Municipium

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A municipium (plural municipia) belonged to the second highest class of Ancient Roman cities, being inferior in status to the colonia. The first municipium was Tusculum.

The essence of the municipium was that it was self governing.

Municipia were divided into two orders.

The citizens of municipia of the first order held full Roman citizenship and their rights (civitas optimo iure) included the right to vote, which was the ultimate right in Rome, and a sure sign of full rights.

The second order of municipia comprised important tribal centres which had come under Roman control. Residents of these did not become full Roman citizens (although their magistrates could become so after retirement). They were given the duties of full citizens in terms of liability to taxes and military service, but not all of the rights: most significantly, they had no right to vote.

A municipium was governed by a council of four annually elected officials, all under the thumb of Roman rule.

The only known municipium in Roman Britain was St Albans, then called Verulamium.