Dialogues d'histoire ancienne - Année 1995 - Volume 21 - Numéro 1 - Pages 149-165The issue of hostages in the Antiquity has not been a subject of a special study. This article deals with hostage as a security or a means of applying pressure on the enemy (defeated or who surrendered) as well as on the ally so as to compel them to honour commitments. This article will see how Roma applied itself to between the states that the hazards of diplomacy have set on its way. What were the conditions and the duration of their detention ? Finally what were the inadequacies and ambiguities of such a guarantee. 17 pages Source : Persée ; Ministère de la jeunesse, de l’éducation nationale et de la recherche, Direction de l’enseignement supérieur, Sous-direction des bibliothèques et de la documentation.