Private Autonomy and the Georgian Legal Tradition

Abstract

This article examines private autonomy as a foundational value of European civil law, tracing its development from ancient Greek philosophy and Roman law to modern doctrine. It analyses how private autonomy is realized in the Georgian legal tradition, particularly in property, contract, and inheritance institutions. Drawing on medieval Georgian legal monuments and royal codes, the study shows that key elements—protection of property, consensual freedom of contract, and testamentary disposition—were embedded in Georgian law. The article argues that the Georgian legal tradition mirrors the same fundamental concepts underlying European private law, highlighting its historical continuity.