72 The Imperial Government
theimperialpropertiescametoberegardedassomethingmorethantheper-
sonal propertyof each emperor in turn.Thus Pertinax refused to have his
nameinscribedonimperialbuildings,sayingthattheybelongedtothestate,
nottohimself.^177 Ulpianwasinsomedoubtastowhetheraninterdictum pro-
hibitorium(aprohibitoryinterdictwhichisintendedtopreventinterference
withenjoymentofpublicplacesetc.)isatallapplicabletofiscalproperties
‘‘sincefiscalpropertiesareasitweretheprivatepropertyoftheprinceps.’’^178
Variousotherlegalpassagesofthesameperiodshowfiscalpropertiesattain-
ingastatuscomparabletothatofloca publicaorreligiosa(publicorreligious
properties).^179 Thehistoricaldevelopmentwasnotthegradualabsorptionby
theemperorofpublicpropertiesbuttheacquisitionofa‘‘public’’character
byimperialproperties,aprocesswhichaccuratelyreflectedthefactthatthe
fiscalpropertiesplayedintheEmpirethatrolewhichthenowdepleted‘‘pub-
licland’’(whichCicerohaddescribedasthepatrimoniumoftheres publica)^180
hadplayedintheRepublic.Theyprovided,thatis,bothasteadyrevenuefor
publicpurposesandareservefromwhich,bysellingsomeoff,alargecapital
sumcouldberealizedinemergencies.
Thefurtherdevelopmentofthisprocess,whichfollowedonSeverus’di-
visionofthefiscalpropertiesandrevenuesbetweenpatrimoniumandratio pri-
vata,mustbediscussedelsewhere.Thisstudyofwhat‘‘fiscus’’meantinthe
earlyEmpirehasinevitablyemphasizedthelegalaspectsof imperialprop-
ertyandcannotgiveafullpictureofthehistoricalprocessesinvolved.The
developmentof imperialproperties,andoftheemperor’sfinancialclaims,
ismerelyoneaspectofthatprocessbywhichaprincepsgrewimperceptibly
intoaking(basileus)andhishouseholdintoacourt.For,whateverfurther
revenuesaccrued,propertyremainedthebasisof imperialwealth,andthe
emergenceoftheFiscussymbolizedandcompletedthevictoryofaristocratic
powerandrichesovertheinstitutionsoftheres publica.
- Herodian2,4,7.
178.Dig.43,8,2,4. - E.g.,Dig.49,14,3,10;18,1,72,1;cf.30,39,8–10.Thedistinctionwasstillmain-
tained,however;AE1945,80,showsamanwhowas‘‘procuratorofthepublicandthefiscal
buildingsofthesacredCity’’(proc(urator)oper(um)publ(icorum)etfiscal(ium)Urb(is)sacrae)early
inthereignofSeverus.SeealsoHerodian2,4,6—Pertinaxannouncedthatuncultivated
landcouldbefreelyoccupied‘‘evenifitbelongstotheking.’’
180.de lege agraria1,21,11,101.