Born in Lugdunum (Lyons), the Roman emperor known as Caracalla was probably originally named Lucius Septimius Bassianus, but was called Marcus Aurelius Antoninus from the age of seven. Caracalla's father, Septimius Severus, made Caracalla Caesar in AD 196, and Augustus in AD 198. Caracalla gained much military experience campaigning with his father in Britain, and followed in the ancient Roman tradition of fratricide (begun by Romulus when he killed Remus) by killing his brother Geta in AD 212, shortly after they both succeeded Septimius Severus to the imperial throne. Caracalla staged the assassination so that his brother died in his mother Julia Domna's arms. He then carried out a blood bath, killing as many as 20,000 supporters of Geta. Caracalla bought the affection of the army, but was himself assassinated by his praetorian prefect, Macrinus, on April 8, AD 217.

Main Roman Coin Book and Other References:

RIC = Mattingly, Harold    The Roman Imperial Coinage
BMC = Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum
RSC = Seaby, H A    Roman Silver Coinage
RCV = Sear, David R    Roman Coins and Their Values
Cr = Crawford, Michael    The Roman Republican Coinage
SB = Sear, David R    Byzantine Coins and Their Values
S = Coins of England and the United Kingdom
WW = Wildwinds.com (reference & attribution site)