Free Cities

• In 188 BCE the cities in the Roman Province of Asia were recognised as ‘Free’ by the Roman Republic, a practice which was discontinued under the Roman Empire.

Under the Roman Republic

• The Freedom was conferred by an Act and held certain restrictions as Constitutionally they were part of the Roman Government.
  • They were autonomous Cities that pursued their own Laws, not Roman Law, and administered their own Judicial system.
• They were Free from paying Tribute or Taxes. However, this was often ignored by the Roman Publicani (Tax collectors). And they continued to send Troops and ships if Rome requested them.
• They were Free from occupying Garrisons, provided they continued to help their ‘Ally and Friend’.
• Some had the right to issue minor coins.
• However this did not include the freedom to conduct Foreign Diplomacy.
• Nor did it include the Right to Declare War.

Under the Roman Empire

• The Emperors never renewed the ‘Free’ Status of the Cities and by the 250’s CE their ‘Free’ Status was meaningless.