What was the Roman Empire's view of bastard children?

Question

Specifically a male child, would he have been aknowledged or ignored? Would he have lived with his father or his mother? What kind of opportunitites would he have had?

Answer 1

Basically, the romans did not view family as strictly a matter of birth.
The only qualification for being a member of a family was that you where recogniced by the Pater Familias.
This made you a full member of the family in all respects. Adoption, even at adult age, was common.
A pater familias would often adopt a promising young man into his family if he did not have any heirs he approved of.

So, basically, if a child was born out of wedlock, it would, if it was lucky, be presented to the pater familias (possibly of either family...) It would then be adopted or rejected. If rejected, it would most commonly be put out into the woods, or the mother could try to raise it on her own, with everything that would bring...

Answer 2

Roman children born out of wedlock were described as "nothi" and did not have rights of inheritance but were entitled to support from their fathers.

Answer 3

There is no such thing as "bastard" children in Ancient Rome.