Proof of citizenship

[ScipioAsina]

Greetings!

Brian Rapske's Paul in Roman Custody discusses the subject of citizenship at length. Here are a few excerpts:

Even a desperate person could scarcely have risked two citizenship claims and an appeal to Caesar without the right to do so. Latin personal and family names could be used by non-Romans in Paul's day, but surnames were tightly restricted. Suetonius writes that Claudius executed those who usurped the privileges of Roman citizenship Epictetus (c. 50-120 AD) observes that 'those who falsely claim Roman citizenship are severely punished.' Even an unsatisfactorily proven citizenship could result in prosecution or death. (87)

Bruce writes: "Each legitimately born child of a Roman citizen had to be registered within (it appears) thirty days of his birth. If he lived in the provinces, his father, or some duly appointed agent, made a declaration (professio) before the provincial governor (praeses prouinciae) at the public record-office (tabularium publicum). In the course of his professio the father or his agent declared that the child was a Roman citizen; the professio was entered in the register of declarations (album professionum)...." (130)

At regular intervals when the Roman census was taken, Paul's name, status, age and property holdings would be duly recorded. Near their place of birth, most citizens could without difficulty prove their citizenship—one need merely go to the public record office or summon witnesses. For Paul at Philippi, some 700 miles away from home by land, it might be much more difficult. (130-131)

It was possible to use a certified private copy of the record of the professio—called a testatio—as a kind of birth certificate or passport, though this kind of document was usually kept in the family archive... Schulz notes that testationes such as these were widely used in the courts from Republican times and had considerable importance. (131)

The diploma militaris (or instrumentum) given to pensioned-off auxiliary soldiers was related to the testatio in that it also confirmed the citizen franchise and carried the names of seven witnesses... A civilian type of diploma conferring citizenship is also noted in the sources. The Emperor Nero gave such diplomas of citizenship to Greek youths to reward the quality of their performance in Pyrrhic dances he had sponsored. We further read of travel documents, also called diplomata, which were obtainable on request by enfranchised individuals... (131)

I've left a lot of information out, but I hope this helps nonetheless. I recommend you check out Rapske's book if you're interested in the legal aspects of Paul's travels.