Ager publicus

The ager publicus must be differentiated from the Ager romanus. Literally, it is the territory which belongs to the Roman people contrary to the ager romanus which belongs to Rome. The Decemviri Agris Dandis Adsignandis was the college of magistrate specialized in the control and the distribution of the ager publicus.

Origin

The legendary Roman tradition makes go up the creation of the ager publicus with Romulus. It would have divided the Roman territory ( ager romanus ) into three parts:

the ager regius , or royal field
the ager privatus , composed of batches distributed to the families patricians
the ager publicus , pastures at collective disposal of the Roman families

Evolution

The ager publicus grew rich by the territories confiscated by Rome after conquest especially starting from the Guerres samnites. In theory, when Rome conquers a kingdom or a city, it to them confiscates approximately 50 to 60% their grounds which become ager publicus .
To the ager publicus the mines and the saltworks are also added, whose productions are strategic for the Roman State.

Use

The ager publicus makes it possible to produce the regular incomes which needs the Roman State to function and also allows the establishment of colony S.

It is thus not an empty ground men but it cannot, in theory, being had by whoever in freehold except exceptional case. Indeed, it happens that the State distributes free batches of ager publicus in reward of services rendered (like the military service) or in refunding of a national debt. The former confiscated ground owners could also continue the exploitation of it, but, according to the Roman legislation, a colonist could have only the pleasure, the " possesio ", of the ground which it in kind exploited against a royalty, the vectigal or in cash, the stipendium or the tributum .

The exploitation of the mines and the saltworks of the ager publicus is generally entrusted to private contractors, also against royalty.

Political role

The question of the appropriation of the ager publicus or land question animated many political debates in Rome under the Roman République and was with the reform of the Gracques the beginning of the crisis of the Roman République.

See too

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