Caracalla Consul For The Third Time

Since securing the imperial throne in AD 145, Septimius Severus focused much of his attention on building a credible dynastic succession that would permit for a peaceful transition after his reign. Inevitably this required that his two young sons were well known in the public domain, and thus they often featured on the coinage as a key element of the imperial family's image. It is therefore no surprise to see the brothers represented here on this aureus minted in the name of Caracalla, which was struck in celebration of the co-consulship of Caracalla [for the third time] and Geta, which they jointly assumed in 208 under the watchful eye of their father.

Longevity and seamless succession were some of the primary attributes the Severan dynasty aimed to cultivate, not only because a smooth succession would lessen the likelihood of another ruinous civil war, but also because the perception or indeed expectation that there would be a peaceful transition might just help to make it so. Thus, ensuring the effective distribution of this message was of the utmost importance and the circulating coinage of the empire provided one practical medium for this dynastic propaganda.

Severus intended his sons to rule as co-augusti after his passing, and therefore it was expected that they should both gain experience of domestic government and military leadership; having inaugurated their magistracies at the Roman new year festival [at which event it is possible this aureus was distributed as a donative to the army] both Caracalla and Geta prepared to depart on a military campaign to Britain, where they would make significant inroads into Caledonia despite heavy casualties. Ultimately, it was this campaign that would claim their father's life. When the emperor fell ill, military operations were curtailed and he withdrew to York where he died on 4 February 211. His parting advice to the two boys was Be good to each other, enrich the army [Dio 77.15.2].

Seated on curule chairs, the traditional symbol of office used by magistrates with the power of imperium, with their father standing between them the message conveyed on this aureus is that of a familial harmony which in truth was beginning to crumble behind its façade. With the death of their father, jealousy grew between the two brothers and all pretence of cooperation or of a fraternal co-emperorship was discarded. Bitter rivalry was rife, and events climaxed at a reconciliation meeting in AD 211, when, under the instruction of Caracalla, Geta was assassinated by the Praetorian Guard in the arms of his mother. Caracalla could now assume sole rule of the empire and he ordered a damnatio memoriae against Geta's memory as well as carrying out an alienation of the senatorial aristocracy by abrogating much of their remaining authority and prestige.