Edict of Caracalla

The edict of Caracalla of 212, also called Constitutio Antoniniana , is one of the most known laws of the Empire. It grants the Roman Citoyenneté to all the free men of the Empire who did not have it yet.

A text of a great range

Until 212, the Roman Citoyenneté (with its tax privileges but also its duties) was granted in a total way only to the inhabitants of Italy and in the provinces to the Municipe S having the statute of Roman colony. Little by little the number of citizen had thus increased and the provincial elites had largely benefitted from it. The Roman citizenship was also obtained after 20 years of service in the auxiliary troops of the Roman army. It was one of the principal attractions of the military career. The new edict, by granting the established among Roman with all the free men of the Empire testifies to the moral unit of the Roman Empire. The reasons which pushed Caracalla to take this measurement are badly known. Was it a question of widening the tax base paid by the citizens? To harden the capacity of the young emperor while being pressed on the people of the Roman provinces? Or to simplify the administrative procedures by reducing the number of statutes?

Are excluded from the citizenship the “ déditices ”, i.e. the Barbarians subjected by the force and the part of the Egyptian population having a lower statute. Initially, the edict has like consequence to make pay with all the free inhabitants taxation of the successions. Those are indeed paid only by the Roman citizens. The second consequence is the sudden inscription on the registers of new citizens attached to people of the aurielii. The true name of Caracalla is indeed Marcus Aurelius Antoninus . The edict of Caracalla also fits in the fight between the Sévères and the senate started with Septime Sévère since the privileges of the Italian cities are thus neutralized by the universalism of the established among

The provincial subjects which for the majority testified their fidelity with the Roman Empire for a long time find in this edict means of promotion social. The triumphal arch of Volubilis, built into 277, is dedicated to Caracalla to thank it for having given the Roman citizenship to the free inhabitants of the empire.

Text of the edict

César Marc Aurèle Sévère Antonin Auguste proclaims:
is thus necessary…, after having received petitions (?) and of, before very how I will be able to return graces to the gods to have run away myself by such (?) …. For this reason I estimate to be able to achieve in manner if (?) and so pious (?) an act which is appropriate for their majesty by rejoining ceremonies of their worship (?) pérégrins, all times that they will come to join my men. I thus give to all pérégrins which are in the Empire the established among Roman, given that are maintained the cities of any kind except those of the déditices. It must indeed that multitude… not only… … all, but that it is as of now also associated with the victory. And this edict will increase (?) majesty of the Roman,…

César Marc Aurèle Sévère Antonin Auguste proclaims:
general manner, it is with the divinity that it is necessary for all and them causes and reasons (of the things); me also, as it should be, I would like to return graces to the gods to have saved me of such woven (against my life). For this reason I estimate to be able to achieve in a way if and so worthy of the gods an act which is appropriate for their majesty, by rejoining their worship, like Romains, of time of tens of thousands (the faithful ones) that it will come from there each time to join my men. I thus give to all which live the Empire the established among Roman, given that nobody will not be out of the framework of the cities, except the déditices. It owes the multitude indeed is not only associated with the loads which weigh on all, but that it from now on is also included in the victory. this edict will increase the majesty of the Roman: is in conformity with this one that others can be allowed with this same as that from which the Romans profit since always, whereas were excluded from it… from each…

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