Civitas

A term used in the later Roman Republic and under the Roman Empire for a favored provincial community. Some were exempted from tribute payment and Roman judicial jurisdiction. Others received grants of self-government and were not subject to military occupation. The term also referred to citizenship in ancient Rome.

A term used in the later Roman Republic and under the Roman Empire, to describe certain self-governing communities, which comprised a town with its local citizens and magistrates together with its surrounding territory. See also colonia, municipium.