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Pallas (freedman)
Marcus Antonius Pallas (Greek: Πάλλας; died AD 62) was a prominent Greek freedman and Secretary of the Treasury during the reigns of the Roman Emperors Claudius and Nero. He served the household of Antonia Minor. His younger brother was Marcus Antonius Felix, a procurator of Judaea Province.
Antonia the Younger (Antonia Minor), daughter of Mark Antony and Octavia Minor and niece of the emperor Augustus, was one of the most prominent and wealthy women of the early Roman Empire. Through her family connections and imperial favor, she possessed extensive estates, including large numbers of slaves and freedmen who operated within patron-client relationships.
Pallas was part of the Household of Antonia Minor, originally enslaved and later freed by Antonia, served as her principal financial administrator, overseeing her estates and managing her assets in Asia, Greece, Syria, Judea and Egypt. According to Tacitus, Pallas and his brother Felix claimed descent from the kings of Arcadia.
In AD 31, Antonia Minor discovered that the Praetorian Prefect Sejanus was plotting to overthrow Emperor Tiberius. She entrusted Pallas to deliver the evidence to the emperor at Capri. Josephus mentions him as the slave sent by Antonia to deliver evidence to the emperor Tiberius concerning the murder of his son Drusus Julius Caesar by Sejanus.
Antonia Minor probably manumitted Pallas (aged c. 30) between the years of 31 and 37, when he would have passed the minimum age for freedom. In accordance with Roman custom, Pallas took the name of her father when freed. In ancient Rome, the typical minimum age for an enslaved person to be manumitted (freed) was 30 years old, a rule established by law (Lex Aelia Sentia), though exceptions existed, especially for imperial slaves, and younger ages (like 20) were possible with special council approval for specific reasons (e.g., blood relation).
When Pallas was manumitted (freed) by Antonia Minor, he became a Roman citizen, but of the specific class known as libertini (freedmen). Despite his Roman citizenship, Pallas carried the macula servitutis (stain of slavery). This meant he was legally barred from holding public office (honores) or entering the Senatorial Order. Because he was not born into a patrician family, he was technically a plebeian. In the Roman "class system," almost all freedmen were categorized as plebeians upon gaining citizenship. While legally a "commoner," Pallas's actual power was immense because he was a member of the Antonii-household and later the Imperial Household (familia Caesaris).
On 16 March 37 AD, the Death of Emperor Tiberius saw Caligula (r. 37–41) become the new emperor. He was the grandson of Antonia Minor.
On 1 May 37 AD, the death of Antonia Minor (aged 72) saw her son Claudius inherited her estates and household members. In accordance with tradition, he became the master and patron (pater familias) of all the clients belonging to the Antonii-family, with Pallas becoming his client.
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Pallas (freedman)
Marcus Antonius Pallas (Greek: Πάλλας; died AD 62) was a prominent Greek freedman and Secretary of the Treasury during the reigns of the Roman Emperors Claudius and Nero. He served the household of Antonia Minor. His younger brother was Marcus Antonius Felix, a procurator of Judaea Province.
Antonia the Younger (Antonia Minor), daughter of Mark Antony and Octavia Minor and niece of the emperor Augustus, was one of the most prominent and wealthy women of the early Roman Empire. Through her family connections and imperial favor, she possessed extensive estates, including large numbers of slaves and freedmen who operated within patron-client relationships.
Pallas was part of the Household of Antonia Minor, originally enslaved and later freed by Antonia, served as her principal financial administrator, overseeing her estates and managing her assets in Asia, Greece, Syria, Judea and Egypt. According to Tacitus, Pallas and his brother Felix claimed descent from the kings of Arcadia.
In AD 31, Antonia Minor discovered that the Praetorian Prefect Sejanus was plotting to overthrow Emperor Tiberius. She entrusted Pallas to deliver the evidence to the emperor at Capri. Josephus mentions him as the slave sent by Antonia to deliver evidence to the emperor Tiberius concerning the murder of his son Drusus Julius Caesar by Sejanus.
Antonia Minor probably manumitted Pallas (aged c. 30) between the years of 31 and 37, when he would have passed the minimum age for freedom. In accordance with Roman custom, Pallas took the name of her father when freed. In ancient Rome, the typical minimum age for an enslaved person to be manumitted (freed) was 30 years old, a rule established by law (Lex Aelia Sentia), though exceptions existed, especially for imperial slaves, and younger ages (like 20) were possible with special council approval for specific reasons (e.g., blood relation).
When Pallas was manumitted (freed) by Antonia Minor, he became a Roman citizen, but of the specific class known as libertini (freedmen). Despite his Roman citizenship, Pallas carried the macula servitutis (stain of slavery). This meant he was legally barred from holding public office (honores) or entering the Senatorial Order. Because he was not born into a patrician family, he was technically a plebeian. In the Roman "class system," almost all freedmen were categorized as plebeians upon gaining citizenship. While legally a "commoner," Pallas's actual power was immense because he was a member of the Antonii-household and later the Imperial Household (familia Caesaris).
On 16 March 37 AD, the Death of Emperor Tiberius saw Caligula (r. 37–41) become the new emperor. He was the grandson of Antonia Minor.
On 1 May 37 AD, the death of Antonia Minor (aged 72) saw her son Claudius inherited her estates and household members. In accordance with tradition, he became the master and patron (pater familias) of all the clients belonging to the Antonii-family, with Pallas becoming his client.