Caracalla, born Lucius Septimius Bassianus on April 4, 188, is better known by his nickname, Caracalla, which came from a type of Gallic cloak he often wore. He became the 22nd Roman Emperor, remembered for transforming into a brutal tyrant. Caracalla was the son of Septimius Severus, the first Roman emperor of African descent, and was born in what is today Lyon, France.
In 211, when their father died during a campaign in Britain, Caracalla and his brother Geta were declared co-emperors. However, Caracalla hated Geta and wanted to rule alone. Though their father’s wish was for them to govern peacefully together, the two brothers had been rivals since birth. Geta resented always being overshadowed by Caracalla. Their mother, the beautiful Syrian Julia Domna, constantly tried to reconcile them, but to no avail.
In December of 211, Caracalla finally found the opportunity to get rid of Geta. During a private meeting arranged by their mother, soldiers loyal to Caracalla attacked and killed Geta in his mother's arms. Some accounts even claim that Julia Domna's fingers were nearly severed while trying to protect her son. After this, Caracalla became sole ruler, but the murder drew widespread outrage. In response, Caracalla declared a damnatio memoriae against Geta—a Roman practice meant to erase the memory of traitors. Caracalla defended the killing as an act of self-defense and persecuted anyone who sympathized with Geta, executing thousands of people.
One of the most infamous events of Caracalla’s reign occurred in 215, in Alexandria, Egypt. When the people mocked him and the rumors surrounding his brother’s death, Caracalla retaliated by slaughtering the city's elite in public and allowing his troops to plunder the city. Some historical sources estimate that over 20,000 people were killed during his reign.
Caracalla was also notorious for his animosity toward his father-in-law, Gaius Fulvius Plautianus, and his wife Fulvia Plautilla, who was also his cousin. Caracalla hated the marriage, which had been arranged by his father, and later had both Plautianus and Plautilla executed. As with Geta, he tried to erase their names from history.
Despite his brutal actions, Caracalla made significant changes in the Roman Empire. In 212, he extended Roman citizenship to all free men within the empire through the Constitutio Antoniniana. This was partly motivated by his desire to increase tax revenue, as citizens were required to pay certain taxes. His decision to expand citizenship, while unpopular with some, allowed more people to enjoy the rights and privileges of Roman citizens.
Caracalla is also remembered for the massive public baths he built in Rome, known as the Baths of Caracalla. However, his military campaigns were his primary focus, particularly along the Danube and Rhine rivers, where he achieved several victories. He was a ruthless military leader, prioritizing the army above all else.
In 217, while on a campaign against the Parthians, Caracalla was assassinated by one of his own soldiers in present-day Harran, Turkey, while relieving himself by the roadside. The plot was orchestrated by Macrinus, who would go on to become the next emperor. Ironically, the man who had murdered his own brother and family members met his end at the hands of someone close to him.
Caracalla was also obsessed with Alexander the Great. He idolized the Macedonian conqueror, modeling his behavior, dress, and even his military campaigns after him. Caracalla had coins minted that showed his portrait fused with Alexander's. He was killed at the age of 29, while on a campaign that was intended to surpass the conquests of his hero.
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