How could Roman slaves be free?

Answer 1

There are only 2 ways in which a Roman slave could earn freedom: They could be given their freedom by their owner or they could buy their own freedom; but they would have to pay the equivelent of their purchase price-which was impossible.

Answer 2

It was actually very rare for a Roman slave to become a citizen. Many Roman slaves became gladiators because that was the high demand for entertainment for Roman citizens. If the gladiator was to do well for about 5-10 in battles, they would be honored by the king of Rome himself and be set free. When they became a citizen, they found it hard to find jobs so it was common for them to become farmers or go back to their families if they had one.

*Fun fact. The odds of a gladiator dying in battle were actually 1/20. The gladiator would only die if they lost 3+ times in a row. But in the end, it's decided by the king if they die or not.

Answer 3

A slave could not became a Roman citizen. Slaves were commodities, someone else's property which could be bought and sold at will. They had no legal status. However, freedmen could obtain Roman citizenship. Since many slaves were brought to Rome and the rate of manumission (freeing slaves) was high, at one point the majority of Roman citizens in the city of Rome were freedmen and their descendants.

Answer 4

The slaves were not freed just during the Roman Republic. They were also freed before and after the Republic. It was a Roman custom. Its origins are not clear. It was something the Greeks simply could not understand. They could be freed for loyalty or for good service. It probably gave the slaves an incentive for compliance and something to aim for. Not only the Romans were in the habit to fee slaves. Freedmen also received Roman citizens and enjoyed the protections of Roman law and the rights of Roman citizens, except for the right to run for public office. Enterprising freedmen who worked hard could become rich.