Legal Definitions - salarium

In Roman law, salarium referred to a specific type of payment or allowance, distinct from a regular wage or fee. It typically served two main purposes:

• An allowance, often for living expenses, provided to individuals in esteemed or "noble" professions (such as teachers, philosophers, or doctors) who, by custom or law, were not permitted to charge or sue for direct fees for their services. The payment ensured their sustenance without commercializing their respected work.

• Wages or compensation given to individuals engaged in military service on a temporary or emergency basis, rather than as regular, career soldiers who received a different form of pay called a stipendium.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of salarium:

• Imagine a highly respected philosopher in ancient Rome who dedicates his time to educating the children of a prominent senatorial family. Because his profession is considered a noble pursuit rather than a commercial trade, he does not issue invoices or charge a direct fee that he could legally enforce. Instead, the family provides him with a regular salarium – a stipend covering his daily living expenses, food, and accommodation – acknowledging the value of his intellectual contributions without treating it as a transactional service.

  This example illustrates the concept of salarium as an allowance for a "noble profession" where direct, enforceable fees were not customary or legally permissible. The payment ensures the professional's livelihood while upholding the esteemed nature of their work.

• Consider a sudden, unexpected invasion along a distant Roman frontier. To bolster defenses quickly, the local governor calls upon a group of retired, experienced legionaries to temporarily rejoin the ranks for a critical few weeks. Unlike the regular, long-serving soldiers who receive their standard stipendium, these temporary recruits are granted a salarium – a specific payment to cover their immediate needs and compensate them for their urgent, short-term service during the crisis.

  This example demonstrates salarium as compensation for temporary or emergency military service, distinguishing it from the ongoing pay of career soldiers. It highlights the ad-hoc nature of the service and its corresponding payment.