THE 15859 Ttm Ufvfiv-ERSITY of Q^JTENSLAND Accep!-Digtl^Aa'...;Rdof QUINQUENNIUM in PROVINCIIS
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE 15859 Ttm UfvFIV-ERSITY OF Q^JTENSLAND Accep!-diGtl^aa'...;rdof QUINQUENNIUM IN PROVINCIIS CARACALLA AND IMPERIAL ADMINISTRATION AD 212-217 The Roman Emperor Caracalla SHAMUS SILLAR (BA Hons.) Department of Classics and Ancient History A Thesis submitted to The University of Queensland for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 30 May 2001 ..VA\#^ >i^^^'^^ NV-* IV^U^^^' STATEMENT I declare that the work presented in this thesis, is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, original, except as acknowledged in the text, and that the material therein has not been submitted, either in whole or in part, for a degree at this or any other university. II ABSTRACT Marcus Aunelius Antoninus, better known as Giracalla, became sole emperor in December AD 211. After a brief period at Rome - perhaps less than a year (211-212) Caracalla embarked on an extensive tour of the empire. In the course of his travels, the emperor visited more than twenty provinces, and led military campaigns on several frontiers. The aim of this thesis is twofold: to analyse the events of this tour, and to assess the emperor's provincial, military and foreign policies. The reputation of Caracalla ranks him among the worst of all Roman emperors. Caracalla's role in the assassination of his brother and fellow emperor, Geta (December 211), and the subsequent purge of Geta's supporters at Rome provide the foundation for this reputation. Yet these same characteristics are commonly applied to Caracalla in the context of his later provincial tour, most notably, by Edward Gibbon: "every province was by turn the scene of his rapine and cruelty". This perception of Caracalla's reign has survived even in very recent scholarship. An attempt has been made in the present inqviiry to redraw the standard picture, at least as far as the provincial, tour is concerned. This study also addresses the notion that Caracalla held litde or no interest in the business of empire, but instead diverted his enerpes to the pursuit of personal pleasure. In fact, evidence sv^ests that the emperor maintained a comprehensive administrative agenda in the provinces. Moreover, Caracalla actively sought to solve existing problems both within the provinces and beyond them, and his policies were frequently imbued with a spirit of innovation. The ancient literary evidence for Caracalla's provincial tour, together with modem scholarly treatments of the period, forms the basis of the present inquiry. At the same time, the studjr incorporates a detailed inspection of all of the available evidence, including the abundant ep^raphic, numismatic and archaeological material. This holistic approach is productive. It serves to offset the inconsistencies foimd within the literary sources and to shed light on aspects of Caracalla's provincial tovir that have received inadequate covers^e in modem scholarship. ni ADDITIONAL PUBUCATION The followii^ article relatii^ to this thesis has been accepted for pubUcation: "Caracalla and the Senate: The Aftermath of Geta's Assassination", Athenaeum (forthcoming) IV TABLE OF CONTENTS Pj^e StatBimnt u Abstract iii AdditkndPublkatkn iv List (fIllustrations vii Acknaukd^nents viii KeyDates ix INTRODUCTION Oiapterl'. WEST 9 (^Prcfo£o 10 (ii)Itafy 12 (ii^Gaul 17 (iv) Spain 23 (v) Britain 28 (vi) Africa 37 Qjopterl'. RHINE 49 (i) The German Campaign 50 (iQ The Aftermath of the Campaign 67 (iii) Caracalla as oommilltft) 80 Chapters: DANUBE 89 (^Prcfoiio 90 (iQ Noricum 91 ^Pannonia 93 ^v) Dada 106 (v) The Balkans 119 Chapter 4: ASIA MINOR 127 (i) Accident on the Hellespont 128 (i^ The Cities of Asia Minor 129 (iiQ The Imperial Cuh 146 Civ) Nicomedia (Winter 214/215) 150 (v) Julia Domna 159 (vQ Caracalla the Intellectual 165 Ox^aer5: EASTI 169 (i^ Syria 170 (u) Egypt 184 (ui) Caracalla and Eastern Cults 197 Chapters-. EAST 11 211 Q Eastern Frontier (211-212) 212 (i^ Eastern Frontier (214-215) 218 (iii) Eastern Frontier (216) 228 (iv) Edessa (Winter 216/217) 240 CONCLUSION 249 ListcfAi^neviations 255 Bibliography 257 VI LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fi^oe 1 Caracalla. (Tide P^e) Museo Archeologico Nazionale (Naples, Itafy) Photo by S. Sillar Opposite Page: Figftrel Temple (Bergama, Turkey) 1 Photo by F. Sillar Figures Ubrary (Bergama, Turkey) 1 Photo by F. Sillar Fiacre 4 Map of Gaul and Spain 22 Fiff(re5 Map of Britain 34 Fifftre6 Map of North Africa 44 Fifftre/ Map of the Rhine-Danube limes 78 Fi^ftreS Map of the Lower Danube 98 Figure 9 Map of Asia Minor 132 Fig/ttelO Map of Syria and Egypt 170 Figure 11 Map of the East 230 vu ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In the course of my own (fdnqf«nmin as a postgraduate at the University of Queensland, I have been assisted by a great number of people. I owe a debt to all of them. First and foremost, I would like to thank my supervisor, Brian Jones, for his tireless help and advice, as well as his good humour. It has been a privilege to work with Brian. Immense thanks are also due to Bob Milns and Dorothy Watts: their support and friendship along the way have meant a great deal to me. I am also extreme^ grateful for the immeasurable assistance that Lesley Burnett and Ann Power have provided throughout nty^ years of study. In all, the Department of Classics and Ancient History here at UQ has provided a stimulating and convivial environment in which to work, and I have enjoyed the camaraderie of all of my postgraduate colleagues, past and present. In particular, it would be remiss of me not to thank Michael Coates and Jim Stewart for their companionship. I am especially indebted to the Friends of Antiquity and the opportunity provided by the Betty Fletcher Memorial Travelling Scholarship to visit firsthand some of the sites in Italy, Greece and Turkey that are discussed in this thesis. Indeed, the wonderful experiences of that trip fired my enthusiasm for the present inquiry. Friends and famify have provided constant encouragement throughovit my studies, but espedafy in these last few months when the focus has rarefy^ strayed from the projea in hand. Gill Haykxk deserves a special mention for giving so much of her patience and affection. Above all, I would like to express infinite thanks to my mother and father for their unwavering love and support. vui KEY DATES EARLY LIFE AND FIRST YEAR OF SOLE REIGN AD 188 (4 AprS) Birth of Caracalla (L.? Septimius Bassianus) at Lugdunum Parents: L. Septimius Severus and Julia Domna 189 Birth of Geta (P. Septimius Geta) 193 Septimius Severus becomes emperor 198 Caracalla becomes joint emperor with his father Adopts new name: M. Aurelius Antoninus 209 Geta joint emperor -with Septimius and Caracalla 211 (4 February) Septimius dies in York Caracalla and Geta return to Rome and rule as joint emperors (December) Geta assassinated. Caracalla's sole reign begins 212 Caracalla at Rome Imprisonment of Abgar Severus, kir^ of Osrhoene PROVINCIAL TOUR: 212 (c. autumn) Pn^cth from Rome. Caracalla travels to Gaul Winter location: unknown (Lugdunum.^) 213 Reforms in Gaul, Spain, Britain (August) Rhine. Preparations for German campaign (Oaober) Victory and adoption of tide Germankus Maximus '^^Inter location: unknown (Danube?) 214 Imprisonment of king of Armenia (uncertain date) Danubian provinces: Noricum, Parmonia, Dada, Thrace (c. autumn) Acddent on the Hellespont. Caracalla arrives in Asia Minor \nnter location: Nicomedia in Bithynia 215 Caracalla travels through Asia Minor to Antioch in Syria. (late 215) Expedition to Egypt ^^Inter location: Alexandria in Egypt 216 (spring) Return to Antioch. Invasion of Parthia Winter location: Edessa in Osrhoene 217 Preparations for a second Parthian campaign (8 ApriQ Assassinated between Edessa and Canhae IX FIGURE 2 Temple (Bergama, Turkey) ': 'i FIGURE 3 Library (Bergama, Turkey) INTRODUCTION On a crisp winter's morning in January 1997,1 stood on the acropolis above the modem Turkish town of Bergama. Around me lay cr^gy chunks of tile, sculpture and architrave - the bones of a Roman dty, Pergamum, which had once risen imperiously from this site. Climbir^ a short stairway to one of the monuments,^ I wondered if the view to the spra^ding valley below had evoked a similar feeling of awe for visitors in antiquity as it did for me now.2 The guidebook to the Pergamum site identified this monument as a Temple of Dionysus, rebuik by the Roman emperor Caracalla in AD 214. It added that Caracalla had visited Pergamum in order to seek treatment at the dty's famous health resort - the Asclepieum - following a near fatal shipwreck on the waters of the Hellespont. After a successful period of recuperation, the emperor openfy bestowed privileges on the people of Pergamum, induding the refurbishment of their temples. These references to Caracalla's munificence at Pergamum were puzzling, for I recalled Edward Gibbon's dramatic assessment of that emperor "every province was by turns the scene of his rapine and cruelty".' Here was a contradiction of some m^nitude. It became one of the focal points for my thesis. Parameters and Aims On 4 February 211, after a reign of almost two decades, the emperor Septimius Severus passed away at Eboracum (York). He left two heirs - his sons, Caracalla and Geta. Despite Caracalla's seniority (at twenty-two, he was a year older) the brothers were installed as joint rulers of the Roman empire.* In his last days, Septimius had made a plea to the young men: "be harmonious" (op-OVoeiTe: Dio 76.15.2). Yet the reign of Caracalla and Geta was a model of discord. It was also brief. Late in December 211, less than a year after Septimius' death, Geta was assassinated at the hands of his older brother.