Post by Admin on Jun 1, 2016 22:42:42 GMT
In 413 A.D., under the advice of the Consul Flavius Constantius, a census is to be conducted of Italy and Africa. For the following two years, Italy is to be exempt from taxation, but following the revised census the burden of taxation is to increase dramatically, particularly in Africa. The imperial government is desperate to fully exploit its powerbase now that it cannot count on revenues from the wider empire and is increasingly hemmed in to a few core provinces.
It is hoped that increased taxation in Africa can support tax exemptions for Italia and Gallia (when it is reclaimed) as much of those provinces now lies empty or impoverished.
The move will not be popular, but the old maxim of Tiberius is to be the ruling logic: "It is the duty of a good shepherd to shear his sheep, not to skin them."
The move is officially under the name of Honorius, since Constantius has no official civilian power.
It is hoped that increased taxation in Africa can support tax exemptions for Italia and Gallia (when it is reclaimed) as much of those provinces now lies empty or impoverished.
The move will not be popular, but the old maxim of Tiberius is to be the ruling logic: "It is the duty of a good shepherd to shear his sheep, not to skin them."
The move is officially under the name of Honorius, since Constantius has no official civilian power.