Latin Citizenship in the Provinces: The "conubium" Rights and the "lex Minicia de liberis"

Abstract

This paper aims to prove the existence of the conubium as an inalienable ritght of latin citizens in the provinces. A detailed study of the lex Minicia de liberis will be used, together with the analysis regarding chronology and beneficiaries carried out by G. Luraschi. Another important source will be the letter from emperor Domitian which is quoted at the end of the lex Irnitana, because it, as well as the lex Minicia, are often used to deny latin citizens of the provinces any access to conubium. Finally, a traditional chronology, before the Social War, is defended for the lex Minicia, thereby liberating it from the restrictions entailed by it, when studying imperial latin citizenship.