Just before Christmas there was an eccentric piece in the Hessische/Niedersächsische Allgemeine that the Kalefeld battlefield (see most recent post here) dates to AD213 and a campaign of the emperor Caracalla, aka Antoninus, the elder son of Septimius Severus.
As I have mentioned before, the desire to link the battlefield to a named emperor and a campaign that is mentioned by ancient writers is understandable, but a huge distraction. But it is worth taking a quick look to see if there is anything in it.
The evidence for Caracalla in Germany is sketchy and not especially illuminating. Cassius Dio mentions that the emperor visited Gaul in AD213 and campaigned along the borders of Upper Germany and Raetia for much of the rest of the year. Here is the passage (78.13.4-14.4):
Antoninus made a campaign against the Alamanni and whenever he saw a spot suitable for habitation, he would order, "There let a fort be erected. There let a city be built." And he gave these places names relating to himself, though the local designations were not changed; for some of the people were unaware of the new names and others supposed he was jesting. Consequently he came to feel contempt for these people and would not spare even them, but accorded treatment befitting the bitterest foes to the very people whom he claimed to have come to help. For he summoned their men of military age, pretending that they were to serve as mercenaries, and then at a given signal – by raising aloft his own shield – he caused them all to be surrounded and cut down, and he sent horsemen round about and arrested all the others.
He waged war also against the Cenni, a Germanic tribe. These warriors are said to have assailed the Romans with the utmost fierceness, even using their teeth to pull from their flesh the missiles with which the Osroëni wounded them, so that they might have their hands free for slaying their foes without interruption. Nevertheless, even they accepted a defeat in name in return for a large sum of money and allowed him to make his escape back into the province of Germany. Some of their women who were captured by the Romans, upon being asked by Antoninus whether they wished to be sold or slain, chose the latter fate; then, upon being sold, they all killed themselves and some slew their children as well. Many also of the people living close to the ocean itself near the mouths of the Albis sent envoys to him asking for his friendship, though their real purpose was to get money. This was made clear by the fact that, when he had done as they desired, many attacked him, threatening to make war, and yet he came to terms with all of them. For even though the terms proposed were contrary to their wishes, yet when they saw the gold pieces they were captivated. The gold that he gave them was of course genuine, whereas the silver and the gold currency that he furnished to the Romans was debased; for he manufactured the one kind out of lead plated with silver and the other out of copper plated with gold.
The Historia Augusta’s Life of Caracalla has a brief mention of the emperor there at the time (HA, Caracalla, 5):
After doing all this he set out for Gaul and immediately upon his arrival there killed the proconsul of Narbonensis. Thereby great consternation was caused among all who were engaged in administering Gaul, and he incurred the hatred felt for a tyrant; and yet would at times assume a kindly demeanour, despite the fact that by nature he was very savage. After many measures directed against persons and in violation of the rights of communities he was seized with an illness and underwent great suffering. Yet even toward those who nursed him he behaved most brutally.
Herodian (4.7) also alludes to the emperor’s time in Germany. It is fair to say that he doesn’t add very much either:
After committing such crimes as these, hounded by his conscience and finding life in Rome intolerable, the emperor decided to leave the city to see to matters in the garrison camps and visit the provinces. Leaving Italy, he journeyed to the banks of the Danube, where he concerned himself with the northern part of his empire; at the same time he exercised by driving in chariot races and by fighting at close quarters with wild animals of every kind. Only occasionally did he sit as judge, although he was quick to grasp the essentials of a case in court and quick to pass judgment on the basis of the arguments presented. He grew especially fond of the Germans in those regions; after gaining their friendship, he entered into alliances with them, and selected for his personal bodyguard the strongest and most handsome young men. He frequently put off the Roman cloak and donned German dress, appearing in the short, silver-embroidered cloaks which they customarily wear, augmented by a yellow wig with the locks arranged in the German style. Delighted with the emperor's antics, the barbarians became very fond of him, as did the Roman soldiers also, particularly because of his lavish gifts of money but also because he always played the soldier's part. If a ditch had to be dug anywhere, the emperor was the first man to dig; if it were necessary to bridge a stream or pile up a high rampart, it was the same; in every task involving labor of hand or body, the emperor was first man to the job. He set a frugal table and even went so far as to use wooden dishes at his meals. He ate the bread that was available; grinding with his own hands his personal ration of grain, he made a loaf, baked it in the ashes, and ate it. Scorning luxuries, he used whatever was cheapest and issued to the poorest soldier. He pretended to be delighted when they called him fellow soldier instead of emperor. For the most part he marched with the troops, carrying his own arms and rarely using a chariot or a horse. Occasionally he even placed the standards of the legions on his shoulders and bore them along; these standards, tall and decorated with many gold ornaments, were a heavy burden for even the strongest soldiers. For these actions Caracalla won the affection of the soldiers by his military prowess and gained their admiration by his feats of strength. And it is certainly true that the performance of such strenuous tasks by a man of small stature was worthy of admiration.
The main evidence about Caracalla's campaigns is from coins. His departure for Germany was celebrated in the Profectio Aug issue from early in AD213 (RIC 225, RSC 508, BMC 97).
While on coins from then on the emperor is dubbed Germanicus (RIC 238A, RSC 242, BMC 91):
Both images of coins from the fantastic Wildwinds site here and here.
I think it is safe to say that the jury will remain out on this one. There is no evidence one way or another for the theory.
Lol, I was waiting for the first retired school teacher (or businessman, in this case) and the town major to present themselves as experts on the Romans in Germany.
Maybe if they try really hard they will learn how to present a scientific argument, and how to spell German words. Eventually. :)
Posted by: Gabriele | January 02, 2009 at 08:34 PM