Show text differences only
Previous Version
Current Version

Caracalla













Please add updates or make corrections to the NumisWiki text version as appropriate.

CARACALLA, Emperor, was the eldest son of Septimius Severus. His mother was Julia Domna, erroneously stated by some writers to have been his step-mother. The surname of Caracalla, by which he is commonly denominated by historians, does not appear on any coins or otherpublic monuments. It was in fact only a nickname (like that of Caligula given to Caius



Caesar (see p. 164), and derived from a kind of Gaulish vestment, which he, the spoiled child of his mother, had himself brought into fashion. He was born at Lugdunum, in Gaul (Lyon), whilst his father was governor of that province, in the year u. c. 941 (A. D. 188), on the 4th or 6th of April. At his birth the name of Basianus was given him, derived, according to Victor, from his maternal grandfather. The mildness of disposition and lively temperament, which he displayed in early youth, and which rendered him the favourite alike of his parents and of the peoplem are mentioned by Spartian in terms of high commendation, and offer a striking contrast to the cruelty which disgraced his more advanced years, and rendered him scourge of the world. During the first years of his father's reign, he remained in the position of a private citizen. But when, in 949 (A. D. 196), that emperor left Mesopotamia to conduct operations against Albinus, he stopped on his way at Viminacium (in Upper Moesia, now Serbia and Bulgaria), and there creating Caracalla a Caesar, gave him the names of M. Aurelius Antoninus, in the place of that of Bassianus. He was in this yearm on coins styled CAESAR and PRINCEPS IVVENTVTIS. In the following year (A.D. 197) he was elected member of the pontifical college, and the title PONTIFEX begins on his coins. In the same year, Albinus being overthrown, he was styled DESTINATVS IMPERATOR. (See the words). - In 951 (A.D. 198), having completed his 10th yeas, he was declared AVGVSTVS by his father and the army; and had the Tribunitia Potestas conferred upon him.

952 (A.D. 199). Caracalla was this year with his father in the East. The following year he was present at the Parthian campaign with Severus.
The titles of PART. MAX. begin at this date to appear on his coins.

954 (A.D. 201). Returning with his father to Antioch, he assumed the toga virilis, and was nominated consul for the year ensuing. Accordingly in A.D. 202, he proceeded consul, in Syria, Severus himself being his colleague. He accompanied his father into Egypt, and thence returned with him to Rome, where he married Plantilla. - In the same year the title PIVS begins to appear on obverses.

956 (A.D. 203). - The titles of PART. MAX. now cease on his coins. For the occurenrrences of this and four consecutive years, including the celebration of the Secular Games, 957 (A.D. 204), see biographical notice and coinage of Severus.

691 (A.D. 208). Caracalla, after having this year celebrated his Decennales, set out with his father for the campaign in Britain, where he was also present during the two following years of the war's continuance.

964 (A. D. 211). - In the peceding year he began to be styled BRIT. on his coins. On the death of his father, which took place this year at York, on the 4th of February, Caracalla, after duly solemuising the obsequies of Severus, hastened to conclude a peace with the Caledonians. At the same time, he endevoured to induce the army to acknowledge him as sole emperor, to the exclusion of Geta. Failing in that attempt, he feigned amity towards his brother. A pretended reconciliation took place; and Geta and he returned to Rome together with the ashes of their parent. Yet even on theit journey homeward, Caracalla indulged in frequent designs on his brother's life, but refrained to put them into execution, partly through fear of the soldiersm and partly through the watcheful precautions of Geta, who was aprised of his own danger.

965 (A.D. 212). The two brothers entered the coty together - together bestowed donatives on the troops, and distributed largesses to the people. But in the midst of negociations commenced for peaceably dividing the empire between them, Caracalla murdered Geta in the very arms of their mother. The soldiersm though at first exasperated by the atrocity of the actm were at length appeased by extravagant bribes, and thus enriched with the wealth accumulated during the reign of Severus, they unscrupulously pronounced Geta a public enemy. To the senate he boldly justified his crime and fratricide, on the alleged plea tha Geta hed been engaged in plots against his life. He then put to death all those who known, or suspected, to have favoured the cause of his brother, whose name was from that moment erased from the public monumets. (See a remarkable instance cited in p. 79). Many thousand persons are said to have fallen victims on this occasion to the cupidity and blood0thistiness of the imperial despot: amongt these were Papinius, prefect of the pretorian guard, and a distinguished lawyer; together with other men, as well as women, of rank.

966 (A. D. 213). Remorse at having committed these dreadful crimes pursued him everywhere; but abandoned to the torrent of his brutal passions, he never ceased to perpetrate cruelties and to inflict oppressions. In the vain endeavour to banish the terrors of an evil conscience, he addicted himself still more eagerly than ever to amusements which, measured by the Roman standard of public morals, might under other circumstances have found excuse in the desire to gratify the dissolute and inhuman taste of corrupt people. Chariot racing, combats of gladiators, and huntings of wild animals, at once served to divert the enslaved multitude, and to stiate his own savage nature. On a large brass, the reverse legend of which ( P. M. TR. P. XVI. IMP. II. COS. IIII. P. P. S. C.) shows it to have been minted in this year - the type ( as will be seen by thesubjoined cut from a well preserved and genuine specimen), exhibits a grand edifice, composed of arcades, templesm walls, and portals, forming the outer enclosure; and a lofty obelisk, metae, and statues, constituting the interior objects of the Circus Maximus, at Rome, as it existed in the beginning of the third century.



On comparing this type with that on the large brass coin of Trajan, it is evidently intended to represent the same magnificent building erected by that great emperor; and to the repairs of, or aditions to, which Caracalla probably contributed some portion of those immense sums, he was in the habit of grinding out of the citizens in the shape of taxes, or of seizing as military plunder from the whole world besides. - See CIRCUS MAXIMUS.

The title of FELIX now begins to appear on coins of Caracalla, and BRITannicus ceases, being succeeded by that of GERManicus, which he had adopted on account of pretendent victories over the Germans. This year, or perhaps at the close of the year preceding, he went into Gaul, and after cruelly despoilling that province, he returned to Rome.

In 967 (A. D. 214), he entered on an expedition against the Alamanni, over whom he gained a victory on the banks of the maenus (river Mayne, in Germany). In this expedition it is stated, he made himself an object of ridicule even to barbarians. Declared Imperator III. he preceeded into Dacia; thence into thrace, and crossing the Hellespont, wintered at Nicomedia.

968 (A.D. 215). After gladiatorial shows, on his birthday, the 4th of April, ar Nicomedia, he went to Pisidian Antioch, with the intention of invading the Parthians, on some farfetehed cause of quarrel. But they being seized with panic, and instantly complying with the demands of Caracalla, he proceeded to Alexandria, where he revenged himself for some raileries, by slaughtering twenty thousand of the inhabitants.

969 (A.D. 216). - Returning from Egypt toAntioch, Caracalla (who, four years before, had caused his wife Plautilla to be put to death), was "the meek and modest suitor" to ask in marriage the daughter of Artabanus, king of the Parthians. This request being refused, hecrossed the Euphrates, invaded Media, took Arbela, and, after ravaging the whole region with fire and sword, returned to winter quarters in Edessa. Having inveigled Abagarus, king of the Osrhaeni, into conferense, he loaded him with chains, and took possession of his kingdom..

970 (A. D. 217). - This year Caracalla prepared for war against the Parthians, who made their appearance with a large force, to avenge the aggression of the year preceeding. On his way in Mesopotamia from Edessa to Carrhae, where he intended to have visited the celebrated temple dedicated to the Syrian god Lunus, he was assassinated by a soldier of his own bodyguard, named Martialis, at this instigation of Macrinus, the pretorian prefectm on the 8th of April, in the 29th year of his age, during the celebration of Megalensian games.

As, in boyhood he displayed so much moderation, affability, and averseness to even the most just severity, all, who had known him at that period of life, were lost in astonishment at the monstrous cruelties of Caracalla's riper years. Spartian is of opinion that his previous character was but the result of an artful sissimulation, or a desire of resembling Alexander the Great, of whose defects, rather than merits, both of mind and body, he showed himself servile imitator. Even during his father's life time, he was unable wholly to conceal the natural ferocityof his disposition; and to rid himself of the sense of restraint and fear which the old emperor's authority imposed, he made frequent attempts, during the campaign in Britain, by instigating plots and tumults, to put an end to the life of Severus. And when at length all apprehension of parental punishment was removed, he showed at once his determination to kill his brother, which, as we have seen under the events of the year 965 (A. D. 212), he carried out with a cruelty that extended itself to every member of the unfortunate Geta's family. If to this we add the horrors of his massacre at Alexandria, perpetrated on the slightest possible provocation, we perceive clearly.

View whole page from the |Dictionary Of Roman Coins|

Caracalla













Please add updates or make corrections to the NumisWiki text version as appropriate.

CARACALLA, Emperor, was the eldest son of Septimius Severus. His mother was Julia Domna, erroneously stated by some writers to have been his step-mother. The surname of Caracalla, by which he is commonly denominated by historians, does not appear on any coins or otherpublic monuments. It was in fact only a nickname (like that of Caligula given to Caius



Caesar (see p. 164), and derived from a kind of Gaulish vestment, which he, the spoiled child of his mother, had himself brought into fashion. He was born at Lugdunum, in Gaul (Lyon), whilst his father was governor of that province, in the year u. c. 941 (A. D. 188), on the 4th or 6th of April. At his birth the name of Basianus was given him, derived, according to Victor, from his maternal grandfather. The mildness of disposition and lively temperament, which he displayed in early youth, and which rendered him the favourite alike of his parents and of the peoplem are mentioned by Spartian in terms of high commendation, and offer a striking contrast to the cruelty which disgraced his more advanced years, and rendered him scourge of the world. During the first years of his father's reign, he remained in the position of a private citizen. But when, in 949 (A. D. 196), that emperor left Mesopotamia to conduct operations against Albinus, he stopped on his way at Viminacium (in Upper Moesia, now Serbia and Bulgaria), and there creating Caracalla a Caesar, gave him the names of M. Aurelius Antoninus, in the place of that of Bassianus. He was in this yearm on coins styled CAESAR and PRINCEPS IVVENTVTIS. In the following year (A.D. 197) he was elected member of the pontifical college, and the title PONTIFEX begins on his coins. In the same year, Albinus being overthrown, he was styled DESTINATVS IMPERATOR. (See the words). - In 951 (A.D. 198), having completed his 10th yeas, he was declared AVGVSTVS by his father and the army; and had the Tribunitia Potestas conferred upon him.

952 (A.D. 199). Caracalla was this year with his father in the East. The following year he was present at the Parthian campaign with Severus.
The titles of PART. MAX. begin at this date to appear on his coins.

954 (A.D. 201). Returning with his father to Antioch, he assumed the toga virilis, and was nominated consul for the year ensuing. Accordingly in A.D. 202, he proceeded consul, in Syria, Severus himself being his colleague. He accompanied his father into Egypt, and thence returned with him to Rome, where he married Plantilla. - In the same year the title PIVS begins to appear on obverses.

956 (A.D. 203). - The titles of PART. MAX. now cease on his coins. For the occurenrrences of this and four consecutive years, including the celebration of the Secular Games, 957 (A.D. 204), see biographical notice and coinage of Severus.

691 (A.D. 208). Caracalla, after having this year celebrated his Decennales, set out with his father for the campaign in Britain, where he was also present during the two following years of the war's continuance.

964 (A. D. 211). - In the peceding year he began to be styled BRIT. on his coins. On the death of his father, which took place this year at York, on the 4th of February, Caracalla, after duly solemuising the obsequies of Severus, hastened to conclude a peace with the Caledonians. At the same time, he endevoured to induce the army to acknowledge him as sole emperor, to the exclusion of Geta. Failing in that attempt, he feigned amity towards his brother. A pretended reconciliation took place; and Geta and he returned to Rome together with the ashes of their parent. Yet even on theit journey homeward, Caracalla indulged in frequent designs on his brother's life, but refrained to put them into execution, partly through fear of the soldiersm and partly through the watcheful precautions of Geta, who was aprised of his own danger.

965 (A.D. 212). The two brothers entered the coty together - together bestowed donatives on the troops, and distributed largesses to the people. But in the midst of negociations commenced for peaceably dividing the empire between them, Caracalla murdered Geta in the very arms of their mother. The soldiersm though at first exasperated by the atrocity of the actm were at length appeased by extravagant bribes, and thus enriched with the wealth accumulated during the reign of Severus, they unscrupulously pronounced Geta a public enemy. To the senate he boldly justified his crime and fratricide, on the alleged plea tha Geta hed been engaged in plots against his life. He then put to death all those who known, or suspected, to have favoured the cause of his brother, whose name was from that moment erased from the public monumets. (See a remarkable instance cited in p. 79). Many thousand persons are said to have fallen victims on this occasion to the cupidity and blood0thistiness of the imperial despot: amongt these were Papinius, prefect of the pretorian guard, and a distinguished lawyer; together with other men, as well as women, of rank.

966 (A. D. 213). Remorse at having committed these dreadful crimes pursued him everywhere; but abandoned to the torrent of his brutal passions, he never ceased to perpetrate cruelties and to inflict oppressions. In the vain endeavour to banish the terrors of an evil conscience, he addicted himself still more eagerly than ever to amusements which, measured by the Roman standard of public morals, might under other circumstances have found excuse in the desire to gratify the dissolute and inhuman taste of corrupt people. Chariot racing, combats of gladiators, and huntings of wild animals, at once served to divert the enslaved multitude, and to stiate his own savage nature. On a large brass, the reverse legend of which ( P. M. TR. P. XVI. IMP. II. COS. IIII. P. P. S. C.) shows it to have been minted in this year - the type ( as will be seen by thesubjoined cut from a well preserved and genuine specimen), exhibits a grand edifice, composed of arcades, templesm walls, and portals, forming the outer enclosure; and a lofty obelisk, metae, and statues, constituting the interior objects of the Circus Maximus, at Rome, as it existed in the beginning of the third century.



On comparing this type with that on the large brass coin of Trajan, it is evidently intended to represent the same magnificent building erected by that great emperor; and to the repairs of, or aditions to, which Caracalla probably contributed some portion of those immense sums, he was in the habit of grinding out of the citizens in the shape of taxes, or of seizing as military plunder from the whole world besides. - See CIRCUS MAXIMUS.

The title of FELIX now begins to appear on coins of Caracalla, and BRITannicus ceases, being succeeded by that of GERManicus, which he had adopted on account of pretendent victories over the Germans. This year, or perhaps at the close of the year preceding, he went into Gaul, and after cruelly despoilling that province, he returned to Rome.

In 967 (A. D. 214), he entered on an expedition against the Alamanni, over whom he gained a victory on the banks of the maenus (river Mayne, in Germany). In this expedition it is stated, he made himself an object of ridicule even to barbarians. Declared Imperator III. he preceeded into Dacia; thence into thrace, and crossing the Hellespont, wintered at Nicomedia.

968 (A.D. 215). After gladiatorial shows, on his birthday, the 4th of April, ar Nicomedia, he went to Pisidian Antioch, with the intention of invading the Parthians, on some farfetehed cause of quarrel. But they being seized with panic, and instantly complying with the demands of Caracalla, he proceeded to Alexandria, where he revenged himself for some raileries, by slaughtering twenty thousand of the inhabitants.

969 (A.D. 216). - Returning from Egypt toAntioch, Caracalla (who, four years before, had caused his wife Plautilla to be put to death), was "the meek and modest suitor" to ask in marriage the daughter of Artabanus, king of the Parthians. This request being refused, hecrossed the Euphrates, invaded Media, took Arbela, and, after ravaging the whole region with fire and sword, returned to winter quarters in Edessa. Having inveigled Abagarus, king of the Osrhaeni, into conferense, he loaded him with chains, and took possession of his kingdom..

970 (A. D. 217). - This year Caracalla prepared for war against the Parthians, who made their appearance with a large force, to avenge the aggression of the year preceeding. On his way in Mesopotamia from Edessa to Carrhae, where he intended to have visited the celebrated temple dedicated to the Syrian god Lunus, he was assassinated by a soldier of his own bodyguard, named Martialis, at this instigation of Macrinus, the pretorian prefectm on the 8th of April, in the 29th year of his age, during the celebration of Megalensian games.

As, in boyhood he displayed so much moderation, affability, and averseness to even the most just severity, all, who had known him at that period of life, were lost in astonishment at the monstrous cruelties of Caracalla's riper years. Spartian is of opinion that his previous character was but the result of an artful dissimulation, or a desire of resembling Alexander the Great, of whose defects, rather than merits, both of mind and body, he showed himself servile imitator. Even during his father's life time, he was unable wholly to conceal the natural ferocity of his disposition; and to rid himself of the sense of restraint and fear which the old emperor's authority imposed, he made frequent attempts, during the campaign in Britain, by instigating plots and tumults, to put an end to the life of Severus. And when at length all apprehension of parental punishment was removed, he showed at once his determination to kill his brother, which, as we have seen under the events of the year 965 (A. D. 212), he carried out with a cruelty that extended itself to every member of the unfortunate Geta's family. If to this we add the horrors of his massacre at Alexandria, perpetrated on the slightest possible provocation, we perceive clearly.

View whole page from the |Dictionary Of Roman Coins|