Dr. Alex Imrie

Now, interestingly, the Historia Augusta gives us a little bit of a hint that there might have been some discord for Caracalla in as much as they have the second Legion Parthica that's based at Albanum. Close the doors on him because they swore allegiance to both brothers. And what is this he's coming to them with about? Sorry, where Albanum did you say? Yes. Where's that?

About 20 miles outside Rome, which is interesting in as much as it's called the Second Legion Parthica. You would think it was stationed in the east, but for all intents and purposes, and hugely oversimplifying it, it becomes something of a kind of mobile reserve, a mobile field army that the emperors can take with them. Usually on campaign in the east, it has to be said.

About 20 miles outside Rome, which is interesting in as much as it's called the Second Legion Parthica. You would think it was stationed in the east, but for all intents and purposes, and hugely oversimplifying it, it becomes something of a kind of mobile reserve, a mobile field army that the emperors can take with them. Usually on campaign in the east, it has to be said.

About 20 miles outside Rome, which is interesting in as much as it's called the Second Legion Parthica. You would think it was stationed in the east, but for all intents and purposes, and hugely oversimplifying it, it becomes something of a kind of mobile reserve, a mobile field army that the emperors can take with them. Usually on campaign in the east, it has to be said.

So Caracalla secures the support of the army. He has less success maybe securing the support of the Senate. He certainly gives a couple of speeches where he decries Geta as this villain and this enemy of the state and shores up his own regime. But it's quite clear that he is never going to enjoy life in the capital.

So Caracalla secures the support of the army. He has less success maybe securing the support of the Senate. He certainly gives a couple of speeches where he decries Geta as this villain and this enemy of the state and shores up his own regime. But it's quite clear that he is never going to enjoy life in the capital.

So Caracalla secures the support of the army. He has less success maybe securing the support of the Senate. He certainly gives a couple of speeches where he decries Geta as this villain and this enemy of the state and shores up his own regime. But it's quite clear that he is never going to enjoy life in the capital.

So about six months, no more than eight months maybe after the murder of Geta, he's already gone. He's already outside Rome and he is on a journey that will be predominantly military. He will do multiple campaigns and he will never return home from. Now,

So about six months, no more than eight months maybe after the murder of Geta, he's already gone. He's already outside Rome and he is on a journey that will be predominantly military. He will do multiple campaigns and he will never return home from. Now,

So about six months, no more than eight months maybe after the murder of Geta, he's already gone. He's already outside Rome and he is on a journey that will be predominantly military. He will do multiple campaigns and he will never return home from. Now,

Before we get onto that, I should say that there's one other point that he does while he's in Rome, which is, you know, I'm laboring because it's one of my major passions when I study it. Before he leaves Rome, he seems to enact an edict that we now know as the Constitutio Antoniniana or the Antonine Constitution.

Before we get onto that, I should say that there's one other point that he does while he's in Rome, which is, you know, I'm laboring because it's one of my major passions when I study it. Before he leaves Rome, he seems to enact an edict that we now know as the Constitutio Antoniniana or the Antonine Constitution.

Before we get onto that, I should say that there's one other point that he does while he's in Rome, which is, you know, I'm laboring because it's one of my major passions when I study it. Before he leaves Rome, he seems to enact an edict that we now know as the Constitutio Antoniniana or the Antonine Constitution.

In one move, in one edict, he gives the rights of Roman citizenship to nearly every free person living within the Roman realm. It's a constitutional watershed. And certainly, historically, scholars thought that citizenship was this kind of mechanical process. You're defeated by Rome, and then you're gradually brought into the body politic. It doesn't seem to be the case.

In one move, in one edict, he gives the rights of Roman citizenship to nearly every free person living within the Roman realm. It's a constitutional watershed. And certainly, historically, scholars thought that citizenship was this kind of mechanical process. You're defeated by Rome, and then you're gradually brought into the body politic. It doesn't seem to be the case.

In one move, in one edict, he gives the rights of Roman citizenship to nearly every free person living within the Roman realm. It's a constitutional watershed. And certainly, historically, scholars thought that citizenship was this kind of mechanical process. You're defeated by Rome, and then you're gradually brought into the body politic. It doesn't seem to be the case.

Modern studies have suggested that only around 33% of the empire's total population were enfranchised in 212 prior to the edict. So this is a remarkable move. And it's something that is quite avant-garde, it seems, for an emperor who's usually known as a bloodthirsty tyrant.

Modern studies have suggested that only around 33% of the empire's total population were enfranchised in 212 prior to the edict. So this is a remarkable move. And it's something that is quite avant-garde, it seems, for an emperor who's usually known as a bloodthirsty tyrant.

Modern studies have suggested that only around 33% of the empire's total population were enfranchised in 212 prior to the edict. So this is a remarkable move. And it's something that is quite avant-garde, it seems, for an emperor who's usually known as a bloodthirsty tyrant.

He seems to want to secure this huge loyalty base after the murder of Geta, and this is one of the ways he does it, just by making everybody citizens in one move.