"The Roman Legal Fundations of Modern Private Law - 100th Anniversary of the Birthday of Ferenc Benedek"

Abstract

On January 30, 2026, Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church and the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences at the University of Pécs co-hosted an academic conference in Budapest titled “The Roman Law Foundations of Modern Private Law – Commemorating Ferenc Benedek on the Centenary of His Birth.” The aim of the conference was to commemorate the academic legacy of Professor Ferenc Benedek and to demonstrate the practical influence of Roman law on modern private law. A total of seventeen presentations were delivered across four sessions, examining the heritage of Roman law in contemporary legal systems from historical, dogmatic, and legal-theoretical perspectives.

Some of the presentations recalled the personal and scholarly life’s work of Ferenc Benedek, emphasizing his pivotal role in the teaching of Roman law in Hungary and the impact of his teaching activities. Other presentations at the conference provided historical and dogmatic analyses of specific institutions of Roman law – such as the right of pledge, protection of property, agency without authority, unjust enrichment, and arbitration – highlighting their heritage and significance in modern legal systems. Particular attention was given to the role of Roman law in European legal harmonization, the development of asset management structures, and legal theory, with special regard to the challenges of the age of artificial intelligence.

The afternoon sessions focused on the interpretation of the sources of Roman law, the economic and legal background of the ancient educational system, the legal protection of minors and women, and certain social and criminal law aspects of the functioning of the Roman state. The presentations also addressed the phenomenon of corruption, the environmental dimensions of ancient agriculture, the legal consequences of military defeats, and methodological issues in Roman legal reasoning.

As evidenced by the conference, Roman law is not merely a body of law of historical significance, but also one of the fundamental sources of modern private law and legal thought. Ferenc Benedek’s scholarly work has contributed to the continuation of this tradition and represents an intellectual legacy that continues to guide contemporary research in Roman law.