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Caracalla













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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.


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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.


  View whole page from the |Dictionary Of Roman Coins|