{"id":9415,"date":"2023-10-30T08:10:16","date_gmt":"2023-10-30T07:10:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=9415"},"modified":"2023-10-30T08:10:16","modified_gmt":"2023-10-30T07:10:16","slug":"who-was-classified-as-a-citizen-in-ancient-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/who-was-classified-as-a-citizen-in-ancient-rome\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Was Classified As A Citizen In Ancient Rome"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Definition of Roman Citizenship<\/h2>\n

Roman citizenship was the right to be a full citizen of the Roman Empire. It was an exclusive right that was only granted to those who were born in the Empire, and it marked someone as a privileged member of society. This right had various benefits, such as the right to vote, to receive a public education, to run for government office, to own and sell property, to conduct business, and to even bring a legal action in court. Becoming a citizen of Rome was a highly sought-after honor.<\/p>\n

The Process of Becoming a Roman Citizen<\/h2>\n

In ancient Rome, there was a process that individuals had to go through to be granted Roman citizenship. This process was known as the “Civitas”. It was a lengthy process that could take several years. First, a potential citizen had to find a sponsor, who was typically a Roman noble. The sponsor would then refer the person to the appropriate magistrate, who was in charge of granting citizenship. This magistrate would then review the person’s qualifications and decide if they were suitable to receive the honor.
\nIf they were accepted, they would then be issued a document called the “Praetorian Edict”. This document formally declared them a Roman citizen and allowed them to enjoy the various rights and privileges that came with it.<\/p>\n

The Types of People Who Held Roman Citizenship<\/h2>\n

In ancient Rome, there were three types of people who had Roman citizenship. The first type were Roman citizens by birth. These individuals were born within the jurisdiction of the Roman Empire, and so were automatically granted citizenship.
\nThe second type of citizens were “patricians”, who were highly esteemed members of society. obys descended from ancient Roman families and had political influence. They also had access to certain privileges that were not extended to commoners.
\nThe third type of citizen were “freedmen”, who were individuals who had previously been slaves and had then been oficially freed. Freedmen were granted Roman citizenship as a reward for their service.<\/p>\n

The Laws That Governed Roman Citizenship<\/h2>\n

The Roman laws of citizenship were strict and tightly regulated. In particular, the laws strictly forbid any foreigner from becoming a citizen of the Empire. This was seen as essential for maintaining the integrity of Roman law and society.
\nIn addition, Roman citizenship could be revoked by the Emperor if the person violated any of the rules of the Empire, or if they became involved in any activity deemed illegal or subversive.<\/p>\n

The Benefits of Roman Citizenship<\/h2>\n