As we have seen, Caracalla travelled to Asia Minor twice, at the end of 213 and in 214 AD. The ancient historians tell us that during one these journeys he crossed the Hellespont (Dardanelles Strait). In bad weather the ship's yard broke, and Caracalla had to continue on an accompanying warship. He established his headquarters in Nicomedia, on the Sea of Marmara. In 214, after a return to Sirmium and perhaps Rome, extensive travels through Asia Minor began.
One of Caracalla's first visits in Asia Minor was to Ilium (Troy), near the Hellespont. Here he visited the tomb of Achilles, presumably in imitation of Alexander. He also had to bury one of his freedmen, Festus, and in doing so is said to have recreated the funeral of Patroclus, friend of Achilles, as recounted by Homer. For this visit we only have literary evidence. Festus might be documented in an inscription set up by the senate and people of Tibur (Tivoli) and the iuvenes Antoniniani Herculanii, in which a Festus is mentioned as a member of the household of Caracalla (EDR173278).
Map of Asia Minor. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire (DARE).
Several authors have studied Caracalla's movements in Asia Minor. In 1983 Ann Johnston reviewed their work. She studied "the non-literary evidence, much of which seems to have passed from footnote to footnote over the years without further checking". She concludes: "The close examination of the evidence has been revealing: 25 out of the 77 places suggested as possible points on Caracalla's itinerary have been completely eliminated because their inclusion has been found to rest on misreadings, false attributions or misdatings". As to the remaining cities, for 15 an Imperial visit is certain or highly probable: Alexandria ad Issum, Alexandria Troas, Ancyra, Cilbiani, Cyzicus, Ilium, Laodicea, Nicaea, Nicomedia, Pergamum, Smyrna, Tarsus, Thyatira, Tralles and Tyana.
Honours were bestowed on many cities. A city could become a metropolis or receive the title neocorus, "temple-warden" of a temple for the Imperial cult. Many honours were paid to Caracalla. The presence of the Emperor gave rise to many festivals and games - not unusual in Asia Minor -, sometimes sponsored by Caracalla. All this is documented by a plethora of provincial coins.
Some disputes between cities were settled. Caracalla was also aware of the problems that his army could create. An inscription from Takina records his measures, including compensation in case of requisitioning:
Emperor Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, Pious, Augustus, Parthicus Maximus, Brittanicus Maximus, to the inhabitants of Takina through the intermediary of the Aurelii Andronikos and Hilarianos. My procurator and freedman will exert all his efforts so that the soldiers, operating too far in advance, under the pretext of the arrival of the most noble proconsuls, do not annoy you nor leave the towns to plunder the countryside. You will have the same person to see to it that you collect the compensation due for each of the miles traveled by the wagons, and that the oxen are returned to you each time, avoiding any abuse. I responded by rescript. Inscription from Takina. SEG 37.1186. The proconsuls (governors) of Asia during Caracalla's sole reign are thought to have been:
211/2 (or 212/3) C. Gabinius Barbarus Pompeianus 212/3 (or 211/2) Ti. Manilius Fuscus 213/4 unknown, name erased 214-16 L. Marius Maximus Perpetuus Aurelianus 216/7 C. Julius Avitus Alexianus 217/8 C. Julius Asper, replaced by Q. Anicius Faustus Proconsuls of Asia according to T.D. Barnes, 1986. Marius Maximus is generally believed to have been also a historian who was used and quoted 28 times by the authors of the Historia Augusta.
L(ucio) MARIO MAXIMO
PERPETVO AVRELIANO
C(larissimo) V(iro) PRAEF(ecto) VRBIS
PROCONSVLI PROVINC(iae)
ASIAE ITERVM
PROCONSVLI PROVINC(iae)
AFRICAE
M(arcus) IVLIVS CERIALIS
MATERNVS EX CIVITAT(e)
FOROIVLIENSIVM
PATRONO OPTIMOStatue base with a dedication for Marius Maximus, found in Rome.
HD030889. Photo: EDH.The procurators (chief financial officers) of Asia during Caracalla's sole reign are thought to have been:
211/2 Claudius Dionysius 212-214 L. Didius Marinus 214-216 L. Lucilius Pansa Priscillianus 216-217 Vipsanius Caecilianus Axius Procurators of Asia according to M. Christol, 2008.
