So far, we have learned about many aspects of Roman culture. One of the most important, though, has been the Roman family. Back in Chapter 2 we learned all about the roles of the different family members and the one that stood out was how much power the father of the family wielded. Let's stop and think about our own families for a moment. Who is the disciplinarian in your family? Who is the most strict? Does one person make the rules or is it a joint effort?
In this chapter, we are going to dive deeper into the workings of the Roman family and unpack the concept of "patria potestas"-- the power a Roman father had over his family. Then, we will compare it to our families today to get a better sense not only of the Romans but of ourselves.
In this chapter, we are going to dive deeper into the workings of the Roman family and unpack the concept of "patria potestas"-- the power a Roman father had over his family. Then, we will compare it to our families today to get a better sense not only of the Romans but of ourselves.
World History Encyclopedia Article: Patria Potestas
To start, I want you to read through this article from World History Encyclopedia on the Roman family. Then, we will regroup and discuss it together! Click here to access the article.
Patria Potestas
According to tradition, the first Roman King to establish the concepts of "patria potestas" was King Romulus, the founder and first King of Rome. Dionysus of Halicarnassus in his "Roman Antiquities" (2.26-27) tells us:
Romulus gave the Roman father absolute power over his son. This power the father had until he died whether he imprisoned his son, whipped him, threw him into chains and made him labor on the farm, or even killed him. Romulus even let the Roman father sell his son into slavery.
Romulus gave the Roman father absolute power over his son. This power the father had until he died whether he imprisoned his son, whipped him, threw him into chains and made him labor on the farm, or even killed him. Romulus even let the Roman father sell his son into slavery.
Here are a few more key facts about "patria potestas" that we want to emphasize:
- The Roman father had the power of life and death over his family
- The Roman father would arrange marriages for his children (especially daughters)
- "Patria Potestas" was over the entire family-- grandchildren, too!
- The power of the paterfamilias only ended with either his death OR if he "emancipated" his children
- When a Roman daughter was married, often it would be called a "marriage with manus" meaning that the power of the paterfamilias transferred to the daughter's new husband (think about our marriages today and how, traditionally, the father "gives away" his daughter)
- Strictness of "Patria Potestas" varied from father to father -- for example, Cicero was known for letting his daughter marry someone he didn't particularly like (he was persuaded by his wife and daughter). On the other hand, in 62 BCE there was the famous "Catilinarian Conspiracy" in which a group of men plotted to overthrow the Roman government. Upon hearing that his son was part of it, one Roman father had his son executed for embarrassing the family.
- There were some rules concerning when/if a father would actually kill his family members. Killing a child had to be discussed by a council of adult male relatives. Public opinion might also sway the decision (in other words, if everyone in the town liked the person marked for death, they might persuade the father to commute the sentence!)
- Eventually, Roman Law eroded the power of "patria potestas" (similar to modern America from the 1950s to today). For example, a Roman daughter earned the right to consent to marriage arrangements
- Remember, even though they may be harsh, Roman fathers did actually love their families! And we have plenty of evidence of this. It's like families today-- they are all different. We can't make any snap judgments! The main purpose of a father/mother, though, was to prepare their children to become adults by acting as moral role models. Cicero describe the love between parent and child as "amor ille penitus insitus" ("that love implanted deeply within") -- sounds similar to us today!
The Roman poet Statius writes about the relationship between parent and child:
From their father may your children learn peaceful ways and from their grandfather may they learn generosity, and from both eagerness for glorious virtue. Because of their position and birth, the daughter will enter a noble house upon marriage, and the sons as soon as they become men will enter the threshold of Romulus' Senate House.
From their father may your children learn peaceful ways and from their grandfather may they learn generosity, and from both eagerness for glorious virtue. Because of their position and birth, the daughter will enter a noble house upon marriage, and the sons as soon as they become men will enter the threshold of Romulus' Senate House.
Examples of Patria Potestas in Action
Take a look at the stories below. How do you think they relate to the ideas of "patria potestas?"
Icarus and Daedalus
Lucius Junius Brutus
Click here to open a Wikipedia article on Lucius Junius Brutus.
Titus Manlius Torquatus
Click here to open a Wikipedia article on Titus Manlius Torquatus.