As far as we know Caracalla did not visit the Iberian peninsula. Nevertheless, as in Gaul, much work was carried out on roads during his sole reign, as evidenced by dozens of milestones. Work was particularly intense in the north-western part of the peninsula, but Baetica and Lusitania profited as well.
Top.
Simplified map of Gaul and the Iberian peninsula.
Sillar 2001, fig. 4.
Right.
Milestone from 214 AD, from Bracara Augusta (Braga, Portugal).
Dom Diogo de Sousa Regional Museum of Archaeology.
EDCS-05600119. Photo: Wikimedia, José Goncalves.Caracalla split the province of Hispania Citerior (also called Tarraconensis) in two parts. The new, north-western part was called Hispania Nova Citerior Antoniniana, as can be read in two inscriptions, found in Legio (León, Spain), legionary headquarters. The name of the first governor was Caius Iulius Cerealis. Perhaps there was unrest among the troops in the region after Geta's assassination. Shamus Sillar suggests that Caracalla may also have been interested in the region because of its natural riches: lead, iron, tin, silver and gold.
IVNONI RE[ginae]
PRO SALVTE ET IM[perii]
DIVTVRNITA[te Imp(eratoris)]
M(arci) AVRELLI ANTO[nini]
PII FEL(icis) AVG(usti) ET IV[liae]
PIAE FEL(icis) AVG(ustae) MA[tris]
ANTONINI AVG(usti) [cas]
TRORVM SENAT[us]
AC PATRIAE
C(aius) IVL(ius) CEREALIS CO(n)S(ul) [leg(atus)]
AVG(usti) PR(o) PR(aetore) PR(ovinciae) H(ispaniae) N(ovae) C(iterioris) AN[toni]
NIANAE POST DIVI[sam]
PROVINC(iam) PRIMVS AB EO [missus]Dedication to Juno for the well-being of Caracalla and Julia Domna.
One of two inscriptions documenting Hispania Nova Citerior Antoniniana.
EDCS-05502039. The other inscription is EDCS-05600855.Cassius Dio says that a governor of Baetica, Caecilius Aemilianus, was executed by order of Caracalla, because he had consulted the oracle of Hercules at Gades (Cádiz, Spain). Sillar suggests that he may have inquired about the Emperor's health, which was a capital offence: Nam qui de principis salute, capite puniti sunt vel qua alia poena graviore adfecti, "Those who have inquired into the safety of the princeps have been put to death or have had some rather serious punishment inflicted on them" (Ulpianus, De Officio Proconsulis 7).
