Roman citizenship

In the Roman Empire, the following people could become citizens:

• People who were from the Latin states were granted citizenship.
• The children of slaves who were freed became citizens.
• Foreigners who lived in conquered lands were given partial citizenship.

Children born to a legionary were, however, denied citizenship unless the legionary married after his release from service. Some individuals received citizenship because of their outstanding service to the empire. People could buy citizenship with exhorbitant amount of money.

Rights given:

• The right to vote in the Republic, except for women.
• The right to make contracts
• The right to have a legal marriage
• Citizens couldn't be sentenced to death unless they were accused of treason.

After AD 212, all freemen in the Empire were granted citizenship from the Constitutio Antoniniana.

References

• Roman citizenship