It is clear that, after visiting Gaul, Caracalla travelled along the Rhine and Danube frontier, and then on to Asia Minor. His precise whereabouts are however notoriously difficult to establish. Inscriptions documenting building activity and dedications do not prove that Caracalla was present in a province in person. They may reflect preparations, or work after his departure. The information provided by other sources, such as dated legal texts and acclamations, is not always as straightforward as it seems. Epigraphic references to an expeditio Germanica should be used with caution, because Alexander Severus also undertook a German campaign.
Milestone from 212 AD in Neumagen,
documenting work before Caracalla's arrival.
Photo: Wikimedia, Rosemoon.
Click to enlarge.
Map of Germania (purple) and Raetia (yellow).
Droysens Historischer Handatlas, 1886.To the west of Rome a religious brotherhood, the Fratres Arvales ("Arval Brothers"), had its seat. In the acta ("minutes") of their meetings and ceremonies are dated references to the activity of the Emperor. For 213 AD we find three references to Germania and Raetia. On May 20 213 Caracalla is called Germanicus Maximus, on August 11 his intention to cross the border of Raetia into enemy territory is mentioned, and on October 6 a German victory.
XIII KAL(endas) IVN(ias) ... O NOS FELICES QVI TE IMP(eratorem) VIDEMVS DE NOSTRIS ANN(is) AVGEAT T(ibi) I(uppiter) A(nnos) GERMANICE MAX(ime) D(i) T(e) S(ervent) BRIT(annice) MAX(ime) D(i) T(e) S(ervent) III ID(us) AVG(ustas) IN CAPITOLIO ANTE CELLA(m) IVNONIS REG(inae) FRATRES ARVALES CONVENERVNT QVOD DOMINVS N(oster) IMP(erator) SANCTISSIM(us) PIVS M(arcus) AURELLIVS ANTONINVS AVG(ustus) PONT(ifex) MAX(imus) PER LIMITEM RAETIAE AD HOSTES EXTIRPANDOS BARBARORUM INTROITVRVS EST VT EA RES EI PROSPERE FELICITERQVE CEDAT PR(idie) NON(as) OCT(obres) IN CAPITOLIO ANTE CELLAM IVNONIS REG(inae) OB SALVTE(m) VICTORIAMQVE GERMANICAM ... CONVENERVNT Extracts from the Acta Fratrum Arvalium for 213 AD.
EDCS-18900585.Some scholars have expressed doubts about the first entry. It is a surprisingly early occurrence of the title Germanicus Maximus, which implies a military victory. Had fighting indeed taken place? Does the title refer to a much earlier event, when Caracalla ruled with Septimius Severus? Or is it a reference to a later victory, added retrospectively, at the end of 213, when the minutes were published? The doubts may seem unnecessary, but things are complicated by seven dated legal rulings in the Codex Justinianus, marked as "given in Rome", dated in June and July of 213. This is not hard evidence for the presence of Caracalla in Rome. There are instances of rescripts given outside Rome but linked to Rome, because the person concerned lived in Rome. In this case however the large number is striking.
A military victory in September 213 is beyond doubt. A German victory was advertised on coins.
Aureus, presumably from 213 AD, celebrating a victoria germanica.
The winged Victoria holds a wreath. Above her is a trophy.
RIC p. 245 nr. 237. Photo: arsclassicacoins.com.Another issue that has been much debated is the size of the army. It has been suggested that Caracalla entered the Rhine provinces with a huge military force, assembled from the entire Empire, but there is not much evidence that is dated accurately enough to be absolutely certain. Dio mentions archers from Osroene, the border area between Syria and Turkey.
The campaign was called expeditio Germanica (EDCS-20400974; 214 AD). Aurelius Victor mentions fighting near the river Moenus (Main), and Mogontiacum (Mainz, on this river) must have played an important role in the campaign, perhaps as headquarters. In the legionary camp of that city, in 213 AD, Quintus Iunius Decimus Quintianus. legatus pro praetore Germaniae superioris, made a dedication to Caracalla (EDCS-11000801).
