Some Considerations on an Epistle of Antoninus Pius

(IGBulg IV, 2263 = V, 5895)

Abstract

The article provides an interpretation, together with a translation, of a letter sent by Antoninus Pius to the Trajan's foundation of Parthicopolis in Thrace. The imperial document, possibly requested by the Parthicopolis community itself through an embassy, is noteworthy for its originality when compared with the corpus of imperial constitutions of the 2nd century CE. Following deliberations concerning Parthicopolis and the proximate, more powerful city of Heraclea Syntica – both engaged in a dispute whose particulars have been rendered uncertain due to the damage of the epigraphic support – the emperor firstly authorized the imperial foundation to collect a poll tax, the revenues of which were intended to cover the «necessary expenses» of the city; moreover, he accorded the polis the right to expand the civic boulé, with a view to enlarge the public funds with the summae honorariae paid on an honorary basis by the newly appointed members. Finally, Antoninus Pius acknowledged a special jurisdictional space for civic courts, enabling them to judge on disputes, not exceeding 250 denarii in value, among «owners within their own territory».

The constitution of Antoninus Pius is evidence of the eclecticism and prudence of imperial regulatory intervention. In order to avoid any disturbance to the political and institutional equilibrium to which Parthicopolis itself was subject, the emperor acknowledged a number of benefits, each of which was modest in size and incapable of producing "side effects" affecting the other political and economic actors in the area: However, when considered as a whole, these measures constituted a substantial intervention in favour of Trajan's foundation, which decided to commemorate the imperial recognition in stone. In conclusion, the article provides some preliminary considerations on the actions of the emperor as a whole, and the analytical categories that a contemporary reader might consider in order to understand their significance.