Roman Emperor. He was born in AD 188 and was the eldest son of the Emperor Septimius Severus. He was named as Severus's heir and made joint Emperor with his father and younger brother, Geta. The two brothers were intense rivals, and their father took them to Britain in the hope that their increased responsibilities there would force them to cooperate. He was made commander of the army while Geta held civilian authority. After Severus's death in AD 211, the brothers became joint Emperors, but continued to disagree, and Caracalla had Geta murdered in December of the same year. After taking sole power, he introduced a number of reforms, increasing the pay and rights of the army and extending Roman citizenship to all free residents of the Empire. He also began construction of the famous baths that bear his name, although these were not completed until after his death. In AD 213, he fought a campaign on the German border, and in the following year traveled to the East for a war against Parthia. He invaded Osroene in AD 213, but suspended the Parthian campaign after two political refugees were handed over. During his reign he visited the great religious centres of the Empire, taking part in ceremonies in Alexandria, Germany and Turkey. It was while attending the temple of the Moon God at Carrhae in AD 217 that he was murdered by a member of his own guard, probably on the orders of the Praetorian Prefect Macrinus, who became his successor. He was cremated and his ashes returned to Rome for burial in the Mausoleum of Hadrian.
Roman Emperor. He was born in AD 188 and was the eldest son of the Emperor Septimius Severus. He was named as Severus's heir and made joint Emperor with his father and younger brother, Geta. The two brothers were intense rivals, and their father took them to Britain in the hope that their increased responsibilities there would force them to cooperate. He was made commander of the army while Geta held civilian authority. After Severus's death in AD 211, the brothers became joint Emperors, but continued to disagree, and Caracalla had Geta murdered in December of the same year. After taking sole power, he introduced a number of reforms, increasing the pay and rights of the army and extending Roman citizenship to all free residents of the Empire. He also began construction of the famous baths that bear his name, although these were not completed until after his death. In AD 213, he fought a campaign on the German border, and in the following year traveled to the East for a war against Parthia. He invaded Osroene in AD 213, but suspended the Parthian campaign after two political refugees were handed over. During his reign he visited the great religious centres of the Empire, taking part in ceremonies in Alexandria, Germany and Turkey. It was while attending the temple of the Moon God at Carrhae in AD 217 that he was murdered by a member of his own guard, probably on the orders of the Praetorian Prefect Macrinus, who became his successor. He was cremated and his ashes returned to Rome for burial in the Mausoleum of Hadrian.
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