Fiscus

• The Fiscus was the Roman Emperor’s personal Treasury. It included the Revenues from the Imperial Provinces.
• In French today, the Department of State responsible for the collection of Taxes is still known as ‘Le Fisc’.

Description

• Antoninus Pius (138-161 CE)
  • He divided the Fiscus onto the ‘Patrimonium’ (regarded as Public) and the ‘Res Privata’ (regarded as Private and therefore could be sold off).
• Septimius Severus (193-211 CE)
  • He reconfirmed this subdivision into the Fiscus for the Emperor’s Imperial Revenues and a ‘Patrimonium’ to hold the Emperor’s private Revenues.

Other Treasuries

• Aerarium
• Aerarium Militare