Who were the peregrini in ancient Rome?

In ancient Rome, a peregrinus was a free provincial subject who did not hold Roman citizenship. They constituted the vast majority of the empire's inhabitants during the first and second centuries AD. Their legal status shifted over time until universal citizenship was granted in AD 212.

What we know

• A peregrinus was a free provincial subject of the Roman Empire who lacked Roman citizenship. [1, 2]
• During the first and second centuries AD, peregrini made up the vast majority of the empire's population. [2]
• In AD 212, the Constitutio Antoniniana granted citizenship to all free inhabitants of the empire, with exceptions for dediticii and freed slaves. [2]
• During the Roman Republic, the term peregrinus simply denoted any person without Roman citizenship, whether under Roman rule or not. [2] · medium confidence

Where to go next

• what caused itWhat was the Constitutio Antoniniana?
• the bigger pictureHow did Roman citizenship work?
• a case in pointWho were the dediticii in Roman law?
• compared withWhat distinguishes barbari from peregrini?
• whenHow did the legal status of provincials change from Republic to Empire?
• an unexpected connectionHow does a Roman legal term relate to a falcon?The Latin word peregrinus meaning foreigner or wanderer eventually gave its name to the peregrine falcon due to the bird's migratory habits.

Sources

• [1]peregrini (Wikidata Q1676972) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Peregrinus (Roman) · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Peregrine falcon · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Peregrine (name) · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Ancient Rome · CC BY-SA 4.0

Your path

1. What is the Ansel Adams Zone System?
2. /What is a microcontinent?
3. /Who were the peregrini in ancient Rome?