Freedman

  • The Freedman (Libertus), plural Freedmen (Libertini), was a former Slave who had received his Liberty, and become a ‘Libertus’.

Description

  • Manumissio:
    • This was an Act in Roman Law which released a Slave from his Master and made him a Roman Citizen and gave him the Right to Vote.
  • Libertus:
    • Was the name for a Slave who had been given his Freedom or ‘Libertas’. His former Master became his Patron or ‘Patronus’.
    • Children of Freedmen were born as full Roman Citizens.
  • Libertini:
    • Freed Slaves became a Class called the Libertini.
  • Exclusions:
    • Freedmen were however, excluded from holding the Office of State Priest, Senator or from holding Public Office.
    • The Emperor Claudius changed this by creating four Offices of State, specifically run by Imperial Freedmen.

The Imperial Freedmen under Claudius

  • Claudius consolidated the use of Freedmen instead of Senators to run the Roman Empire, as he could not trust the Senators who had become hostile to him.
  • He created four separate Departments within the Imperial Secretariat with a Freedman in charge of each one:
    1. Narcissus was made ‘Praepositus ab Epistulis’ (Secretary of Correspondence)
    2. Pallas was made Secretary of the Treasury.
    3. Callistus was made Secretary of Justice and Law.
    4. Polybius was made Secretary of Miscellaneous Affairs. He was executed for Treason by Messalina, possibly after they ceased to be lovers.
  • The Freedmen could act as personal representatives of the Emperor. Narcissus was sent to resolve a Mutiny of the Legions prior to the Invasion of Britannia where he succeeded in restoring order by personally addressing the Legions. These Freedmen became the wealthiest men in Rome.

Edict of Caracalla (212 CE)

 

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