Makoto Shimada

The purpose of this paper is to reconsider the role of patronage, by investigating its practice in Italian communities under the Empire Most scholars have argued that the patronage of communities, as well as other kinds of patronage, had lost their significance under the Empire In recent years, however, some scholars have asserted that patronage continued playing an important role in Roman society under the Empire Accordingly, the author investigates such patronage First, the author analyses the status of communal patrons, and finds that while, in the 1st Century, Imperial leaders of the Empire had the majority of patrons, by the 2nd Century it was the native leaders who did so Secondly, he investigates cases which elucidate the process of coopting communal patrons The case of Aquinum (CIL X 5393) shows that, in the 1st century, some communal patrons were sent to communities by the Emperors in order to calm internal quarrels The cases of Ferentinum and Tifernum Tiberinum (CIL VI 1492 & Plinius, epistulae VI 1) show that, in the 2nd century, the communities themselves, rather, took the initiative in coopting patrons by making patronage an honorary function and position Thus, the patronage of communities in Italy did not lose its significance at the beginning of the Empire but in the early 2nd century