Chapter 4 - The Colonate in the West, 438–ca. 506

Summary

In the fourth and fifth centuries, the emperors had to combat the patrocinium: the protection offered by powerful persons to towns and individuals. This protection was often used for evading public law duties. The title in the Code deals only with Egypt, where it seems to have been rampant or been most detrimental, notwithstanding that it is also attested for Syria. It must have existed in other provinces as well. Yet, it does not seem in the west to have required legislation. Also coloni took advantage of it, offering patrons entire hamlets. As a result they seem to have neglected to work for their estate owners. In this context the coloni homologi turn up. Connecting this with CTh 13.10.7, it concerns most probably coloni registered on one tax list. They had to provide the aggregate of the poll tax, regardless of the number of present coloni. The solution was to combine lists and correct by cross-linking fiscal accounts.