What was a
Client King?
Why did Rome divide her
Empire into provinces?
1. Label your map with the client kingdoms, then provinces (if time).
2. What would you expect a client kingdom to look like?
Roman Provinces
Client Kingdoms
Client Kings
What did
What did the
Rome gain?
client kings gain?
The system of patron and
client was well established in
Rome. This system tied two
people together in terms of
helping each other when it
was needed.
Patrons and Clients had obligations towards
each other. Perhaps the most common form
was the relationship between an ex-slave and
their former master. The freed man or
woman had certain duties to perform for the
ex-master while he or she had some
responsibilities towards the ex-slave. Many
poorer Romans found this helpful, even to the
point of getting food, hand-outs of money and
jobs from their patrons.
Client Kings were similar. They
were clients of the Roman state
rather than individuals, although as
with Ptolemy XII and Pompey, that
was not always obvious. They were
also part of the frontier areas which
made them important to Rome’s
security. They were expected to
keep their kingdom under control,
peaceful and secure.
Rome’s obligation in this
patron-client relationship was to
support them in their kingdom –
often that was keeping them in
power while the Romans did not
interfere too much in local
politics. For example, Ptolemy XII
Auletes gained a garrison of
Roman soldiers.
Cicero, as governor of the province of
Cilicia in 51-50 BC, dealt with client
kings Deiotarus and Brogitarus when
Parthia threatened the province, just as
Mark Antony was to use client kings in
his wars with the Parthians 20 years
later. Deiotarus brought two legions to
Cicero, and later sided with Pompey in
the Civil War against Caesar.
These kings were often given the title of
“Friends and Allies of the Roman People”.
However, Rome considered these allies to be
part of the Empire, and it was not unknown
for the Romans to take over the kingdom
because there was more benefit from direct
rule. This had happened in Cyprus in 58 BC
when Clodius annexed the island and
removed Ptolemy XII Auletes’ brother from
the throne.
The patrons used these clients for
financial or political advantages,
especially at election time. The system
ran right through every level of society,
so that even an important politician
such as Mark Antony relied on others,
such as Julius Caesar, who might
advance his career or provide him with
opportunities.
In the Roman Empire, financial aid might be
provided. In return client kings provided
resources when needed. This usually
amounted to –
armed men,
supplies,
money,
strategic positions,
local knowledge,
contacts.
For the Romans, the patron-client
relationship had the benefit of having
some control without having to use
soldiers and resources to police the state,
while they still could exercise some
influence over especially foreign policy.
For the king and his subjects, the main
benefit was that Rome did not impose her
rule, taxes, way of life or demands on the
kingdom.
Client Kings in Plutarch
How many can you
find on your map?
Plutarch describes how the Kings of the East rushed to gain the patronage of
Mark Antony when he first came to the east after the death of Julius Caesar:
Then he left behind Lucius Censorinus in charge of Greece. He went across to Asia and
took possession of the wealth there. Kings waited at his door. The wives of kings
competed with one another with their gifts and using their beauty, allowed themselves
to be seduced by him.
Plutarch Antony 24
According to Plutarch Antony 37, when Mark Antony marched against the
Parthians, Artavasdes, King of Armenia, provided six thousand cavalry and seven
thousand infantry. And he was only one of many.
At the Battle of Actium Plutarch lists the Kings in support of Mark Antony:
The subject kings who fought with him were Bocchus the king of Libya, Tarcondemus the
King of Upper Cilicia, Archelaüs of Cappadocia, Philadelphus of Paphlagonia, Mithridates
of Commagene, and Sadalas of Thrace. These kings were present. Armies were also sent
by Polemon from Pontus, by Malchus from Arabia, by Herod the Jew (Judaea), and also
by Amyntas the King of Lycaonia and Galatia; the King of the Medes also sent an
auxiliary force.
Plutarch Antony 61
Why do you think Rome allowed client kings
to have their own coins?
Give two examples of coins.
Laureate (laurel wreath)
nude Heracles
head of Emperor
standing, resting arm on
Antoninus Pius
club, holding lion-skin
Coin from Judaea
bare-headed bust of
Emperor Antoninus
Pius
Corinthian helmet
Coin from Macedonia
bare-headed bust of
Emperor Antoninus
Pius
Crowned bust of
goddess Isis
Coin from Alexandria, Egypt
Laureate (with laurel
wreath) head of
Emperor Antoninus
Pius
Apollo standing with
foot on omphalos (a
religious stone), holding
a bow and arrow
Coin from Cappadocia