Sunday Emmanuel

@sundayemmanuel · 18 Nov 2021

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What is the definition of a publican?

A person who owns or manages a pub. A Jewish tax collector for the ancient Romans. A publican can also be someone who owns or manages a hotel. They are also the ancient Romans public contractors who erected or maintained public buildings, supplied armies overseas, or collect certain taxes particularly those supplying the fluctuating amount of revenue to the state.

How the ancient Publicans came about

They were collectors of various revenues and taxes in the province of the Roman empire. Roman taxes were of two types, direct [ which can be property, poll, and income] and indirect [ fees on sales and purchases, export and import of customs]. Instead of collecting the indirect taxes through government officials and under public control, the state usually auctioned them to rich contractors. These tax farmers divided their territory into districts and employed local agents to do the actual work of collecting revenue. These subagents were the custom-house officers who examined merchandise,
assessed its value more or less arbitrarily, and exacted the level. The tax farmers were the publican.

Another name for Publicans today.
1. Tavern keeper
2. Innkeeper
3. Shopkeeper
4. Victualler
5. Poulterers
6. Vintner
7. Fishmonger