Dr. Alex Imrie

So in early 217, Caracalla is in the midst of a military campaign against Parthia, against the Parthian Empire. This is something that he had started in 216.

So in early 217, Caracalla is in the midst of a military campaign against Parthia, against the Parthian Empire. This is something that he had started in 216.

Yes, that's correct. And under the Parthian royal household, we've not quite got to the stage in history where this becomes the much more aggressive Sassanid Persian regime. We're still in the final years of the Arsacid Parthian royal household. Now, the campaign that Caracalla wages has been rather inconclusive to everybody's frustration.

Yes, that's correct. And under the Parthian royal household, we've not quite got to the stage in history where this becomes the much more aggressive Sassanid Persian regime. We're still in the final years of the Arsacid Parthian royal household. Now, the campaign that Caracalla wages has been rather inconclusive to everybody's frustration.

Yes, that's correct. And under the Parthian royal household, we've not quite got to the stage in history where this becomes the much more aggressive Sassanid Persian regime. We're still in the final years of the Arsacid Parthian royal household. Now, the campaign that Caracalla wages has been rather inconclusive to everybody's frustration.

The first campaigning season, 216-17, appears not to have produced a single meaningful clash between Roman and Parthian forces. I think its Herodian gives us this rather convoluted idea of Caracalla trying to outsmart the Parthians at a wedding reception, which is, I think, a lot of historical bunk. But in reality, it's been a frustrating year of campaigning.

The first campaigning season, 216-17, appears not to have produced a single meaningful clash between Roman and Parthian forces. I think its Herodian gives us this rather convoluted idea of Caracalla trying to outsmart the Parthians at a wedding reception, which is, I think, a lot of historical bunk. But in reality, it's been a frustrating year of campaigning.

The first campaigning season, 216-17, appears not to have produced a single meaningful clash between Roman and Parthian forces. I think its Herodian gives us this rather convoluted idea of Caracalla trying to outsmart the Parthians at a wedding reception, which is, I think, a lot of historical bunk. But in reality, it's been a frustrating year of campaigning.

Caracalla wages another campaigning season immediately because that's basically his style. That's him. He is a soldier emperor at that point. And it's quite clear, I think, reading between the lines of our sources, particularly Cassius Dio, that this is not going well. The soldiers themselves are starting to get a little bit frustrated, I think, with the lack of any kind of decisive outcome.

Caracalla wages another campaigning season immediately because that's basically his style. That's him. He is a soldier emperor at that point. And it's quite clear, I think, reading between the lines of our sources, particularly Cassius Dio, that this is not going well. The soldiers themselves are starting to get a little bit frustrated, I think, with the lack of any kind of decisive outcome.

Caracalla wages another campaigning season immediately because that's basically his style. That's him. He is a soldier emperor at that point. And it's quite clear, I think, reading between the lines of our sources, particularly Cassius Dio, that this is not going well. The soldiers themselves are starting to get a little bit frustrated, I think, with the lack of any kind of decisive outcome.

And importantly for Caracalla, we've seen a real diminishment in his imperial concilium. That is to say, the group of senators or people that would usually surround an emperor and offer day-to-day advice. The account that Dai offers us is very fragmentary, but it suggests that basically there's only one senator left in that circle at all, this consular guy called Aurelianus.

And importantly for Caracalla, we've seen a real diminishment in his imperial concilium. That is to say, the group of senators or people that would usually surround an emperor and offer day-to-day advice. The account that Dai offers us is very fragmentary, but it suggests that basically there's only one senator left in that circle at all, this consular guy called Aurelianus.

And importantly for Caracalla, we've seen a real diminishment in his imperial concilium. That is to say, the group of senators or people that would usually surround an emperor and offer day-to-day advice. The account that Dai offers us is very fragmentary, but it suggests that basically there's only one senator left in that circle at all, this consular guy called Aurelianus.

So Caracalla is in the field, mired down in a campaign which doesn't seem to be going anywhere. Macrinus is there as Praetorian prefect, but it seems that there is a much smaller circle around Caracalla at this point as well, as everybody seems to be getting increasingly fed up with him as an emperor as much as a commander.

So Caracalla is in the field, mired down in a campaign which doesn't seem to be going anywhere. Macrinus is there as Praetorian prefect, but it seems that there is a much smaller circle around Caracalla at this point as well, as everybody seems to be getting increasingly fed up with him as an emperor as much as a commander.

So Caracalla is in the field, mired down in a campaign which doesn't seem to be going anywhere. Macrinus is there as Praetorian prefect, but it seems that there is a much smaller circle around Caracalla at this point as well, as everybody seems to be getting increasingly fed up with him as an emperor as much as a commander.

Yeah, Caracalla has been in the midst of this rather frustrating campaign. It seems visiting a number of kind of local sites and towns and religious sites. And he's been to a lunar deity near the site of Cari, which, you know, those of you that maybe know Roman Republican history know that that is a kind of disastrous area for Rome generally.

Yeah, Caracalla has been in the midst of this rather frustrating campaign. It seems visiting a number of kind of local sites and towns and religious sites. And he's been to a lunar deity near the site of Cari, which, you know, those of you that maybe know Roman Republican history know that that is a kind of disastrous area for Rome generally.

Yeah, Caracalla has been in the midst of this rather frustrating campaign. It seems visiting a number of kind of local sites and towns and religious sites. And he's been to a lunar deity near the site of Cari, which, you know, those of you that maybe know Roman Republican history know that that is a kind of disastrous area for Rome generally.