from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
LAWS, RHODIAN, maritime. law. A code of laws adopted by the people of
Rhodes, who had, by their commerce and naval victories, obtained the
sovereignty of the sea, about nine hundred. years before the Christian era.
There is reason to suppose this code has not been transmitted to posterity,
at least not in a perfect state. A collection of marine constitutions, under
the denomination of Rhodian Laws, may be seen in Vinnius, but they bear
evident marks of a spurious origin. See Marsh. Ins. B. 1, c. 4, p. 15; this
Dict. Code; Laws of Oleron; Laws of Wisbuy; Laws of the Hanse Towns.