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Caracalla (April 4, 186 - 217) was emperor of the Roman Empire from 211-217 AD.
Born in Lyons in the province of Gaul in 176, he was the son of the future emperor Septimius Severus. His given name was Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, but he adopted the name Caracalla, which referred to the hooded tunic worn by his fellow-countrymen.
Severus, who had taken the imperial throne in 193, died in 211 while visiting Eboracum (York), and Caracalla was proclaimed co-emperor with his brother Publius Septimius Antoninius Geta. Caracalla killed Geta and carried out a vendetta against Geta's supporters, in order to strengthen his own hold on power. Two things stand out from his reign: the edict of 212 (Constitutio Antoniniana) granting Roman citizenship to freemen throughout the Roman Empire; and the construction of the baths of Caracalla outside Rome, remains of which can still be seen.
Caracalla had effectively become a military dictator, and was consequently very unpopular. While travelling from Edessa to begin a war with Parthia, he was assassinated in Harran. He was succeeded by Macrinus.
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Preceded by: |
Followed by: Macrinus (217-218) |