Roman postal service (cursus publicus)

Augustus organized a postal service, however exclusively for the state.

The Princeps establishes along the main streets in the distance from approx. 25 Roman miles (37 km) post office stations (mansiones, stationes), where personnel, accomodation as well as fresh horses at the disposal were to the messenger or the official, which traveled on imperial instruction. This post office was subordinated to the commander in chief of the body guard (praefectus praetorio).

Private people were allowed to take the postal service up only with special permission of the emperor. (Usually asked a Privatmann, who wanted to send after letter any place, to order a traveler or a buyer it). Individual travelers came usually much more slowly on the way, than the imperial post office, which, if it inserted on the way no tracing, could put back with changed horses daily to 180 km.

Sources

• George Journey to old Rome, prism publishing house Zenner and Leipzig, Hungary 1966

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