Why was relegation a less severe punishment than other forms of Roman exile?

Relegation was considered a milder form of banishment under Roman law because it did not impose the severe legal and financial consequences associated with more extreme forms of exile. Specifically, a person sentenced to relegation retained their citizenship and was not subject to the confiscation of their property.1

Because the punishment did not involve the loss of assets or legal status, the exiled individual's family could remain in Rome to manage their affairs, protect their interests, and continue to intercede with the authorities on their behalf. This distinction was significant in the case of the poet Ovid, whose wife was able to stay in the capital to advocate for him throughout his time at Tomis.1