officially Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus Augustus orig. Septimius Bassianus
born April 4, AD188, Lugdunum [Lyon], Gaul
died April 8, 217, near Carrhae, Mesopotamia
Roman emperor (198217).
He was nicknamed Caracalla for a Gallic cloak he allegedly designed. Until 211 he ruled with his father, Septimius Severus , a North African who became emperor in 193. To assure his undisputed rule, Caracalla killed his brother Geta and many of his friends. He built colossal baths in Rome, which still stand. He gave Roman citizenship to all free inhabitants of the empire (212) but showed extreme cruelty toward all who opposed him, and he massacred Germans, Parthians, and Alexandrians. He was murdered by the praetorian prefect . He is regarded as one of Rome's most bloodthirsty tyrants, and his reign contributed to the empire's decay.