Affaires d'argent dans la correspondance de Cicéron : l'aristocratie sénatoriale face à ses dettes
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Abstract EN:
Partial expresion of a rather widespread indebtedness, the debt of the senatorial aristocracy is defined by the social rank and status of its members. The position of roman senators rested upon an agrarian base. Less well provided in money supply, they run into debt to finance the expenses commanded by senatorial dignitas. In other terms, senatorial debts arose out of the cost of political life, acquisition of producing country estates or urban properties and conspicuous consumption. The resulting indebtedness, far more ostentatious than speculative, appears as a consequence of the traditional ideals of acensitaryelite. Willing to observe the jus amicitiae, the roman senators mutually practice gratuitous credit services. Releasing upon the "noble intention to oblige", these non-interest bearing loans are essentially consented during crucial moments for an individual's status and life. Essentially informal, these credit operations contribute to consolidate the solidarity bonds between parents and friends. The utilitarian purposes of loan based upon friendship are revealed by its systematical practice. Roman senators willing to increase their capital of gratia, and financiers of high status wishing to compensate their abstention from politics voluntarily engaged their funds in gratuitous loans. But it also served to come over legal restrictions prohibiting the remuneration of advocates. Roman senators equally appeal to the services of specialised financiers. Most of them belonged to the upper classes. Practicing credit in all its forms, except the credit on auction sales, they are firmly distinguished of argentarii, bankers of a law social status exclusively occupied by moneylending and banking activites. Present in a lesser extend to cicero's correspondance than the formers, the latter ones appear to lent money, to serve as intermediairies during payment transactions and even to furnishe credit during auction sales. The aristocratic code of honour prescribed the convers, the latter ones appear to lent money, to serve as intermediaries during payment transactions and even to furnishe credit during auction sales. The aristocratic code of honour prescribed the convenable attitude to creditors and debtors: avoid to recover credit by justice, pay debt ponctually, without being in a hurry. Anywhow, the reality of roman system credit, largely based upon the offer of
Abstract FR:
Expression partielle de la question des dettes, l'endettement de l'aristocratie senatoriale se definit par le statut et le rang social de ses representants. Riches en terres, mais moins bien pourvus en liquidites, ils recourent largement a l'emprunt pour financer les depenses inherentes a la dignitas senatoria. L'endettement ostentatoire qui en resulte apparait ainsi comme inseparable aux representations traditionnelles de cette elite censitaire. Les creanciers des senateurs romains se recrutent, du moins pour partie, au sein des cercles concentriques de leurs parents et de leurs amis. S'evertuant a observer le jus amicitiae, ils se pretent mutuellement secours au moyen des services gratuits de credit. Consentis dans la "volonte generieuse d'obliger", ceux-ci se manifestent essentiellement dans des moments critiques pour l'existence civique de l'individu. Ils constituent ainsi une noble expression de la solidarite financiere etablie entre parents ou entre amis. Porteur de gratia, le pret d'amite se prete particulierement a des fins utilitaires. Il fut ainsi l'apnage des hommes desireux de dominer la scene politique, mais aussi des financiers cherchant a eviter une accusation d'inertie politique. Il servit egalement d'expedient a l'interdiction de remunerer les patrons judiciaires. Le pret d'ami n'exclut pas le recours aux specialistes de la finance. Recrutes esentiellement parmi les rangs des possedants, les financiers de l'aristocratie assurent pour leurs nobles relations des services qui sont la replique des services bancaires proprement dits, a la seule exception du service bancaire du credit d'encheres. Les hommes de metier, les argentarii, sont egalement presents au sein de l'univers ciceronien. Socialement assez mal connus, ils s'illustrent comme preteurs sur gage,s'immiscent au paiement des dettes de leurs nobles relations, et s'aventurent sur le domaine du commerce des creances incertaines. Le code d'honorabilite aristocratique prescrit l'attitude du creancier et du debiteur: eviter le recours au tribunal pour obtenir satisfaction, payer ses dettes a l'echeance, sans se precipiter. L'observance de ce code aristocratique se heurte cependant aux carences d'un systeme bancaire reposant essentiellement sur l'offre suffisante d'une monnaie de bon aloi. En l'absence de cette derniere, les creanciers se voient de plus en plus obliges de recevoir a titre