What is Patronage?

In the regal society of ancient Italy, ties of dependency bound many members of lower classes to aristocrats in higher classes. This patron-client relationship was known as clientela.  The client was a free man who is linked to a person of higher class, who is deemed his patron.  The client would sing praises of their patron when they ran for office, and would be forced to vote for them.  Aiding his patron in his private life and accompanying him when he appeared in public are other tasks performed by clients.  In return, the patron provided protection, financial assistance, political and legal support, and occasionally food for their client. Clientage rose to be the most important social relationship found in Rome and was a prominent feature in Roman society, politics, and military.   This relationship was the basis for the rapid growth of Roman power, and was necessary for maintaining Roman influence throughout the world.

 

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