Publicanus (etc. publicani) was the general name for a private person in the Roman Empire who carried out certain tasks in accordance with a business agreement with the State.
The publicani features were rented out by the censors on the occasion of the lustrum, and could include the following sectors:
The publicanus had to pay an advance to the state, guarantee the security and meet the annual rate. In this way, the state received a guaranteed fixed income without the burden of its own civil service and associated administrative red tape. The most important and most well-known publicity undoubtedly made the taxpayers or tax collectors known from the New Testament who became more and more notorious about their extortion practices (see Verres). Evolution
In the meantime, a professional association of publicani, the so-called ordo publicanorum, emerged as a powerful organization of interests, because its members were largely the privileged knight and acquired great wealth. By the end of the Republic, when the number of activities increased, the publicani collapsed in highly organized societates, whose leadership was in the hands of a master and business policy at a manceps. Their "shares" (partes; "shareholder" = particeps) were also traded. A pro magistro represented the magister in the provinces. His staff was often slaves and released.
Complaints about the collection of portoria led Nero to control measures: imperial procurators would now monitor the activities of the publicani. At the time of Trajan, the role of publicity was greatly reduced: now he was only a tax collector.
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