Letter 9010: VARIAE, BOOK 9, LETTER 10

VARIAE, BOOK 9, LETTER 10 From: King Athalaric, writing through Cassiodorus To: The Notables, Landowners, Defenders of Syracuse, and All Provincials Date: ~526-534 AD Context: A proclamation to Sicily promising fair governance and honest tax assessment. [1] We recently announced to you the dawn of our reign. Now it is fitting that good deeds should follow the good news, so that you may know our rule not merely by its proclamations but by its actions. Words are the promise; governance is the proof. And Sicily, which feeds the kingdom, deserves to be among the first to taste the benefits of just administration. [2] We have therefore sent the appointed assessors to review and correct the tax rolls, ensuring that no one is assessed beyond his means and that no one escapes his fair share through influence or fraud. The assessment must reflect reality, not the wishes of the powerful. Whoever cultivates fertile land must pay accordingly; whoever has suffered crop failure or natural disaster must be given relief. Justice in taxation is the foundation of public trust. [3] Cooperate with the assessors, provide honest information, and report any attempt at corruption. The system works only if everyone participates honestly — the state that cheats its citizens and the citizen who cheats his state are equally guilty of undermining the common good. [4] You have our word that the revenues collected from Sicily will be used for Sicily's benefit as much as for the needs of the wider kingdom. Roads, harbors, granaries, and public buildings all require maintenance, and a province that contributes generously to the treasury has every right to expect that the treasury will contribute generously to the province.

X. HONORATIS POSSESSORIBUS DEFENSORIBUS SYRACUSANAE CIVITATIS VEL UNIVERSIS PROVINCIALIBUS ATHALARICUS REX. [1] Dudum quidem vobis ortum nostri imperii aestimavimus nuntiandum: nunc decet subsequi beneficium pro laetitia augenda cunctorum, ut, quibus fuit gratissimus noster exortus, sit illis regalis animus in aliqua parte munificus. crescere nobiscum deo praestante cuncta desideramus, quia ille vere noster est census, quem laetus possessor exsolvit. [2] Proinde subtrahimus pecuniae quod augmentetur gloriae et avari ad laudes profuse nitimur sublevare cultores. pridem divae memoriae domnus avus noster de suis beneficiis magna praesumens, quia longa quies et culturam agris praestitit et populos ampliavit, intra Siciliam provinciam sub consueta prudentiae suae moderatione censum statuit flagitari, ut vobis cresceret devotio, quibus se facultas extenderat. sed illius praedicanda iustitia locum nostrae benignitati praeparavit, ut, quod ei offerri iuste potuit, nos clementi animo quasi illata stipendia donaremus: et quodam praesagio mentis divinae fecit etiam pium, cui parabat imperium. [3] Atque ideo per quartam feliciter indictionem quicquid a vobis supra consuetudinariam functionem augmenti nomine vel petebatur vel constat exactum, liberalitas nostra concedit. quod etsi iuste potuistis pendere, gloriam vos potius nostrae largitati iubemus inferre. [4] Sed ut latius extendatur nostra clementia suavemque dominum impensis beneficiis sentiatis, quicquid a discussoribus novi census per quintam indictionem probatur affixum, ad nostram eos fecimus deferre notitiam, ut, quod rationabile fuerit aestimatum, libentibus animis perferatis, quia nullum laedit observata iustitia. [5] Sed ne credatis pro ordinatorum tantum arbitrio vos gravari, si quis est qui de eorum facto aestimat conquerendum, ad remedia nostrae pietatis occurrat, ut iudicantes corrigamus, qui etiam non rogati beneficia clementer indulsimus. nam et gloriosae recordationis domnus avus noster de eorum commotus fuerat tarditate, ut erat altae prudentiae perscrutator, aestimans eos tamdiu in provincia non sine vestro gravamine residere, quos repetita iussione censuerat iam redire. [6] Sed nos, quos decet implere quicquid ille sub aequitate disposuit, deo auxiliante eius nunc in vobis inchoata perficimus. reddite modo largitati nostrae prosperrimum votum et fidele servitium. habetis principem, qui vobis cum beneficiis probatur exortus et quod subiectis dulcius est, augetur ingenio benivolo cum aetatis augmento. in quam rem Quidilanem saionem nostrum credidimus dirigendum, per quem vobis iussa prosperrima deo largiente pandantur.