Patronage and clientship

Another social institution whose origins, like those of the division between patricians and plebeians, remain obscure was that of patronage and clientship (patronatus and clientela).

Notwithstanding their inferior status, the clients were in the eyes of the law free persons. The relationship between them and their patrons, which was hereditary on both sides, was based on a reciprocity of certain socially defined duties and obligations. A patron was expected to protect his client's life and bodily and moral integrity, to watch over his financial interests, to advise him on legal matters and to represent him in the courts of law (in which a client could not appear alone). In return, a client was expected to stand by his patron on all occasions and to further his interests by every means, whether material or moral, in his power. More specifically, a client had to assist his patron in his political endeavours,^[121] to raise money for his patron's ransom if the latter was taken prisoner, to contribute to any legal costs, such as fines and damages, which his patron may have incurred, to contribute to any expenses involved in the holding of any public office by his patron, and even to provide a dowry for his patron's daughter, if his patron was unable to do so.^[122] Although the obligations which the patron­client relationship entailed were not enforceable by law, both parties were under a strong moral duty not to violate the quasi-religious principles upon which their relationship was founded. Since the interests of patron and client were presumed to be identical, there could be no legal dispute between the two, nor could either of them testify against the other in a court of law.

During the later republican period large numbers of poor and underprivileged citizens, largely members of the plebeian class, and even entire communities, sought to place themselves as clients under the protection of powerful Roman families or individuals in high office. In this form clientship had a profound effect on Rome's social and political life especially during the closing years of the Republic.^[124] Although during the Empire the clientela phenomenon lost much of its earlier force, the client­patron relationship may be regarded as one of the most distinctive and enduring features of the Roman society.