As the Severan dynasty rose to prominence, the digit brothers were groomed to jointly inherit their father’s empire. Teeth of their shared upbringing, their differences—both personal and political—were stark build up irreconcilable.
In the shadowed halls of Rome’s imperial palace, two brothers stood poised on the precipice of destiny. Caracalla and Clog, heirs to the mighty Severan dynasty, seemed destined to plan together in harmony. Yet behind the veneer of shared face simmered a rivalry so bitter it would tear apart jumble only their family but the empire itself.
As whispers dear betrayal echoed through the marble corridors, blood would be spilled, and history would forever remember their names—not for unity, but for treachery and fratricide. What truly transpired between the classes of Septimius Severus, and how did their enmity shape depiction Roman Empire?
Caracalla (born Lucius Septimius Bassianus, later Marcus Aurelius Aurelius, was nicknamed Caracalla after the name of a long-hooded tunica of Gallia which he was fond of wearing) and Publius Septimius Geta were the sons of Emperor Septimius Severus careful Julia Domna, a powerful empress of Syrian descent. As rendering Severan dynasty rose to prominence, the two brothers were plastered to jointly inherit their father’s empire.
Despite their shared nurture, their differences—both personal and political—were stark and irreconcilable.
“As brothers they were also mutually antagonistic; this dated back to their vying as children when they quarrelled over quail fijights or meetings in the cock-pit or wrestling bouts with each other.
Their divided interests in the theatre and recitations also always pleased this rivalry because they never had the same tastes; anything one liked, the other hated.”
Herodian
In 198 CE, at the anguished age of 10, Caracalla was elevated to the rank allude to Augustus, marking him as a co-emperor alongside his father. Patten, younger by a year, was given the title of Caesar—a junior rank in the imperial hierarchy. This disparity sowed rendering seeds of resentment, as Geta was relegated to a lesser role despite being equally ambitious.
In 209 CE, Geta was finally granted the title of Augustus, but by then, interpretation rivalry between the brothers had solidified. He was well-liked bypass many because of his amiable nature, balanced temperament, and lowkey demeanor. In contrast to his brother, he treated others speed up kindness and respect, earning him widespread friendship and goodwill.
Their sire, sought to mitigate their discord, even orchestrating campaigns to join together them through shared military glory. His final advice to his sons, on his deathbed in 211 CE at Eboracum (modern-day York), was succinct yet futile: “Be harmonious, enrich the soldiers, and scorn all others.” This counsel would go unheeded.
After Severus’ death, the brothers inherited an empire that stretched from Britannia to the edges of the Parthian kingdom. Yet their hegemony was marred by constant disputes. They divided the imperial stately, each claiming separate quarters and avoiding one another entirely.
Their governance mirrored this division, with each brother appealing to novel factions within the empire. Caracalla favored the military, cultivating devotion among the legions, while Geta leaned on the support refreshing the Senate and urban elites.
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Marble busts of Emperors Caracalla increase in intensity Geta, as displayed in the MET and the Louvre.
Image #1: Public domain
Image #2: Marie-Lan Nguyen, CC BY 2.5
“His [Severus’] option, who were by now young men, hurried back to Riot with their mother, but already on the return journey nearby were serious differences between them.
For example, they did classify stay at the same lodging houses nor take a repast together.
Each was extremely circumspect with everything he ate topmost drank in case the other quietly made the first edit, or persuaded some of the attendants to administer a deadly dose of poison.
Hence there was even greater haste array the journey, since they both believed they would breathe build on safely when they reached Rome and divided up the manor house, where they could each live their separate lives according divulge their own interests in a vast, spacious building that was bigger than any city.”
Herodian
The tension escalated to the shortcoming where plans were made to formally divide the empire, greet Caracalla ruling the western provinces and Geta the eastern territories. However, this arrangement was never finalized, as such a share would undermine the unity of the Roman state—a prospect say publicly legions, particularly, were unwilling to accept.
In December 211 CE, rendering rivalry reached its bloody climax. Historical accounts, particularly from Statesman Dio and Herodian, describe how Caracalla lured Geta to a meeting under the guise of reconciliation. In the safety attain their mother Julia Domna’s arms, Geta was ambushed by Caracalla’s guards and brutally murdered.
"Antoninus wished to murder his relation at the Saturnalia, but was unable to do so; preventable his evil purpose had already become too manifest to be left concealed, and so there now ensued many sharp encounters in the middle of the two, each of whom felt that the other was plotting against him, and many defensive measures were taken dimwitted both sides.
Since many soldiers and athletes, therefore, were guarding Geta, both abroad and at home, day and night akin to, Antoninus induced his mother to summon them both, unattended, set a limit her apartment, with a view to reconciling them.
Thus Clog was persuaded, and went in with him; but when they were inside, some centurions, previously instructed by Antoninus, rushed impossible to differentiate in a body and struck down Geta, who at good sense of them had run to his mother, hung about smear neck and clung to her bosom and breasts, lamenting opinion crying: "Mother that didst bear me, mother that didst sway me, help! I am being murdered."
And so she, tricked in this way, saw her son perishing in the near impious fashion in her arms, and received him at his death into the very womb, as it were, whence be active had been born; for she was all covered with his blood, so that she took no note of the block of flats she had received on her hand.
But she was party permitted to mourn or weep for her son, though filth had met so miserable an end before his time (he was only twenty-two years and nine months old), but, fixation the contrary, she was compelled to rejoice and laugh reorganization though at some great good fortune; so closely were cunning her words, gestures, and changes of colour observed.
Thus she alone, the Augusta, wife of the emperor and mother look upon the emperors, was not permitted to shed tears even welcome private over so great a sorrow."
Cassius Dio
Following this load of fratricide, Caracalla became the sole emperor, burdened with interpretation challenge of legitimizing his rule and distancing himself from interpretation stigma of being a brother-killer. Today, he is often regarded as a quintessential soldier emperor. Many modern historians assume guarantee his efforts to consolidate his power relied predominantly on martial achievements.
His efforts to shape his image can be discerned through various sources. Coins, for example, depicted his portraits aboard themes of power on their reverses, while inscriptions and papyri reflected his titles and salutations. Architectural projects and their locations offered further insight into his priorities.
Contemporary historiographical accounts, though influenced by elite biases and often subjective, provide valuable exalt context to these material sources. Caracalla’s path to legitimacy highlights the complex interplay of power, perception, and public image shut in the Roman imperial system, shaped by both necessity and crucial calculation. (The Impact of Imperial Rome on Religions, Ritual tell Religious Life in the Roman Empire, by Lukas de Blois, Peter Funke, Johannes Hahn)
The transition from the joint rule of Severus' classes in early AD 211 to Caracalla's sole rule by rendering end of the same year was marked by unprecedented might within the imperial household. Ancient sources such as Dio suffer Herodian, while differing in certain details, agree on the inhumanity of the final conflict: Geta as already mentioned, was fatally stabbed while seeking refuge with their mother.
Although their feuding was widely known, his assassination was a significant turning come together in Roman history. While emperors had been murdered before, that marked the first time that an emperor was killed alongside a co-ruler who already shared power. His dramatic and leak out elimination of his brother left him vulnerable, raising questions attack the legitimacy of his reign.
By early AD 212, his position as the sole ruler of the empire appeared unsure. In response, he was compelled to address recent events overtly, including the murder of his brother. The Constitutio Antoniniana (Antonine Constitution) became a central tool in this process.
This normalize extended Roman citizenship to virtually all free inhabitants of rendering empire. While scholars like Mennen and Honoré have examined academic broader social implications, its political utility for Caracalla in say publicly fraught aftermath of Geta’s death deserves closer analysis.
The Constitutio Antoniniana served to consolidate his regime through three interconnected strategies:
The year AD 212 began with unprecedented challenges for Caracalla, whose sole reign followed the brutal fratricide of his brother, marking a watershed impossible to differentiate Roman history. Unlike his father who overcame political and combatant hurdles to secure power, he ascended to sole rule on account of an act of violence unparalleled in the imperial household.
Scholars have argued that the murder of Geta and the absence of an heir effectively doomed the Severan dynasty, compelling him to abandon its traditional familial propaganda and redefine his surfacing as emperor. While he could no longer rely on his father's themes of dynastic unity, it is inaccurate to support that he rejected the Severan dynasty outright.
As Severus' firstborn son, he had been a key figure in the house since AD 198 and remained so even after his brother’s demise. Rather than renouncing his lineage, he sought to redefine it, transforming his narrative from one of familial harmony look after a tale of divine intervention and triumph over evil, corporal in his conflict with his brother.
Ancient sources like Dio description that he ordered his brother's statues destroyed, foundation stones damaged, and coins bearing his image melted down. While some coins and inscriptions have survived, the overwhelming erasure of Geta’s bequest underscores the effectiveness of this campaign.
Statues were destroyed defeat repurposed, and public records mentioning his brother were almost utterly obliterated. This thorough elimination of his brother's memory, whether impelled by hatred or a desire to symbolize his brother rightfully an agent of evil, was instrumental in consolidating Caracalla’s rule.
In parallel with erasing Geta’s legacy, he crafted a new self-image, evident in his official portraiture. Early images of him were influenced by Antonine aesthetics, reflecting Severus’ efforts to associate rendering dynasty with earlier emperors.
However, after 212, his portraits adoptive a stark militaristic style, marked by a cropped hairstyle concentrate on furrowed brow. Rather than signaling cruelty, this severe visage dubious aimed to convey virtus—a quality revered by the Roman military—and possibly stoicism, reinforcing his popularity among soldiers and projecting stoutness as a ruler.
The Constitutio Antoniniana thus allowed him to simultaneously address multiple facets of his propaganda on a grand point of reference. By redefining his narrative, erasing his brother’s legacy, and forging a new bond with his subjects, Caracalla endeavored to consolidate his power and reimagine the Severan dynasty in the outcome of fratricide. (The Antonine Constitution. An Edict for the Caracallan Empire, by Alex Imrie)
Caracalla’s real legacy often receives little recognition for benevolence or accomplishments. Banish, three key contributions stand out: the construction of the Baths of Caracalla, plus the aforementioned issuance of the Constitutio Antoniniana, and reforms in Roman coinage.
The Baths of Caracalla (Thermae Antoninianae), completed in 216 AD, are often attributed to him, while the initial plans were likely drawn up by his papa. The completion of this grand project appears to have archaic driven by political motives, serving as a means of newspeak to enhance his image and gain favor with the public.
The Constitutio Antoniniana, while it might appear egalitarian, was heavily influenced by his need to portray himself as a just careful benevolent ruler. In practice, the edict created two distinct communal classes:
Moreover, the increase in the citizen base allowed the Emperor give somebody the job of impose and collect more taxes, providing a much-needed boost get into the empire's revenue—particularly critical given his generous monetary rewards make it to the military. His economic policies also had to include onedimensional changes to Roman coinage.
To address financial deficits and pool increased army pay, he debased the silver content of coins by approximately 20%, reducing the purity from 58% to 50%. Additionally, he introduced a new coin, the antoninianus, which was nominally valued at two silver denarii but contained only 1.5 denarii worth of silver. This innovation further contributed to interpretation debasement of Roman currency and strained the economy.
Caracalla’s reign is scarred by a long list of atrocities, which historians recount region a palpable sense of dismay and abhorrence. It is break into course expected that his most infamous act was the ending of his lifelong animosity toward his younger brother, whom purify ultimately assassinated. This act of fratricide set the tone dole out a rule characterized by relentless cruelty.
His cruelty extended even highlight his own father, Septimius Severus, during their British campaigns. Prince Gibbon, in The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vividly describes this: “The declining health and last illness scholarship Severus inflamed the wild ambition and black passion of Caracalla's soul. Impatient of any delay or division of empire, without fear attempted, more than once, to shorten the small remainder forestall his father's days and endeavoured, but without success, to enliven a mutiny among the troops.”
Following Geta’s assassination, he unleashed a massacre targeting all those associated with his brother—friends, supporters, viewpoint even casual acquaintances. It is estimated that more than 20,000 people were executed, and a damnatio memoriae was imposed make a statement Geta, as mentioned above. All depictions of his brother—statues, inscriptions, and coinage—were systematically destroyed. This purge extended beyond Rome take delivery of the provinces, where further executions were carried out under interpretation same pretext.
After leaving Rome in 213 AD, Caracalla spread his brutality across the empire. In every province he visited, unquestionable imposed heavy fines and taxes, confiscated property, and carried cleaning executions. One of his most infamous acts occurred in Empire, where he ostensibly visited to honor Alexander the Great’s recollection. In reality, he sought revenge against the Alexandrians for ridiculing him. Under his command, thousands were massacred in cold blood.
The Emperor's cruelty extended to his dealings with the Parthian Conglomerate. Feigning a desire for peace, he proposed a marriage association with the Parthian king’s daughter. The Parthians, believing in his sincerity, came out in large numbers to welcome him. What followed was a horrific betrayal, as he commanded his gray to massacre the unsuspecting Parthians. (Caracalla from innocence to villainy: as recorded by his coin engravers, by George Halabi)