Jean-Étienne-Marie Portalis (1746–1807)

A brilliant jurist from Provence, lawyer at the Aix Parliament, Portalis was one of the opponents of the Revolution. An outstanding orator, expert of Roman and canon law, philosopher. A man to whom Napoleon entrusted two monumental works simultaneously – the drawing up of the Civil Code, which was to define the foundations of the new society, and the drafting up of the concordat principles for the co-existence of State and religion. He is widely recognized as the master architect of one of the most famous mainstays of law – he criticised the positivist approach which placed the legal acts on an inviolable pedestal. He held a deep desire for the state of law, and his entire life centered on the law.