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For the fictional "charm" which is mentioned in the Harry Potter series of novels, see Patronus Charm

Patronus (plural patroni) was part of the social customs of Ancient Rome, a social term that referred to the senior party in one of several social relationships.

It could refer to the protector, sponsor, or benefactor of a cliens from the lower classes or from outside Rome in a relationship called clientela. This social institution was ancient, extending into Rome's earliest society. Indeed, the Romans believed it was invented by Romulus. In the earliest periods, patricians were patrons of plebian citizens.

It could also refer to the former master of a freedman. On the manumission of slaves, former owners became patroni and had certain rights over their freedmen.

By the time of Cicero, the patroni could also refer to the more professional relationship between an advocate and his legal client and was a rough synonym for the term advocatus.

In Cicero's time, a prominent Roman senator might be the patronus of entire city or foreign country. Sometimes, the Roman Senate would settle disputes between foreign nations within its "sphere of influence" by referring the matter to be resolved between the patroni of the respective disputing client nations, and abide by the results.

A Patronus had certain obligations towards their cliens, including that of a being a legal advisor and protector.

Furthermore, various professional and other corporations awarded statutory tites such as patronus or pater patratus (some used more than one) to external protectors, such as Magistrates or members of the imperial family, sometimes merely as a flattery, rather like modern charities enjoying the 'high protection' of one or more princes, statesmen etcetera with our without any actual involvement.

For more details refer to clientela.

The title was also used in a Mithraic community, which was not merely a religious congregation but also a social and legal body with its officials, the other titles being decemprimi, magistri, curatores and defensores.

In the feudal era, Patronus came to be used in the senses of the modern word patron, and especially for a Patron saint.

Latin translation meaning the protector

• Patronage
• Cliens
• Clientela

• Badian, Ernst (1959), Foreign Clientelae, Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press.
• Rich, John, ed. (1990), Patronage in Ancient Society, London and New York: Routledge.
• Saller, R.P (1984), Personal Patronage under the Roman Empire, Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press.