- The Cursus Publicus, also known as the Cursus Vehiculorum, was the Postal Service of the Roman Empire.
- It transported mail, officials and tax revenues between Rome and the Provinces.
Description
- The Cursus Publicus provided an infrastructure of wayside inns along all the Roman Roads.
- Mutationes (way stations) and Mansiones (Hotels) were provided by the Province the road passed through. They supplied the following services:
- Accommodation.
- Repair facilities.
- Horses, mules, donkeys and oxen.
- Vehicles called ‘Clabulae’.
- But not Drivers or Couriers. These had to be paid for by the mail sender or travelling Civil Servant.
- Mutationes (way stations) and Mansiones (Hotels) were provided by the Province the road passed through. They supplied the following services:
- After 300 CE the service was divided into:
- Cursus Velox (fast)
- They used saddle horses and pack horses.
- Cursus Clabularis (ordinary)
- They used only oxen.
- Cursus Velox (fast)
- Prefectus Vehiculorum
Sources
- Procopious
- Procopius was a Historian in the 6th century CE under Justinian I.
- He describes the Cursus Publicus as still in working order in the Eastern Empire, but it was being dismantled by Justinian I.
- Per day: Using relays of horses, a courier would travel a minimum of 5-8 stages (ie 8 mansions)
- Each Road Station kept 40 horses and their grooms.
- Mansiones (Hotels) seem to have been an average of 25 miles (40km) apart.
- Mutationes (way stations) seem to have averaged two between Mansiones, so 8 miles (13km) apart.
- A normal journey of 5 to 8 stages would average 40-60 miles (64-96km) a day. Nonstop express would be 100 miles (160km) a day.
Road Maps
- The Romans had maps which showed the roads with the way stations and hotels marked along long thin ribbons of parchment.
- Peutinger Table
- A 13th century CE copy of a 4th century CE copy of the original map created by Augustus.
- It is a Michelin style pictorial road map of the Empire.
- Antonine Itinerary
- The Antonine Itinerary was a 4th century CE Road Map of the Roman Empire.
- Vicarello Cups
- These were metal drinking vessels with the names of way stations inscribed sequentially along the outside.