What was the status of a freed slave after manumission?

• A. Full citizen with equal rights
• B. Freedman with limited civic rights
• C. Non-citizen subject
• D. Equites with special tax privileges

Answer: (B)

After manumission, a slave becomes a libertus, a freedman who gains many civil rights but remains tied to the former master through patronage. This status means he is a Roman citizen in most respects: he can own property, enter into and enforce contracts, and marry; he can sue or be sued in court. Yet he does not enjoy the full equality of a freeborn citizen. He remains under the protection and obligation of his patron, and his social and political opportunities are limited—he cannot hold the highest political offices or sit in the Senate. The children of freedmen are born free citizens with full rights, which helps the family rise over time.