Select Observations of Roman Emperors, Life 23
Brethren
Bassianus Caracalla.
Antoninus Geta.
Succedunt duo filii, nihil paternum habentes praeter ejus vitia, imprimis vero major. Iac. Cappellus. in 5 Centuriis Historiae Ecclesiasticae. p. 5.BAssianus was so called from Iulius Bassianus his Grandfather by the Mothers side, and his Father named him Antoninus, out of respect to the Antonini, whose memory was honoured by the Romans.
He was called Caracalla from a new fashioned cassock he wore, reaching down to his ancles.
He was a hopeful youth, and endeared himself to the people by weeping and turning away his eyes, when condemned persons were cast to wild beasts (which tenderness Baronius thinketh proceeded from his Christian Nurse Eubodia) yet after he was so changed he seemed not the same. Spartian c. 12.
He resembled his Father in conditions, but was somewhat sharper, and ful of threatning. Eutropius lib. 9.
Knowing well that he could not make himself seem more beautiful than he was, he would take the advantage to appear more terrible, affecting a cruel and furious countenance. Tristan in the 2. part of his Commentaries Historiques. See the 12.18.21.26.29.31. Meda…ls of him there.
He attempted to kill his Father; and put to death the Physicians for not hastning his death (as he commanded) slew his father in law Plautian, his wife Plautilla, and her brother Plautus, Antipater the famous Sophister of that age, Cilo his Tutor, and Euhodus his Foster-father: sparing not any who either honoured his Father, or was honoured by him.
When at the Circensian sports (where himself was a spectator) the people cast some scoff at a Chariotier which he favoured, he taking it as an affront to himself, suddenly commanded his Soldiers to rush among the multitude, and kill all who had scorned the Chariot-driver. Upon this command, it being impossible to find out the delinquents in so great a throng (none confessing himself guilty) the Soldiers spared none who they light upon, but either slew them, or took away what they had for a ransom. Herodianus lib. 4. cap. 6.
He put down Aristotles Schools, burnt his books, saying he conspired against Alexander. Xiphiline.
Having seen the body of Alexander the Great, he commanded his followers to call him Alexander and Antoninus Magnus; and by flatterers was brought to a fond conceit, that he walked like Alexander with an awful countenance, and bent his head to the left shoulder; and whatever he observed in the countenance of Alexander, he imitated to the life, and perswaded himself that he had the same lineaments and proportions. Sextus Aurelius Victor his Epitome.
— Simia Magni
Turpis Alexandri, cujus dum reddere vultus
Irarum plenos gestis, nihil acta moraris,
Acta quibus vaere meruit virtutis honorem.
Roberti Moore Diarium Historico-Poeticum. p. 9.
I have seen divers ridiculous Images, which had one entire body; and one head, which had two half-faces, to wit, Alexanders and Antonines; saith Herodian l. 4. c. 8.
He was excessively given to Adultery, while able,Caius & Augustus severissimas aliorum cupiditatibus leges statuerunt, quum ipsi interim, omnium, qua venerant, lectorum pressores dicerentur. Rivius in Justiniani Imp. Defensione, p. 99. yet most severely punished it in others. Excerpta Peiresci, p. 755.
Being unable to wear true armour through his weakness of body, he wore counterfeit harness that none might attempt to assassinate him, Excerpta Peiresci.
Ei cum caetera omnia, tum nummus adulterinus erat: nam pro argento, aurove quod nobis daret, plumbum argentatum, & aes inauratum parabat. Xiphilinus in Caracallo.
He would shew courtesie when he intended mischief; so that his kindness was more feared than his anger. Spartianus in Geta c. 7.
Having miserably impoverished the people, his mother reproved him, to whom he shewing his naked sword, replied; As long as I have this, I will not want, Xiphiline.
Where he wintered, or but intended to winter, he caused Amphitheatres and Cirques for publick games to be erected, and within a while to be taken down again. Id. ibid.
He learned the vices of three Nations, from whom he drew his original; of the French, vanity, timorousness, and idleness; of the Africans, roughness and wildness; of the Syrians, cunning and malice: partaking of none of their vertues. Boeclerus in Herodianum, p. 433.
He preferred Hannibal, Sylla and Tiberius, before other Commanders for their cruelty; in which he exceeded his Father, and all the preceding Emperors.
He confessed that in all his life he never learned to do good. Xiphiline.
He abstained not from killing of men on his very birth-day; and when a vanquished Gladiator sued to him for protection, his answer was: Suppl…cate thy Antagonist, for I may not save thee. Whereupon the unhappy man was destroyed by his Adversary, who perhaps would not else have done it but for this expression, not daring to seem more clement than the Emperor. Xiphilinus in Caracallo.
He delighted more in Magicians and Juglers than in men of worth; for seeing himself hated, he told the Romans he could command his own security, though not their love; and therefore he less valued reproaches, or feared dangers by their disfavour. Xiphiline, Zonaras.
Vixit sub Antonino non Philosopho, quod in Eusebii Chronico Hieronymiano …erperam scriptum, sed Caracalla, cui & sua foreign, vivo adhuc patre Severo, dicavit. Vossius de Poetis Graecis.Yet Oppian, who when banished by Severus wrote the Cynegeticks, and after his decease dedicated that work to Caracalla, was therefore called from exile, and received a piece of gold for every verse in his Poem.
Having negotiated a marriage with Arduwan or Artabanus (the King of Parthia) his daughter; and going to solemnize the Nuptials, he was met by the old King, with the flower of his Soldiers, People, and Nobles in their triumphal ornaments. No sooner was this honourable retinue come nigh Caracalla his Army, but the watch-word given,In Parthia quid gesserit, aliter Herodianus, aliter Dio narrat. Certum tamen est eum etiam illic perfidia truculenta potius quam virtute grassatum. Jacobus Cappellus in… Cent. Hist Ec. Paulo fusius desc…ibit Herodianus factum crudelitatis & perfidiae plenum: quod Dio & Spartianus brevissimè pe stringunt verius, quam narrant. Boeclerus in Herodianum, p. 433. the Roman Soldiers (according to their Emperors direction) put them all to the sword: the King himself hardly escaping wi…h life.
Antoninus Imperator, in toga prae…tans, & non iners, nec tutilis in bello, cum adversus Parthos armis exerceretur, visis cataphractis, adeo totus in metum venit, ut ultro ad regem conciliatrices literas daret. Q…as cum Rex immodicus animi respuisset, insolentia quidem barbari debellata est, sed patefactum est, in his tantam inesse violentiam, ut ea vincendus fideret, & superaturus timeret. Nazarii Panegyricus Constantino Magno dictus. Tristan inferreth that Caracalla is aimed at, though not named, no other Emperor surnamed Antoninus, ever having waged war with the Parthians. Non recordor id in historicis legere. Itaque fides sit penes auctorem, sai…h Livineius.
As Caligula having killed many French and Greeks, bragged that he had conquered Gallo-Graecia; so Caracalla having perfidiously slain a great number of G…rmans and Parthians, usurped the titles of Germanicus and Parthicus. Tristan in his parallel of Caracalla with Caligula.
Being incensed against the A…xandrians, who traduced him for his fratricide, and nick-named his mother Iocasta, he commanded the strongest of them to be listed for service; whom when he had enrolled, he killed, after the example of Ptolemeus Euergetes, the 8. of that name, called Physcon; giving moreover a signal to the Soldiers to kill their hosts.
A slaughter so great and universal, that the river Nilus coloured with the blood of the slain, might not improperly at that time be called a Red-sea. Dr. Heylin's Geography.
He restored all profligate persons who were exiled, to their liberty; and presently after filled the Islands where they were banished with more exiles. Xiphiline.
The Senate appointing a sacrifice to the Gods,Baronius produceth a Medail of Severus with Caracalla and Geta's heads on the reverse, & these words, Concordia perpetua. but especially to Concord, for their agreement; a beast was prepared for slaughter by the Priests of that Goddess, and the Consul went to perform the Rites. But neither could he find the Priests, nor they him, though almost the whole night was spent in seeking one another, so that then there could be no sacrifice: the next day two Wolves ascended into the Capitol, and were driven thence, one of which was taken in the Market-place, the other after was killed without the walls. This related to Antoninus and Geta, saith Dion, lib. 77.
He slew his brother Geta in his mothers arms, whom he forced to dissemble mirth; He consecrated the sword wherewith he killed him sequestred their goods in whose wills Geta's name was found, & slew 20000 persons related to him; spending whole nights in such tragical executions. Comdare Dion with Herodian.
To cloke which fratricide with shew of constraint, first to the Soldiers and then in the Senate, he accused his brother to have sought his death, and that in defence of himself he was forced to kill him; and thereupon fled to the Pretorian bands for safety of his life, as though further conspiracies had been intended against him in the City.
Haecque omnia, probabile est divinitus contigisse, in ultionem innocentis sanguinis Christiani; quem Severus Imperator, ac Senatus, populusque Romanus, paucos ante annos injustissime effudissent. Besoldus in majore Synopsi Hist. Univers. ex Baronio.
Notwithstanding his cruelty he arrogated to himself the name of Pius; and after his conquering the Germans, he was not ashamed of the title *Erat res ridicula, Germanicum dici velle eum qui fratrem suum occidisset. debuitenim home sceleratus cogitare, multos sic cognomen interpretaturos, quasi de sublato fratre germano gloriaretur, non de victis Germaniae populis.Germanicus, though through the ambiguity of the word he might be thought to boast of his brothers murder. Hemelarius.
He allowed Geta a good funeral, buried him in a stately monument built by Severus, called Septizonium; wept as often as he saw his picture, or heard mention of his name: and being told that his Fratricide might be expiated in some degree by calling his brother a God, he answered; Sit Divus modo non sit vivus. Spartian in Geta, c. 3.
For the murther of his brother he was punished with madness by the Furies,Casaubonus. deservedly called Vltrice Deae.
Affrighted with the Ghost of his Father and Commodus, he prohibited any upon pain of death to name Geta; and broke the money stamped with his Effigies, and abolished all the playes instituted in honour of his birth-day.
By his Favourites the name of Geta was rased out of all Monuments and Imperial inscriptions, as we have seen some of them defaced upon some Altar stones found in Britain. Speeds Chron.
He slew Papinian the famous Lawyer,Ejusdem sceleris p…incip…s que f…it, fratrem Imperii consortem, mox jurisc…nsul…um Papin…anum licentiae adve…santem è medio tollere. Jac Gothofredi Vlpianus, p. 11. because sollicited by him to defend his Fratricide, he said; It was a crime ea…lyer commi…ted than excused. Spartian, c. 8.
He did chide the Executioner, because he beheaded Papinian with an Ax, and not with a Sword. Spartian in Caracalla c. 4. and in Geta c. 6. Xiphiline.
When he ascribed to himself the titles of Germanicus, Arabicus, and Alemanicus, Sarmaticus Maximus, and Parthicus Maximus; Helvius Perti…ax son to the Emperor Pertinax jestingly said, Add if you please Geticus Maximus, because of his brother Geta's murther, and because the Gothes (whom he overcame in his passage to the East) are called Getae: which occasioned Pertinax his death. Spartian in Geta ubi suprà, & in Caracalla, c. 10.
Being in Mesopotamia he writes to Maternianus, to whom he committed command at Rome, to enquire of the Magicians (to whom he was so addicted) whether any intended to surprize the Empire. Maternianus writes back that *Series historiae diligenter etiam a Dione est exposita; qui in aliquibus variat. Boeclerus in Herodianum, p. 434.Macrinus treacherously aspired to the Empire; which Letter with others Caracalla received while he was at his …port, and delivered them to Macrinus to give him an account of. Macrinus broke up the letters, and fell upon that which aimed at his destruction; wherefore finding his own danger, he reserved that letter to himself, acquainting Caracalla with the rest. But fearing lest Maternianus should write again of the same business, he resolved to prevent his imminent danger by this plot. He perswades Martialis a Centurion, and one of Caracalla's guard (whose brother the Emperor had slain a few daies before, upon an accusation without proof) to dispatch him; which he *Rufus Festus in his Breviarium, saith he died propria morte, differing therein from other Historians, as Cuspinian upon Festus sheweth.did, whilest the Emperor was about to ease nature.
When he went out of a certain gate, he heeded not the detaining of him, and tearing his garment by a Lion, whom he used to play with, and named Acinaces; who held him as it were by an extraordinary instinct, as if he foreknew the misfortune ready to befal him. Dion.
It was but just, that he who had killed so many of his friends, should be slain by the treason of his enemies.
Both Caligula and Caracalla reigned but a little while. Both were killed by military Tribunes, the one by Cassius Chaerea, whom he was wonted to tax with effeminacy: and the other by Martialis, who was employed by Macrinus, whom Caracalla charged with the same fault. And which is wonderful, they both dyed being 29 years old, and both their Assassinates were slain after them. Tristan in his parallel of Caracalla with Caligula.
He reigned 6 years, 2 months and 2 daies.
Serapion an Egyptian a few daies before told him,Imperante illo Sarapion quidam Mathematicus Macrinum ostendit Antonino in Senatu, mox imperio potiturum. Verum is, postquam demonstratum minus recte observasset, pro Macrino alium e medio tolli jubet. that he should die shortly, and Macrinus should succeed him: for which he was cast to a Lion, and though the beast spared him, Macrinus would not. Xiphiline.
Both Nero and Caracalla dyed violent deaths, and both had for their Successors old men whom they loved not at all, and who reigned not long, being both slain by the practises of two effeminate persons, who were Otho and Heliogabalus. Tristan in his parallel of Caracalla with Nero.
Metochita.Tarantam vocabant eum, a cognomine cujusdam gladiatoris, & statura minimi, & forma faedissimi, & animo tum ferocissimi, tum maximè sanguinarii. Dio Leunclavii in octavo, p. 904.
When he was dead, it appeared that he procured as much poyson from the Inhabitants of upper Asia, as cost 220000 crowns, that he might poison several waies as many as he pleased. Xiphiline.
Excerpta Peiresci call him furiosum, ad omnia praecipitem, virtutis, & illustrium virorum hostem; bonis exitiosum, caedibus assiduè saevientem; prodigum in milites, foreign, rapacem, nec a fraternis manibus abstinentem; vitiis suis gloriantem, omnibus denique terribilem; nisi Germanis & alis hostibus, qui stultum ridebant, pecunia emungebant, vel cladibus mulctabant.
It is to be admired, that a man so extremely wicked, tempered himself from slaughter of the Christians. R. B. his lives of all the Roman Emperors, p. 61.
His Wife Plautilla had as much for her dowry as would have served 50 Empresses.Diligenter descripsit ea quae ad Plautiani historiam pertinent, Dio. Baeclerus in Herodiadum. p. 421. Her Father Plautian made men Eunuchs, who were married and had children; and their children also were gelded, that she might have musick-masters who might teach her the better, and domesticks of this sort fitter to compose tunes for her.
When Caracalla and Geta would have entred into the assembly of the Gods, with Severus their Eather, Iulian feigneth that Minos forbad them, but better discerning one from the other, he admitted Geta the younger as lesse wicked, and sent back Caracalla to suffer the punishments he deserved. See Spanhem the Son's Remarques sur les Caesars, p. 246, 247.
Absorpsit Britannicas res abhinc, quae ad civilem aliquatenus pertinent administrationem, Lethe usque ad Probi tempora Imp. Seldeni Analecta Anglo Britannica. l. 1. c. 7.
Dissimilis virtute patri, & multo magis illi,
Cujus adoptivo nomine te perhibes;
Fratris morte nocens, punitas fine cruento,
In risu populi tu Caracalla jaces.
Ausonius.