Four Provisions of the Napoleonic Civil Code 1804

1. Equality Before the Law • All citizens (men) were declared equal before the law — regardless of birth, caste, or religion • Abolished the system of birth privileges (noble titles, hereditary rights) • No one could be tried in special courts based on social rank • This was directly inspired by the French Revolution's principle of égalité (equality)

2. Right to Property Secured • The Code guaranteed the right to private property • Property could not be arbitrarily seized by the state or nobility • Feudal land rights of the nobility were abolished — peasants could own land • Equal inheritance rights among sons (abolished primogeniture — eldest son getting everything)

3. Freedom of Religion (Religious Tolerance) • Citizens were granted freedom to follow any religion • The State was secular — no official state religion • Jews, Protestants, and Catholics were treated equally before the law • However, full equality was not always applied in practice

4. Abolition of Feudal System and Guild Restrictions • All feudal dues and obligations were abolished • Serfs were freed from feudal ties to landlords • The guild system (which restricted entry into trades) was abolished • Freedom of contract: individuals could enter any profession or trade freely • This promoted the rise of capitalist enterprise and free market economy

Additional Provision (sometimes listed separately): 5. Uniform Legal System • One uniform legal code replaced the hundreds of different local laws • Standardised laws across all French departments • Made law clear, simple, and accessible to all citizens

Where Was the Code Applied? • France and all French-controlled territories:

• Italy (under French control)
• Netherlands, Belgium
• Parts of Germany (Rhine region)
• Spain (briefly) • When Napoleon introduced the Code to conquered territories, he also abolished feudal systems there • This spread the ideas of the French Revolution beyond France