Legal Definitions - patronus

The term patronus refers to two distinct historical legal roles:

• In ancient Roman law, a patronus was a former master who had granted freedom to a slave through an act called manumission. This act established a new legal relationship where the former master, now the patronus, was entitled to certain duties and services from the newly freed person (known as a libertus or liberta). These duties could include respect, political support, or occasional labor. In return, the patronus often provided protection and support to the freed person.

  • Example 1 (Political Obligation): A prominent Roman citizen, Lucius, frees his long-serving scribe, Gaius. As Gaius's patronus, Lucius expects Gaius to publicly endorse his political ambitions, vote for his chosen candidates, and encourage other freedmen in his social circle to do the same during elections. Gaius, in turn, might rely on Lucius for legal advice or financial assistance in times of need.

    This illustrates the Roman concept of a patronus because Lucius, as the former master, retains a legal claim to specific services (political support) from Gaius, his freedman, demonstrating the ongoing, albeit altered, relationship.

  • Example 2 (Professional Services): A wealthy Roman matron, Cornelia, manumits her skilled seamstress, Livia. Although Livia is now free to establish her own business, as Cornelia's liberta, she is obligated to periodically create garments for Cornelia's household or perform specific tailoring tasks without charge, as part of her continuing duties to her patronus.

    This example shows the patronus-libertus relationship where Cornelia, as the patronus, is entitled to specific professional services from Livia, the freedwoman, reflecting the lingering obligations from their former master-slave bond.

• In medieval English ecclesiastical law, a patronus (also known as an advowee) was an individual or institution that possessed the legal right to nominate and present a candidate for appointment to a vacant church benefice (a church office or living, such as a parish priest). This right, called an advowson, often came with the responsibility to maintain the church property or support the cleric.

  • Example 1 (Lord of the Manor): When the position of vicar for the village church becomes vacant due to the incumbent's retirement, the local baron, Lord Ashworth, exercises his inherited right as the patronus. He selects a suitable priest and formally presents him to the bishop for institution into the parish.

    This demonstrates the patronus in an ecclesiastical context, as Lord Ashworth holds the legal authority to choose and present a cleric for a church position, a right associated with his landholding.

  • Example 2 (University College): A historic university college holds the advowson for several rural parishes. When the rector of one of these parishes passes away, the college's governing body, acting as the patronus, reviews applications and appoints one of its own scholars to fill the vacant rectorship, thereby exercising its right to present a cleric.

    Here, the university college functions as the patronus by holding the right to appoint a cleric to a church living, showcasing how institutions could also hold this specific form of patronage.