he tribute is a payment to Rome. Think of it as Rome's return on their investment in your new city.

t will be a happy day for your province when Caesar begins to take tribute from you, for then you will know that you are contributing to the advancement of the Empire! All of Rome's provinces pay tribute, to contribute their share toward expanding and protecting the Empire, and to repay Rome's initial investment in opening up the new province.

Caesar understands that some provinces can afford to pay more tribute than others, and he takes many factors into account when calculating how much tribute is due. The more profitable and advanced your city is, the more tribute your Emperor expects it to pay.

You can't affect the amount of tribute that Caesar charges your treasury, nor can you refuse to pay it. Tribute is collected once a year, and the Emperor expects your treasury to have the denarii on hand when the bill comes due. Inability to pay tribute lowers your Favor rating.