Top 7 Most Ridiculous Taxes Ever Imposed By The Authorities

 The tax paid by the freed slaves

The manumission – which is what this tax was called in Ancient Rome – was originally applied to the owners who were required by the state to pay a certain fixed amount for every emancipated slave. So far so good, as the wealth of a person who could afford to own slaves was much greater compared to the tax! However, at some point, Rome decided that the slave who is set free should also be asked to pay up to 10% of his price before the emancipation was pronounced official. As you may have guessed, a lot fewer slaves could actually afford the freedom.