Justinian issues an edict in 537 depriving his Jewish subjects of civil equality and religious freedom.

Decreeing that Jews must maintain (pay for) municipal government, even though they are forbidden to hold office, he also censors part of the synagogue liturgy for being anti-trinitarian.

The Justinian Code has established the More Judaico, or Jewish Oath, based on the notion that no heretic could be believed in court against a Christian.

Various methods are used to ensure that the Jew would deliver truthful testimony.

These include swearing on an opened Torah scroll while standing on a pigskin or while wearing a belt of thorns, or even standing on a stool wearing a “Jews hat.” The Codex Justinianeus (Corpus Juris Civilis) unites church and state, effectively making a non-citizen of anyone not connected to the Christian church.