Constitutio Antoniniana: Difference between revisions

 

== Analysis ==

 

The context of the decree is still subject to discussion. According to [[Cassius Dio]], the main reason [[Caracalla]] passed the law was to increase the number of people available to tax. In the words of Cassius Dio: "This was the reason why he made all the people in his empire Roman citizens; nominally he was honouring them, but his real purpose was to increase his revenues by this means, inasmuch as aliens did not have to pay most of these taxes."<ref>[http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/78*.html Cassius Dio, ''Roman History'', book 78, chapter 9.]</ref> It should, however, be noted that Cassius Dio generally saw Caracalla as a bad, contemptible emperor.