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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 Caracallaâs 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 Caracallaâs rationale is best understood in an embedded context.
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 Caracallaâs rationale is best understood in an embedded context.
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.
"In conclusion, this book is a good introduction both to the CA and to related scholarship. Chapter 1, on historical and literary contexts, makes the topic accessible and interesting to a broad audience of specialist and non-specialist readers alike. The discussion of the practical rationales in chapters 2 and 3 is comprehensive and summarizes, with added nuance, the general state of scholarship on the matter..."
Lydia Schriemer in BMCR 2019.03.28
"To close, the year 212 will continue to feature in any history of later Rome. What Imrie's book does very well is force us to ask both new and old questions of this moment, of the actual physical copies of the edict and the emperor and dynasty shaping this shift. This is then certainly a worthwhile read, with elements that show great promise." Anthony Smart, CJ-Online, 2019.11.07.
Lydia Schriemer in BMCR 2019.03.28
"To close, the year 212 will continue to feature in any history of later Rome. What Imrie's book does very well is force us to ask both new and old questions of this moment, of the actual physical copies of the edict and the emperor and dynasty shaping this shift. This is then certainly a worthwhile read, with elements that show great promise." Anthony Smart, CJ-Online, 2019.11.07.
Preface
List of Abbreviations
List of Figures, Table and Illustration
Introduction
âThe Antonine Constitution in Scholarship
âAn Edict for the Caracallan Empire
1 Contexts
âThe Historical Context: 193â212
âThe Antonine Constitution in Ancient Literature
âThe Role of the Jurists
âThe Antonine Constitution and the Giessen Papyrus
2 The Fiscal Rationale
âEarly Imperial Economic Activity
âDecline and Crisis in the High Empire
âThe Severan Recovery
âThe Economy under Caracalla
âThe Economic Function of the Antonine Constitution
âThe Vicesima Hereditatum
âThe Purpose of Caracallan Fiscal Innovation
3 The Military Rationale
âObstacles to Legionary Recruitment
âThe Severan Reforms
âThe Military Application of the Antonine Constitution
4 Alexander Imitatio
âAlexandrian Influences in the Antonine Constitution
âAlexander Iconography in the Caracallan Empire
âThe Political Significance of Alexander Iconography
5 Securing the Caracallan Empire
âThe Drive for Aequitas
âRe-writing the Severan Past
âA Religious Offering
âThe Indulgentissimus Princeps
âA Social Contract
Epilogue
Appendix
âText, Translation and Commentary of the Giessen Papyrus
Bibliography
Index
List of Abbreviations
List of Figures, Table and Illustration
Introduction
âThe Antonine Constitution in Scholarship
âAn Edict for the Caracallan Empire
1 Contexts
âThe Historical Context: 193â212
âThe Antonine Constitution in Ancient Literature
âThe Role of the Jurists
âThe Antonine Constitution and the Giessen Papyrus
2 The Fiscal Rationale
âEarly Imperial Economic Activity
âDecline and Crisis in the High Empire
âThe Severan Recovery
âThe Economy under Caracalla
âThe Economic Function of the Antonine Constitution
âThe Vicesima Hereditatum
âThe Purpose of Caracallan Fiscal Innovation
3 The Military Rationale
âObstacles to Legionary Recruitment
âThe Severan Reforms
âThe Military Application of the Antonine Constitution
4 Alexander Imitatio
âAlexandrian Influences in the Antonine Constitution
âAlexander Iconography in the Caracallan Empire
âThe Political Significance of Alexander Iconography
5 Securing the Caracallan Empire
âThe Drive for Aequitas
âRe-writing the Severan Past
âA Religious Offering
âThe Indulgentissimus Princeps
âA Social Contract
Epilogue
Appendix
âText, Translation and Commentary of the Giessen Papyrus
Bibliography
Index
All interested in the history of the Severan period and the Roman Empire, more generally, and anyone interested in the spread of citizenship under Rome.