The emphasis of this study is essentially twofold. The opening chapters deal with the gradual development of Roman hostage policy and attempt to explain the standard procedures which the Romans employed in exacting formal hostages. Chapters III-IX are concerned with specific hostages or groups of hostages taken by the Romans during the period of the Republic and early empire. These chapters are intended not only to illustrate the procedures described in Chapter II, but also to show how the Romans cultivated hostages both as intermediaries in the dissemination of Latin culture among conquered peoples, and as a means of fostering political disruption in the internal affairs of powerful donor states. A summary of the main points of each chapter follows.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)