The Antonine Constitution

An Edict for the Caracallan Empire
Erscheinungsjahr 2018
ISBN: 978-90-04-36822-4
Verlag: Brill

Buch, Englisch, Band 29, 176 Seiten, Format (B × H): 161 mm x 243 mm, Gewicht: 417 g

Reihe: Impact of Empire

In The Antonine Constitution, Alex Imrie approaches the famous edict of AD 212 from numerous angles, offering an assessment of its rationale that is rooted in the dynamic period of the early third century. Controversial since its discovery, it is depicted here as a keystone in Caracalla’s attempt to revolutionise the public image of the Severan dynasty after murdering his brother.

There is an inherent paradox between the apparently progressive nature of the edict, and the volatile emperor responsible for it. The enigma is only heightened by a dearth of ancient evidence relating to the legislation. By combining literary and material evidence with the surviving papyrological record, Alex Imrie shows that Caracalla’s rationale is best understood in an embedded context.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Imrie, Alex

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Alte Geschichte & Archäologie Geschichte der klassischen Antike Römische Geschichte

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface

List of Abbreviations

List of Figures, Table and Illustration

Introduction

The Antonine Constitution in Scholarship

An Edict for the Caracallan Empire

1 Contexts

The Historical Context: 193–212

The Antonine Constitution in Ancient Literature

The Role of the Jurists

The Antonine Constitution and the Giessen Papyrus

2 The Fiscal Rationale

Early Imperial Economic Activity

Decline and Crisis in the High Empire

The Severan Recovery

The Economy under Caracalla

The Economic Function of the Antonine Constitution

The Vicesima Hereditatum

The Purpose of Caracallan Fiscal Innovation

3 The Military Rationale

Obstacles to Legionary Recruitment

The Severan Reforms

The Military Application of the Antonine Constitution

4 Alexander Imitatio

Alexandrian Influences in the Antonine Constitution

Alexander Iconography in the Caracallan Empire

The Political Significance of Alexander Iconography

5 Securing the Caracallan Empire

The Drive for Aequitas

Re-writing the Severan Past

A Religious Offering

The Indulgentissimus Princeps

A Social Contract

Epilogue

Appendix

Text, Translation and Commentary of the Giessen Papyrus

Bibliography

Index

Über Autor(innen)

Alex Imrie, Ph.D. (2015), is a Tutor in Classics at the University of Edinburgh. He divides his time between teaching and outreach activities across Scotland. He has published articles on Caracalla and the Severan period. This is his first monograph.