Portrait of Caracalla

myminifactory

Caracalla, born on April 4, 188 AD, was officially known as Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus Augustus, and ruled Rome from 198 to 217 AD. A member of the powerful Severan Dynasty, Caracalla was the eldest son of Septimius Severus and Julia Domna. He co-ruled with his father until Septimius' death in 211 AD, then shared power with his younger brother Geta, whom he had murdered later that year. During his reign, Caracalla faced domestic unrest and external threats from Germanic tribes. Caracalla's rule is notable for the Antonine Constitution, also known as the Edict of Caracalla, which granted citizenship to almost all free men throughout the Roman Empire. This decree gave all enfranchised men Caracalla's adopted name: "Marcus Aurelius." Domestically, Caracalla is remembered for building the massive Baths of Caracalla in Rome, introducing a new currency called the antoninianus, and ordering massacres against the people of Rome and other parts of the empire. Towards the end of his rule, Caracalla launched a campaign against the Parthian Empire but was assassinated by a disgruntled soldier just days before completion. Caracalla is often depicted in ancient sources as a ruthless leader, an image that has endured through history. Historians Dio Cassius and Herodian portray him primarily as a skilled warrior rather than an emperor. In the 12th century, Geoffrey of Monmouth helped popularize the legend of Caracalla's supposed reign over Britain. Later, during the 18th century, French artists revived interest in Caracalla due to parallels between his alleged tyranny and that of King Louis XVI. Modern works continue to portray Caracalla as a psychopathic and malevolent ruler, with his reign remembered as one of the most tyrannical in Roman history.