The fiscus, and the imperial administration of public finance, from Augustus to Trajan

Abstract

Contrary to the views of many modern scholars there is no evidence that during the first century of the Principate the imperial fiscus emerged as a second treasury of state alongside the old aerarium Saturni. It can be shown, also, that the imperial civil service began to expand and assume systematic control over the administration of the public finances only from the time of the Flavian emperors and Trajan. Again, in the early imperial period 'imperial' and 'senatorial' administrative spheres frequently overlap. This makes it appear unlikely that the general tendency of the first century was for two separate financial organizations - one controlled by the emperor and one by the senate - to emerge. Show more