Pater familias
The
pater familias, also written as
paterfamilias, was the head of a Roman family. The paterfamilias was the oldest living male in a household, he had complete control of all family members until he died. Once the paterfamilias died the next oldest male would then have control. The term is Latin for "father of the family" or the "owner of the family estate". The form is archaic in Latin, preserving the old genitive ending in
-ās, whereas in classical Latin the normal genitive ending was
-ae. The
pater familias was always a Roman citizen. Roman law and tradition established the power of the
pater familias within the community of his own extended
familia. He held legal privilege over the property of the
familia, and varying levels of authority over his dependents: these included his wife and children, certain other relatives through blood or adoption, clients, freedmen and slaves. The same
mos maiorum moderated his authority and determined his responsibilities to his own
familia and to the broader community.