Legal Definitions - peregrinus

In ancient Roman law, a peregrinus (plural: peregrini) referred to a free individual who resided within or interacted with the Roman Empire but did not possess Roman citizenship. Essentially, they were free foreigners who were not enslaved but also did not enjoy the full legal rights and protections afforded to Roman citizens.

• A Syrian merchant trading in the Roman port of Ostia: Imagine a trader from the city of Palmyra, a free person who regularly traveled to Rome's main port to sell luxury goods like silk or spices. This individual was not a slave, but they remained a citizen of Palmyra, not Rome. Under Roman law, they would be classified as a peregrinus, meaning their legal status and rights in Roman territory would differ from those of a Roman citizen.
• A resident of a newly conquered province in Britannia: Consider a person living in a tribal village in what is now England, shortly after the Roman conquest of parts of Britannia. This individual might be a free member of their local community, not enslaved, but they had not yet been granted Roman citizenship. Until such time, or if they never received it, they would be considered a peregrinus within the Roman legal system, even though they lived within Roman-controlled territory.
• An Egyptian scholar studying in Alexandria, a Roman province: Picture a renowned philosopher from Alexandria, Egypt, during the Roman period. This scholar is a free person, highly educated and respected, but they hold Egyptian citizenship, not Roman. Even though Alexandria was a significant city within the Roman Empire, this individual would be categorized as a peregrinus because they lacked the specific legal status of a Roman citizen.