Being in a dire financial situation restored the vectigal urinae in 70 CE. Nero was a classic populist who was ready to ruin the economy, tax the rich to death (literally!), rather than making the masses (and his Praetorian guard) angry. Because of protests by the people, Nero repealed it. To increase Rome’s revenue, Nero was the first to levy a urine tax, better known as the vectigal urinae. Image source and license: Wikimedia Commons Public toilet (latrinae) in Ostia Antica, Italy. ‘Pecunia non olet’ ( money does not stink): Why urine was so valuable for the Romans? During this bloody time, Vespasian, the Roman hero who conquered Judea, triumphed.īut Rome’s reputation was damaged and her coffers were empty. In the following year, known as the Year of the Four Emperors, a tumultuous succession war erupted. Nero fled Rome and later committed suicide in 68 CE. The Senate declared Nero an enemy of the state. In the midst of the anarchy and revolts throughout the Empire, Nero took a fifteen-month trip to Greece to perform lavish plays.įed up with his callous attitude towards administration, his trusted Praetorian Guard abandoned him. The Roman treasury was further reduced as a result of this. Nero made the controversial decision to create a Golden House in the midst of this turmoil. His son Titus, a future Roman Emperor, was the second in command of Vespasian’s army. He had fallen out of favor with Nero and was spending his time in Greece at the time of his summoning. Vespasian hailed from an equestrian family, who were the ancient equivalent of medieval knights. Rome called upon one of its finest generals of the time Vespasian to crush the Jewish revolt. Expensive welfare programs and large-scale constructions were draining Rome’s coffers.īut things got even worse when a revolt broke out in Judea (modern-day Israel) in 66 CE.
#Pecunia non olet origin free#
Nero also extended the supply of free grains, reserved for the poorest, to the Praetorian guard. This lead to the collapse of many businesses and a rise in unemployment. He coerced many wealthy landowners to commit suicide after forcing them to leave their properties to the state. Further, he increased taxes across the provinces and which became extreme with time. He reduced the weight of the coins and decreased the purity of silver. Desperate to revive the economy, Nero started large-scale public projects such as building mansions and statues. Image Source and licensing : Wikimedia CommonsĪfter the Great Fire of Rome, the economy of the Roman Empire began tumbling. Rome’s financial crisisīust of Nero, Musei Capitolini, Rome. To understand the dicey situation Vespasian was in, we have to look at why the Roman coffers were empty, and the role of urine in ancient Rome.
#Pecunia non olet origin how to#
How to make money? Wait a minute, why not tax urine!”, must have been the brilliant idea that occurred to Vespasian. But while checking the finances, he found out that the Empire was bankrupt!
He wanted to restore the glory of Rome after the civil war. He established the Flavian dynasty and was the first Emperor whose successor was his biological son. In this chaos, Vespasian, a military general from an equestrian family, emerged victorious.
A bloody succession battle broke out in the Empire in 69 CE, better known as the Year of the Four Emperors. Because of public outrage, Nero repealed the tax.Īfter Nero’s suicide in 68 CE, Rome was in chaos. Romans didn’t tax urine before Emperor Nero. Urine was a valuable commodity in ancient Rome. Built nearly 2000 years ago, what if I told you a tax on urine paid for this grand monument? This marvelous structure was home to epic gladiatorial contests in ancient Rome. The Colosseum, originally known as the Flavian amphitheater, attracted 7.8 million visitors in 2018–19.
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