Roman Emperor Augusto and his Antoniana Constitution
Emperor César Marco Aurelio Severo Antonino Augusto says:
“It is necessary first of all to refer to the divinity the causes and motives (of our facts);I would also have to thank the immortal gods because with the present victory they honored me and kept except. Thus, I believe in this way to be able to satisfy with magnificence and mercy their greatness by associating to the cult of the gods to how many thousands of men are added to ours. I grant (then) to all who are in the orb the Roman citizenship, without anyone without citizenship, except the dedications. Indeed, everyone should not contribute in everything else, but also participate in victory. And this Constitution expresses the greatness of the Roman people, etc. […]
(Original Greek in the papyrus of Giessen No 40, Col. 1, Apud a. D’Ors, Introduction to the study of the Roman Egypt documents, 1948).
The Severos ruled in a time of great changes, characterized by being a period of decline. They also covered the transition from the Principality to the dominated. The first emperor of the Dynasty of the Severos (193-235) was Seventimio Severo. This emperor took over the problems created by the Dynasty Crisis, made reforms in the state, and managed to repress the births. To obtain the aforementioned renewed the Senatorium album, it laid the institutional basis for the militarization of the empire (for which Caracalla will be governed) and carried out a monetary reform that would culminate in inflation. His son happened, Emperor César Marco Aurelio Severo Antonino Augusto (188-217).
César Marco Aurelio Severo Antonino Augusto, also known as Antonino Caracalla, was a Roman emperor (211-217) whose reign was developed during the classical era of the history of Rome (27 A. C. at 284 d. C.).
In his youth a very respectful and respectful character was attributed. However, since he was appointed Emperor he was known for abounding in defects rather than by virtues and was recognized as a tyrannical and paranoid person. One of the most negative aspects that were imputed was being a fratricida. However, he not only killed his brother Geta, with whom he would share the empire, but also most of his followers.
The repulsion that society felt towards Antonino Caracalla ended.
Despite the bad judgment that his contemporaries possessed of him, we cannot forget that he promoted important works, introduced a new currency (Antoninian), created Hispania Nova Citerior Antoniniana, contributed to the militarization of the empire, and elaborated the Antoniana Constitution or Edict of CaracallaIn the year 212 to. J. C. (The most valuable legacy of his empire).
The Antoniana Constitution has been transmitted through Giessen’s papyrus, a document rebuilt by Meyer in 1907 and published in 1910. This papyrus was found in poor condition and has been difficult to read. Therefore, we have not been able to study the Antonina Constitution since its most direct source, despite having the fragment collected in said papyrus. Likewise, its interpretation has not been unanimous either.
From the historical-legal point of view we are faced with a work that has been a research principle for numerous scholars.
In Rome, various categories were distinguished within the status civitatis:
- CIVES: Roman citizen, the only one who could enjoy the fullness of rights.
- Latini: They constituted an intermediate category. They were foreigners who could obtain Roman citizenship.
- Peregrini: They were the non -citizens, it was formed by pilgrims and foreigners from the Roman orb. However, the deeds were distinguished from these, a name that refers to the barbarian peoples and those who according to Caracalla were denied Roman citizenship.
This differentiation of stages is diminishing with the promulgation of the Antoniana Constitution, which responded to the homogeneity conditions created in previous times, and in it the Roman citizenship was awarded all the free inhabitants of the impero, with the exception of the deeds. In this way they became Roman whole peoples:
“I grant (then) to all who are in the orb the Roman citizenship, without anyone without citizenship, except the dedications."
There have been numerous opinions in relation to the reasons that Caracalla had for the publication of the edict, among them we find:
- Prosecutor: The desire to increase the number of taxpayers. He raised the double taxes on Hereditarium and Manumisionum: “Indeed, everyone should contribute in everything else, but also participate in victory."
- Religious: With the increase of citizens, the number of faithful also increased: "Associate the cult of the gods as many thousands of men are added to ours …".
- Politics: He developed a social policy with a unifying tendency and a "antiburger" position.
- Legal and administrative: applications were reduced by instance of granting citizenship.
In addition, some associated a military motive, since the army was fundamental in the government of the Severos and the cams were in decline.
It is evident that the Caracalla edict caused a movement of social equality, had important repercussions on the legal scope of the following decades and has been one of the most questioned documents in the history of Roman law. Its importance has led him to have mention in the digest.
Some scholars of this text have been d’Ors (“Introduction to the study of the Roman Egypt documents”, fragment that we analyze), Dion, Ulpiano, among others.
ASSESSMENT
I believe that the Antoniana Constitution has been a reference in the history of Roman law, and that its effectiveness has been reflected in later times. Hence the little importance between his contemporaries.
It is also curious that an edict that has been so questioned and studied was prepared by someone so hated by his people. It is very contradictory for someone to seek social unity and the favor of the poorest, also considered a tyrant. Perhaps this vision was promoted by those contrary to your government.
Without a doubt, Caracalla and the Antoniana Constitution are interesting study objects.
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