Roman collectors (publicani)

Roman collectors, known as publicani, were private businessmen who contracted with the state to finance and manage public projects such as tax collection, infrastructure, or military provisions. They operated as intermediaries, often bidding for contracts and paying the government upfront, then collecting revenues or fees from citizens or provinces. While they played a vital role in maintaining the empire’s economy and infrastructure, their activities could sometimes be aggressive or exploitative. Essentially, publicani functioned as outsourced agents that handled certain government responsibilities, earning profits through their efficiency and management of public services under official oversight.