jurists.
1. In a constitution of Theodosius II. of A. D. 425, Leontius, a jurist. was named among other professors at Constantinople, and was honoured with a comitiva primi ordinis, a dignity which thenceforth was only to be acquired by 20 years' service. (Cod. Theod. 6. tit. 21. s. un.) Perhaps he was the first legal professor at Constantinople, for in former constitutions no jurist is named among the professors (Cod. Theod. 13. tit. 3. s. 16, 17): but shortly after the appointment of Leontius, a second professorship of law was added (Cod. Just. 11. tit. 18. s. un. § 1.)
Of this Leontius we know no more, unless he be the same person who ten years afterwards is named in several constitutions praefect of Constantinople. (Cod. Theod. 14. tit. 16. s. 3; ib. 6. tit. 28. s. 8 ; ib. 16. tit. 5. s. ult.); this being a dignity to which we know that Themistius the sophist, and other professors of arts, sometimes aspired. (Jac. Gothofred ad Cod. Theod. 14. tit. 9. s. 3, and vol. ii. p. 114, ed. Ritter; Heineccius, Hist. Jur. Rom. § 380. n.; Zimmern, R. R. G. vol. 1.69.)