Civis romanus sum

Civis romanus sum
This article is about the Latin phrase. For the Latin book, see Civis Romanus Sum (book).

Civis Romanus sum (pronounced Cīvis Rōmānus sum) (Classical Latin: [ˈkiːwɪs roːˈmaːnʊs ˈsʊm], I am a Roman citizen) implied, in a wide sense, all the rights and duties associated with the status of Roman citizenship.[1]

The Christian New Testament states that Paul of Tarsus, imprisoned and on trial, claimed his right as a Roman citizen to be tried before Caesar, and the judicial process had to be suspended until he was brought to Rome.[2][3]

The locution was quoted by Lord Palmerston when called to explain his decision to blockade Greece. In his speech in the Houses of Parliament on June 25, 1850 he claimed that every British subject in the world should be protected by the British Empire like a Roman citizen in the Roman Empire.[4][5]

In 1963, the phrase inspired the American president Kennedy to proclaim "Two thousand years ago the proudest boast was civis Romanus sum. Today, in the world of freedom, the proudest boast is "Ich bin ein Berliner".

References

  1. ^ Cicero, In Verrem II.v.162
  2. ^ Acts 22
  3. ^ Acts 27
  4. ^ Wawro, Geoffrey (2002). Warfare and Society in Europe 1792–1914. Routledge. pp. 37–38. 
  5. ^ Chamberlain, Muriel Evelyn (1980). British foreign policy in the age of Palmerston. Seminar studies in history. Longman. p. 125. 
Stub icon This Ancient Rome-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.