The First Criminal Law Courses in the Napoleonic "Académie de Turin"

Abstract

Criminal law has historically been neglected in the teaching programmes of the University of Turin, at least until the 19^th century. The traditional teaching programme of the Universities of Ancien Régime was bascally set to the courses of ius commune and ius canonico, and it did not address subjects as feudal law, commercial law and criminal law (though they had significant practical implications). This paper aims at recreating the first attempts to create a permanent Criminal Law course in Turin, made by French “occupants” in the early years of 18^th century, established through university reforms made by Napoleon and then removed with the restoration of the Savoy monarchy.