Gaul

Caracalla travelled extensively through the empire, but the exact date of his departure from Rome is not known. His first destination was Gaul, but the first secure date has him in Germany, in the summer of 213 AD. He left Rome either in 212, perhaps staying the winter in Lugdunum (Lyon), his birthplace, or in early 213 AD.

This denarius celebrates a profectio (departure) of Caracalla, but the date is not stated.
Caracalla is depicted holding a spear, standing in front of two standards. RIC p. 244 nr. 225. Photo: numisbids.com.

When Caracalla arrived in Gaul, the governor of Gallia Narbonensis was executed - says the Historia Augusta. The name of the man is unknown, as are the reasons for the execution. He was replaced by Tiberius Claudius Paulinus (RIB 311). It was in Gaul ("among the Celtic tribes") that Caracalla gave an audience to Heliodorus the Arab, as recounted by Philostratus:

Since Fortune plays the most important part in all human affairs, Heliodorus must not be deemed unworthy of the sophistic circle; for he was a marvellous instance of her triumphs. He was elected advocate of his own country among the Celtic tribes, with a colleague. And when his colleague was ill, and it was reported that the Emperor was cancelling many of the suits, Heliodorus hastened to the military headquarters in anxiety about his own suit. On being summoned into court sooner than he expected, he tried to postpone the case till the sick man could be present; but the official who gave the notifications of the suits was an overbearing fellow and would not allow this, but haled him into court against his will, and even dragged him by the beard. But when he had entered he actually looked boldly at the Emperor, asked for time to be allotted to him in which to plead, and then with ready skill delivered his protest, saying : "It will seem strange to you, most mighty Emperor, that one should nullify his own suit by pleading it alone, without having your commands to do so." At this the Emperor sprang from his seat and called Heliodorus "a man such as I have never yet known, a new phenomenon such as has appeared only in my own time," and other epithets of this sort, and raising his hand he shook back the fold of his cloak. Now at first we felt an impulse to laugh, because we thought that the Emperor was really making fun of him. But when he bestowed on him the public honour of equestrian rank and also on all his children, men marvelled at the goddess Fortune who showed her power by events so incredible. And this power was illustrated still more clearly in what followed. For when the Arab comprehended that things were going well for him, he profited by the Emperor's impulsive mood, like a navigator who crowds on all sail when the wind is fair for sailing: "O Emperor," said he, "appoint a time for me to give a display of declamation." "I give you a hearing now, and speak on the following theme," said the Emperor: 'Demosthenes, after breaking down before Philip, defends himself from the charge of cowardice'." And while Heliodorus was declaiming he not only showed himself in a friendly mood, but also secured applause from the others present by looking sternly at those of the audience who failed to applaud. What is more, he placed him at the head of the most important body of public advocates in Rome, as being peculiarly fitted for the courts and for conducting legal cases. But when the Emperor died he was deported to a certain island, and having incurred a charge of murder in the island he was sent to Rome to make his defence before the military prefects. And since he proved himself innocent of the charge he was also released from his exile on the island. He is spending his old age in Rome, neither greatly admired nor altogether neglected.

Philostratus, The Lives of the Sophists 2.32. Translation Wilmer Cave Wright.

Several milestones from the years 212-213 AD, with Caracalla's titulature, document his repairs of a major road in the south-east between Nicaea and Dinia (Nice and Digne-les-Bains): viam vetustate collabsam restituit (see for example HD004808, HD050849, HD066742-5). Similar work was carried out much further to the north, between Gesoriacum and Augusta Suessionum (Boulogne-sur-Mer and Soissons; CIL XIII, 9030; 213-214 AD), from there to Caesaromagus (Beauvais; CIL XIII, 9028; 211 AD), between Divodurum and Durocortorum (Metz and Reims; CIL XIII, 9050), while attention was also paid to roads in Germany, leading from Augusta Treverorum to Mogontiacum (Trier and Mainz; CIL XIII, 9129; 212 AD) and Bonna (Bonn; AE 1924, 19; 213 AD).

IMP(erator) CAES(ar) M(arcus) AVREL(ius) ANTONINVS AVG{g}(ustus) P(ius) F(elix) PARTHIC(us) M(aximus) BRIT {t}AN(n)IC(us) M(aximus) TRIB(unicia) PO TEST(ate) XVI{I} CO(n)S(ul) IIII P(ater) P(atriae) PROCON(sul) VIAM VETUSTAT(e) COLLA BS(am) REST(ituit) CVRAM AGE NTE IVLIO HONO RATO P(rocuratore) AVG(usti) EX PR IMIPIL(o) M(ilia) P(assuum) XI	Milestone at Gréolières between Nice and Digne-les-Bains, in front of the chapelle Sainte-Anne. CIL XII, 5430; HD066742. Photo: Wikimedia, Bigref

Several major buildings in Gaul have been related to the sole reign of Caracalla, especially the "Piliers de Tutelle" in Bordeaux, the "Thermes de Cluny" in Paris, and the "Porte de Mars" in Reims. Precise dating is problematic however. The "Piliers de Tutelle" were torn down in the 17th century.

The "Piliers de Tutelle" in Bordeaux on a gravure by Claude Perrault from 1669.
Image: Wikimedia, Gts-tg.

The "Porte de Mars" is the largest Roman arch that has been preserved, 32 meters wide. It has been placed in the Antonine period and the early third century. The rich sculptural decoration includes myths of the origins of Rome (this "fiche descriptive" opts for the latter date; see also Blonce 2013 with further bibliography).

The "Porte de Mars" in Reims.
Image: Wikimedia, Carole Raddato.

Some honorary inscriptions for Caracalla have emerged, for example in Vienna (Vienne) by a sacerdos, a priest (213 AD; EDCS-08501574) and Narbo (Narbonne) by the Narbonenses (213-217 AD; EDCS-09301512).