Caracalla

Caracalla (April 4, 186–April 8, 217) was emperor of the Roman Empire from AD 211–217.

Related Topics:
April 4 - 186 - April 8 - 217 - Roman Empire - 211

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Born in Lugdunum in the province of Gaul in 186, he was the son of the future emperor Septimius Severus and Julia Domna. His given name was Marcus Aurelius Antoninus but he was later given the nickname Caracalla, which referred to the Gallic hooded tunic he habitually wore and which he made fashionable.

Related Topics:
Lugdunum - Gaul - 186 - Septimius Severus - Julia Domna

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Severus, who had taken the imperial throne in 193, died in 211 while visiting Eboracum (York), and Caracalla was proclaimed co-emperor with his brother Publius Septimius Antoninius Geta. Caracalla had Geta assassinated and carried out a vendetta against Geta's supporters, in order to strengthen his own hold on power. When the inhabitants of Alexandria heard Caracalla's claims that he had killed Geta in self-defense, they produced a satire mocking this claim, as well as Caracalla's other pretensions. Caracalla responded to this insult savagely in 215 by slaughtering the deputation of leading citizens who had unsuspectingly assembled before the city to greet his arrival, then unleashed his troops for several days of looting and plunder of Alexandria. According to historian Cassius Dio, over 20,000 people were killed.

Related Topics:
193 - 211 - York - Publius Septimius Antoninius Geta - Alexandria - 215 - Cassius Dio

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During his reign as emperor, Caracalla raised the pay of an average legionaire to 675 denarii and lavished many benefits on the army, as instructed by his father Septimius Severus who had told him to always mind the soldiers and ignore everyone else.

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Three things stand out from his reign: the edict of 212 (Constitutio Antoniniana) granting Roman citizenship to freemen throughout the Roman Empire in order to increase taxation; debasing the silver content in Roman coinage by 25% in order to pay the legions their bounties; and the construction of a large thermae outside Rome, the remains of which, known as the Baths of Caracalla, can still be seen.

Related Topics:
212 - Constitutio Antoniniana - Roman citizenship - Roman Empire - Thermae - Baths of Caracalla

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Caracalla had effectively become a military dictator, and was consequently very unpopular except with the soldiers. While travelling from Edessa to begin a war with Parthia, he was assassinated while urinating at a roadside near Harran on April 8, 217 by Martialis, one of his attendants, who was immediately killed by an archer. He was succeeded by the Praetorian Prefect of the Guard, Macrinus.

Related Topics:
Edessa - Parthia - Urinating - Harran - April 8 - 217 - Macrinus

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