XXIII. Geta (Severan Dynasty III)
Emperor: 209 to 211 AD
Born: March 7th 189 AD Died: December 19th 211 AD
Geta was a Roman Emperor who ruled with his father Septimius Severus and his older brother Caracalla from 209 until his death in 211, when he was murdered on Caracalla's orders. Conflicts between Geta and Caracalla were constant and often required the mediation of their mother. To appease his younger son, Septimius Severus gave Geta the title of Augustus in 209. During the campaign against the Britons in the early 3rd century, imperial propaganda promoted the image of a happy family that shared the responsibilities of rule. Caracalla acted as the emperor's second-in-command, and administrative and bureaucratic duties were Geta's responsibility. In reality, however, the rivalry and antipathy between the brothers did not abate.
When Septimius Severus died in early 211, Caracalla and Geta were proclaimed joint emperors and returned to Rome. Their joint rule was a failure. Later sources speculated that the brothers wished to split the empire in two halves. By the end of 211, the situation had become unbearable. Caracalla tried unsuccessfully to murder Geta during the festival of Saturnalia. Finally, in December Caracalla had his mother arrange a peace meeting with his brother in her apartments, and then had him murdered in her arms by centurions.
Following Geta's assassination, Caracalla ordered his brother's name to be removed from all inscriptions. The now sole emperor also took the opportunity to get rid of his political enemies, on grounds of conspiracy. Cassius Dio stated that around 20,000 men and women were killed or proscribed during this time.