Patron and client (Roman law)

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Information for Authority record
Name (Hebrew)
פטרון ולקוח (משפט רומי)
Name (Latin)
Patron and client (Roman law)
Name (Arabic)
פטרון ולקוח (משפט רומי)
Other forms of name
Patrocinium
Patronage (Roman law)
Patronatus
See Also From tracing topical name
Roman law
MARC
MARC
Other Identifiers
Wikidata: Q56881933
Library of congress: sh 90003161
Sources of Information
  • Work cat.: Krause, J. Spätantike Patronatsformen, c1987.
  • Black's law dict.
  • Berger, A. Encyclopedic dict. of Roman law
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Wikipedia description:

Patronage (clientela) was the distinctive relationship in ancient Roman society between the patronus ('patron') and their cliens ('client'). Apart from the patron-client relationship between individuals, there were also client kingdoms and tribes, whose rulers were in a subordinate relationship to the Roman state. The relationship was hierarchical, but obligations were mutual. The patron was the protector, sponsor, and benefactor of the client; the technical term for this protection was patrocinium. Although typically the client was of inferior social class, a patron and client might even hold the same social rank, but the former would possess greater wealth, power, or prestige that enabled him to help or do favors for the client. From the emperor at the top to the commoner at the bottom, the bonds between these groups found formal expression in legal definition of patrons' responsibilities to clients. Patronage relationships were not exclusively between two people and also existed between a general and his soldiers, a founder and colonists, and a conqueror and a dependent foreign community.

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