Civis romanus sum
Encyclopedia
Civis Romanus sum (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
.
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.
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
.
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
".
Roman citizenship
Citizenship in ancient Rome was a privileged political and legal status afforded to certain free-born individuals with respect to laws, property, and governance....
.
The Christian New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
states that Paul of Tarsus
Paul of Tarsus
Paul the Apostle , also known as Saul of Tarsus, is described in the Christian New Testament as one of the most influential early Christian missionaries, with the writings ascribed to him by the church forming a considerable portion of the New Testament...
, imprisoned and on trial, claimed his right as a Roman citizen to be tried before Caesar
Caesar (title)
Caesar is a title of imperial character. It derives from the cognomen of Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator...
, and the judicial process had to be suspended until he was brought to Rome.
The locution
Locution
* Locution - a figure of speech - a use of a word that diverges from its usual meaning, or a phrase with a specialized meaning not based on the literal meaning of the words in it such as a metaphor, simile, or personification...
was quoted by Lord Palmerston when called to explain his decision to blockade Greece
Don Pacifico
David Pacifico was of Portuguese Jewish descent and born in Gibraltar. He is best known to history as "Don Pacifico".In 1850, Don Pacifico was a key figure in the international crisis known as the Don Pacifico Affair...
. In his speech in the Houses of Parliament on June 25, 1850 he claimed that every British subject
British subject
In British nationality law, the term British subject has at different times had different meanings. The current definition of the term British subject is contained in the British Nationality Act 1981.- Prior to 1949 :...
in the world should be protected by the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
like a Roman citizen in the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
.
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
Ich bin ein Berliner
"Ich bin ein Berliner" is a quotation from a June 26, 1963, speech by U.S. President John F. Kennedy in West Berlin. He was underlining the support of the United States for West Germany 22 months after the Soviet-supported East Germany erected the Berlin Wall as a barrier to prevent movement...
".