The Colonate in the Roman Empire

The colonate was a fiscal regulation of a surety relationship between landowners and farmers in the later Roman Empire, affecting their freedom of movement and status. This study provides a reassessment of the legal aspects of the phenomenon in its social and economic contexts, using the Theodosian and Justinian Codes as critical sources.

Format: Hardback
Length: 360 pages
Publication date: 18 January 2024
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The Roman Empire witnessed a unique phenomenon during the fourth and fifth centuries AD known as the colonate. This involved the fiscal regulation of a surety relationship between landowners and farmers, which had significant implications for agrarian and social relations. The colonate played a crucial role in determining the freedom of movement and the transmission of status for these farmers.

In order to provide a comprehensive reassessment of the legal aspects of the colonate, this study takes a novel approach by working retrogradely, or backwards through time. By examining the Theodosian and Justinian Codes, two critical sources, the volume offers a thorough evaluation of the phenomenon. This makes it an invaluable resource for students and scholars of Roman law, as well as those interested in the agricultural and social history of late antiquity.

The colonate emerged as a response to the changing economic and social conditions of the late Roman Empire. Landowners sought to secure their interests by establishing a legal framework that would protect their property and ensure a reliable supply of agricultural labor. Farmers, on the other hand, sought to improve their economic conditions and gain greater control over their land and resources.

The colonate involved a series of legal agreements between landowners and farmers. These agreements typically stipulated the terms of the surety relationship, including the obligations of each party and the penalties for non-compliance. The landowners would provide the farmers with land and other resources in exchange for a portion of their produce. In return, the farmers would be bound to the land and would be required to work it according to the terms of the agreement.

The colonate had far-reaching implications for the agrarian and social relations of the late Roman Empire. It facilitated the expansion of agriculture and the development of rural communities. It also helped to maintain stability and order in the countryside, as farmers were bound to their land and were less likely to engage in disruptive activities.

However, the colonate also had negative consequences for some farmers. It limited their freedom of movement and prevented them from pursuing other economic opportunities. It also created a hierarchical structure in the countryside, with landowners at the top and farmers at the bottom.

The colonate played a major role in the legal and social history of the late Roman Empire. It helped to shape the nature of property rights and the relationship between landowners and farmers. It also had implications for the broader political and social landscape of the empire, as it contributed to the development of feudalism and the decline of urban centers.

In conclusion, the colonate was a unique phenomenon in the Roman Empire that had significant legal and social implications. This study provides a comprehensive reassessment of the legal aspects of the colonate, embedding them as far as possible in their social and economic contexts. By examining the Theodosian and Justinian Codes, two critical sources, the volume offers a thorough evaluation of the phenomenon and makes it an invaluable resource for students and scholars of Roman law and the agricultural and social history of late antiquity.

ISBN-13: 9781009172608