During the Roman period, the publicains (of the Latin publicanus ) profited from public contracts, in glance of which they provided the Roman Armée, managed the collection of the harbor taxes and supervised the construction projects public. Evidence of the existence of the publicains is starting from the III E, although it is generally agreed that they existed even much earlier in the Roman history. They also exerted like collectors taxes for the Roman République (and later for the Empire), offering their services to the Sénat with Rome to obtain the contracts of collection of the various types of taxes.
They must make the advance of the sums collect and recover their bottom and their commission which, according to the ancient authors, could be substantial. They were organized in " syndicat" and constituted, because of the amount of the collected sums, a powerful order. This function was incompatible with the senatorial dignity, it could be exerted by knights. The beams of tenant farming had passed with them by the critics for five years.
Their practice usurière (interest rate with 45%) will be denounced by Lucullus and Gabinius.
Under the Empire, their activity decrease gradually and their role is replaced by the direct harvest of the taxes by the critics and the Procurateur S and Questeur S. Jules César begins this reform by decreasing the tenant farming on the Asia.
Under the Empire, the publicains were generally perceived like tax collectors by the inhabitants of the provinces. However, their role in the public services, in particular in the construction projects, was still very significant. With the growth of the imperial administration, their role in this field as well as their importance in general declined very quickly.
The publicains are mentioned in the New Testament.
See too
Sources
- Publicain, Lexicon of history and civilization Romans , Jean-Luc Lamboley
Internal bonds
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