Conclusion

Codification commenced in Spain after the Constitution of Cadiz of 1812, in Post-Napoleonic era, which established a short-lived democracy and called for the codification of all major branches of Spanish law.

It is considered that the Civil Code would be a stopgap for all regional legislation, bringing to an end the validity of Roman law. A Code elaborated and published on October 6, 1888, coming into force on May 1, 1889, and granting regional civil laws temporary validity -a status it maintained until the amendment of the Code in 1974-.

In relation to trade issues, the principal aim of the Commercial Code of 1829 was to establish a uniform and comprehensive legal framework in order to reduce the impediments to business relation in regional economies. It explains that the Code repealed existing laws and ordinances. The contents of the Code encouraged the formation of limited companies and its provisions reflected the nature of the large joint stock companies of the eighteenth century which were established for trade in the East and West Indies.

In relation to modern Spanish criminal law it is possible to conclude that it developed as a result of the reform movement of the late 18th Century and early 19th Century. Therefore, it was influenced by the humanist and utilitarian ideals of the Enlightenment and, more specifically, by Cesare Beccaria’s Dei delitti e delli pene (1764).

Most of these Codes remain in force in Spain today. Though many rules much amended, they have been subject to continuous overall revision or reforms.