The whereabouts of Caracalla in late 213 and 214 are problematic. For a long time it was thought that throughout this period Caracalla was present in the provinces between Raetia and Asia Minor. He would then have gone to Asia Minor at the end of 214, to spend the winter in Nicomedia (Izmit, a bit to the east of Istanbul): the acta of the Fratres Arvales mention winter quarters in this city.
Howver, the study of the whereabouts of Caracalla in these months has seen a major shift. An important discovery concerning the chronology was made by John Scheid. After fitting together two fragments of the acta of the Fratres Arvales he concluded that on January 1 214 the winter quarters in Nicomedia are mentioned: [quod dom]inus n(oster) ... ad (h)iberna Nicomediae ing[ressus sit] (EDCS-19000363). When this is combined with a remark by Cassius Dio (78,8; a reference to the Saturnalia), the winter quarters of Nicomedia must have been reached before December 17 (note, by the way, Andreas Hensen's remark: "auffallender Unterbrechung in der Reihe der Konstitutionen zwischen 1. Nov. und 13. Dez. 213"). Scheid's proposal seems to have been generally accepted.
The two fragments of the acts of the Fratres Arvales joined together.
Photo: Scheid 2015, fig. 1.This leaves very little time for activity in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, too little: from late September to early December 213. Michel Christol has solved this issue. He argues that Caracalla returned to Eastern Europe after the first visit to Nicomedia. After a first stay in Nicomedia during the winter of 213/214 he would have returned to Sirmium, and devoted the first part of the year 214 to the inspection and repair of the defenses in Dacia and Moesia. Later in the year he would then have visited prestigious cities of the province of Asia (this time accompanied by the historian Cassius Dio). After this he spent the winter of 214/215 once more in Nicomedia.
The Historia Augusta refers to some unexpected event in Dacia: "Preparing for a campaign in the East, his travel plans were put aside and he remained (resedit) in Dacia". Why was it important to note this? Caracalla must often have had plans and ideas that were discarded. Perhaps the last words are a summary of: "he departed from, but then returned to Dacia".
It is possible that Caracalla also returned briefly to Rome at the start of 214 AD. For this there are three indications. There is first of all a rescript in the Codex Justinianus, given in Rome on February 5 214. Rescripts could however be issued "from Rome" when the Emperor was elsewhere, when the person concerned lived in Rome.
Si hi, quos servos tuos esse dicis, liberi esse a diversa parte dicuntur, de statu eorum more solito quaeri oportet: nec enim res iudicata, qua de proprietate eorum pronuntiatum est, opponi causae liberali potest.
Antoninus Augustus Vereniano. Datum Non. Febr. Romae Messala et Sabino consulibus.If those who you allege are your slaves are declared by others to be free, their status must be determined in the ordinary way: for even where a decision has been rendered with reference to their ownership, this cannot be advanced in opposition to a matter involving freedom.
Emperor Antoninus to Verenianus. Given at Rome on the nones of february, during the consulate of Messala and Sabinus (February 5, 214 AD).Codex Justinianus 7.16.2.
Translation S.P. Scott.The second clue is provided by coins from 214 AD. One has a depiction of a congiarium (largess) to the people. Was the Emperor necessarily present, in person? Another coin shows Caracalla sacrificing at the Temple of Vesta. This coin could be linked to his execution of Vestal Virgins who had broken their vows, as recounted by Cassius Dio (77.16.1-3).
Sestertius from 214 AD. Caracalla, accompanied by an officer, is seated on a platform.
In front is the personification of Liberalitas, holding an abacus (counting-table) and cornucopiae.
A citizen climbs steps leading to the platform. RIC p. 299 nr. 527. Photo: numisbids.com.
Aureus from 214 AD. Caracalla sacrificing at the Temple of Vesta.
To his right are two men, one with a peaked cap, and a child; to his left are three Vestals and a child.
A citizen climbs steps leading to the platform. RIC p. 247 nr. 249. Photo: British Museum.The third clue is the Itinerarium Provinciarum Antonini Augusti. It is believed that this itinerary contains the plan for Caracalla's journey to the East. This part begins in Rome: ab Urbe Mediolanum, inde Aquileia, inde Sirmium, inde Nicomedia, inde Antiochia, inde Alexandria, inde in Aegypto Hiera Sycaminos, followed by detailed stages (nrs. 123-162). A departure from Rome in 214 AD would lead to this sequence.
It looks as if several authors wish to view Caracalla's travels as uninterrupted stages, in an effort to synchronize them with Cassius Dio's description. His movements may however also have been shorter stints, back and forth, in response to developing situations.
