OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

267

sive. As its influence was not confined to Rome chap.

or Italy , the produce continually increased with „.

the gradual extension of the Roman City. Thenew citizens, though charged, on equal terms,"with the payment of new taxes, which had notaffected them as subjects, derived an amplecompensation from the rank they obtained, theprivileges they acquired, and the fair prospectof honours and fortune that was thrown open totheir ambition. But the favour which implied The free.a distinction was lost in the prodigality of Cara- city givencalla, and the reluctant provincials were com- p^lnci-pelled to assume the vain title, and the real ob- a,s > for th «

. . . . __ _ purpose of

ligations, of Roman citizens. Nor was the ra- taxation,pacious son of Severus contented with such ameasure of taxation as had appeared sufficientto his moderate predecessors. Instead of atwentieth, he exacted a tenth of all legaciesand inheritances; and during his reign (for theancient proportion was restored after his death)he crushed alike every part of the empire un-der the weight of his iron sceptre.*

When all the provincials became liable to the Tempora-peculiar impositions of Roman citizens, they J7on of'theseemed to acquire a legal exemption from the tril,ute -tributes which they had paid in their formercondition of subjects. Such were not the max-ims of government adopted by Caracalla and hispretended son. The old as well as the newtaxes were, at the same time, levied in the pro-

u The situation of the new citizens is minutely described by Pliny {Panegyric, c. 37, 38, 39). Trajan published a law very much in theirfavour.

* Dion, 1. lxxvii, p. 1295.