From Antique, Italy, 18th century and later The Emperor Caracalla Marble bust Resting on a white marble pedestal H. 55 cm (21 ½ in.) Total height: 67 cm (26 ¼ in.) l. 51 cm (20 in.) An Italian marble bust depicting the emperor Caracalla, after the antique, 18th century and later The son of the emperor Septimius Severus, Marcus Aurelius Antonius (188-217 AD), better known as Caracalla, was born in Lugdunum in 188 AD and reigned over the Roman Empire from 211 to 217 AD. Having become sole ruler after the assassination of his brother Geta in 212, he led a campaign first in Germania, then in the East, where he hoped to repeat the conquests of Alexander the Great, but he was assassinated in Mesopotamia. With an edict in 212, he granted Roman citizenship to all free inhabitants of the Roman Empire.