Roman Citizenship
The Roman Republic became one of the most powerful and ruthless Empire 's on the face of the planet and to be a citizen was very appealing. This was such an admirable and highly sought after position; that it would cause envy throughout the people of that time. There were also 'pre-requisites ' recorded in the requirements of becoming a Roman citizen and keeping that role. Roman citizenship itself was originally difficult to obtain but once won, life as a citizen was easier and more refined than the 'lowly freemen '.
There was a complex set of rules to be taken into account when it came to granting Roman citizenship to the people. Even the birth of a child to a citizen was not always a guarantee of citizenship as the role of the father and mother came into account. If the parents were both citizens and had a legal conubium (marriage), their child would be automatically granted citizenship and would be of the same social class of the father whereas a legionary, although a citizen, was not legally eligible for a conubium so his child would have the role of his/her mother (which was usually not a citizen) unless/until the legionary and the mother had a conubium after his service. There were obviously other ways to obtain citizenship than birthright:Freed slaves and their children became citizens, only once freed.
Citizenship was allowed to be bought, but at an extremely high price.
Full or partial citizenship was granted to Peregrini; foreigners who lived in conquered lands.
Latin people who moved to Rome were granted citizenship but theirs had the restriction of limited rights.
Auxilii (Peregrini serving as auxiliary troops) and their children would be granted citizenship as a reward for their services.
In AD 212 Rome gradually granted citizenship to whole provinces; the third-century Constitutio Antoniniana granted it to all free male inhabitants of the Empire. (Internet Wikipedia Encyclopaedia 'nod '). In exceptional cases however, an individual could be
There was a complex set of rules to be taken into account when it came to granting Roman citizenship to the people. Even the birth of a child to a citizen was not always a guarantee of citizenship as the role of the father and mother came into account. If the parents were both citizens and had a legal conubium (marriage), their child would be automatically granted citizenship and would be of the same social class of the father whereas a legionary, although a citizen, was not legally eligible for a conubium so his child would have the role of his/her mother (which was usually not a citizen) unless/until the legionary and the mother had a conubium after his service. There were obviously other ways to obtain citizenship than birthright:Freed slaves and their children became citizens, only once freed.
Citizenship was allowed to be bought, but at an extremely high price.
Full or partial citizenship was granted to Peregrini; foreigners who lived in conquered lands.
Latin people who moved to Rome were granted citizenship but theirs had the restriction of limited rights.
Auxilii (Peregrini serving as auxiliary troops) and their children would be granted citizenship as a reward for their services.
In AD 212 Rome gradually granted citizenship to whole provinces; the third-century Constitutio Antoniniana granted it to all free male inhabitants of the Empire. (Internet Wikipedia Encyclopaedia 'nod '). In exceptional cases however, an individual could be
Bibliography: . Hand-outs from our teacher2. http://www.dl.ket.org/latin1/mores/3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_citizen4. http://www.dl.ket.org/latin1/mores/law/citizenship.htm5. Lewis, Naphtali & Reinhold Meyer (ed.) 1966, "Roman Civilization Sourcebook 1: The Republic", Harper Torchbooks, New York6. Lewis, Naphtali & Rein hold Meyer (ed.) 1966, "Roman Civilization Sourcebook 2: The Empire", Harper Torchbooks, New York. 7. Pamela Bradley, 19990, "Ancient Rome: Using Evidence", Cambridge Uni Press, Cambridge.