professor (HDR), ERMES
  • Stéphanie Maccagnan, Full Professor, ERMES
  • Bénédicte Decourt-Hollender, Associate Professor (HDR), ERMES
  • Gustavo Vieira-Da-Costa-Cerqueira, Full Professor, GREDEG
  • Marie-Cécile Lasserre, Associate Professor, ERMES
  • Arnaud Bartolomei, Full Professor, CMMC
  • Florie Varitille, Associate Professor, CEPAM
  • Hajer Akid, Associate Professor, I3S
  • Catherine Faron, Full Professor, I3S
  • David Soulier, Postdoctoral Researcher, CMMC
  • Marco Milanesio, Research Engineer, MSI