baldus

Baldus is a masculine given name found in Latin and Italian historical contexts. The form is a Latinized version of the Italian Baldo or Balduinus and is related to the Germanic name Baldwin. In medieval and early modern scholarship, Baldus appears in Latin texts as Baldus, Baldus de Ubaldis, or simply Baldus, often referring to a person whose traditional name was Baldo or Ubaldo.

The most prominent bearer is Baldus de Ubaldis (c. 1327–1400), an Italian jurist associated with the Bologna school of law. Known also as Baldus, he produced extensive writings on civil and canon law, including consilia and glosses, and contributed commentaries on the Digest and other Roman-law sources. His work, alongside that of contemporaries such as Bartolus of Sassoferrato, helped shape the medieval understanding and reception of Roman law and influenced later scholastic jurisprudence.

In addition to this figure, Baldus appears in various medieval manuscripts as the Latinized designation for individuals named Baldo or Ubaldo. Today, the name Baldus is mainly encountered in historical or scholarly contexts; it is not a common contemporary given name and is primarily of interest for its use in classical and legal literature rather than as a current cultural term.