Early Rome: The Republic and Municipalities

Sources

Administration. Under the Republic no clear distinction was ever made between local and national levels of government. Yet there were many other governments within the empire. Most of that empire was governed not by officials sent out from the capital city but by local city magistrates and councils. Even though a Roman governor had the ultimate authority in his province, most administration was done by the municipalities. Technically, cities could have many different statuses. None were truly independent of Rome, but few were really run by it. As long as taxes were paid and a minimum level of public order and loyalty was maintained, the central government was usually satisfied. The local communities raised their own funds through taxation and gifts, took care of most local jurisdiction, saw to public buildings and resources (such as water), and celebrated their own religious festivals.

Miniatures of the Great City. Rome was most comfortable dealing with governments like its own in miniature—elected magistrates and a permanent council, all drawn from the elite. So, for instance, many cities of Italy had two duoviri (local equivalents of the consuls), aediles, and a board of “decurions” (essentially the local Senate). As at Rome there was competition for these honores. It often involved substantial private expenditure (both voluntary and compulsory) on public projects. When, however, a civic constitution predated Roman rule (especially common in the eastern empire), it was normally allowed to persist. Over time, there was some drift toward Roman forms, as in the civil law, but it was not strictly required by the central authorities.

Sources

Michael Grant, History of Rome (London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1978).

Andrew W. Lintott, Imperium Romanum: Politics and Administration (London & New York: Routledge, 1993).