Agentores

Agentores were a group of individuals in the Roman Republic and Empire who acted as intermediaries in financial and legal transactions. They were not formally recognized as a distinct class of officials but rather operated within the existing legal and economic frameworks. Their primary role was to facilitate business for those who were absent, lacked expertise, or preferred to delegate such matters. This could include managing property, collecting debts, or representing parties in legal proceedings.

The activities of agentores were diverse and often depended on the specific needs of their clients. They might be hired by wealthy landowners to oversee their estates while they were away in Rome or on military campaigns. Merchants might employ agentores to conduct business in foreign cities or to manage their accounts. In legal contexts, an agentor could be appointed to act on behalf of someone who could not appear in court themselves. The relationship was typically based on a contract, with the agentor receiving a fee for their services. The legality and ethical considerations surrounding their actions were generally governed by existing Roman law concerning mandates and agency. Their existence highlights the practical mechanisms developed within Roman society to manage complex economic and legal affairs.