Historia Augusta: Geta

I. 1 Scio, Constantine Auguste, et multos et clementiam tuam quaestionem movere posse, cur etiam Geta Antoninus a me tradatur. De cuius priusquam vel vita vel nece dicam, disseram, cur et ipsi Antonino a Severo patre sit nomen adpositum. 2 Neque enim multa in eius vita dici possunt, qui prius rebus humani sex emptus est, quam cum fratre teneret imperium.

1. 1 I know, Constantine Augustus, that both many and your clemency can raise the question why even Geta Antoninus is handed down by me. About whom, before I speak either of his life or of his death, I shall discuss why the name Antoninus also was appended to him by his father Severus. 2 For indeed many things cannot be said about his life, who was removed from human affairs before he held the imperium with his brother.

3 Septimius Severus quodam tempore cum consuluisset ac petisset, ut sibi indicaretur, quo esset successore moriturus, in somnis vidit Antoninum sibi successurum. 4 Quare statim ad milites processit et Bassianum, filium maiorem natu, Marcum Aurelium Antoninum appellavit. 5 Quod cum fecisset ex paterna cogitatione vel, ut quidam dicunt, a Iulia uxore commonitus, quae gnara erat somnii, quod minori filio hoc facto ipse interclusisset aditum imperandi, etiam Getam, minorem filium, Antoninum vocari iussit.

3 At a certain time Septimius Severus, when he had consulted and had requested that it be indicated to him who would be his successor at his death, saw in dreams that an Antoninus would succeed him. 4 Wherefore he immediately went forth to the soldiers and named Bassianus, his son elder by birth, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. 5 When he had done this, either from paternal deliberation or, as some say, having been admonished by his wife Julia, who was cognizant of the dream, because by this act he had shut off the access of ruling to his younger son, he also ordered that Geta, the younger son, be called Antoninus.

6 Itaque semper ab eo in epistulis familiaribus dictus est, cum si forte abesset, scriberet : 7 "Salutate Antoninos filios et successores meos." Sed nihil valuit patris cautio, nam ei solus ille successit, qui primus Antoninus nomen accepit. Et haec de Antonini nomine.

6 Therefore he was always called thus by him in familiar epistles, and whenever he might by chance be away, he would write : 7 "Greet the Antonini, my sons and successors." But the father’s caution availed nothing, for only that one succeeded him who first received the name Antoninus. And so much for the name Antoninus.

II. 1 Geta autem dictus est vel a patrui nomine vel avi paterni, de cuius vita et moribus in vita Severi Marius Maximus primo septenario satis copiose rettulit. 2 Fuit autem Antoninus Geta etiam ob hoc ita dictus, quod in animo habuit Severus, ut omnes deinceps principes quemadmodum Augusti, ita etiam Antonini dicerentur, idque amore Marci, [quem patrem] vel fratrem suum semper dicebat et cuius philosophiam littererumque institutionem semper imitatus est. 3 Dicunt aliqui non in Marci honorem tantum Antonini nomini delatum, cum id Marcus adoptivum habuerit, sed in eius, qui Pius cognominatus est, Hadriani scilicet successoris, 4 et quidem ob hoc quod Severum ille ad fisci advocationem delegerat ex formularia forensi, cum ad tantos processus ei patuisset dati ab Antonino primi gradus vel honoris auspicium, 5 simul quod nemo ei videretur felicior imperator ad commodandum nomen eo principe, cuius proprium nomen iam per quattuor principes cucurrisset.

2. 1 Geta, moreover, was so named either from his paternal uncle’s name or his paternal grandfather’s, about whose life and character Marius Maximus, in the Life of Severus, in the first septenary, has related quite copiously. 2 Furthermore, Antoninus Geta was thus called also for this reason, that Severus had in mind that all emperors thereafter, just as they were called Augusti, so also should be called Antonini—and this out of love for Marcus, whom he always used to call [his father] or his brother, and whose philosophy and schooling in letters he always imitated. 3 Some say that the name Antoninus was bestowed not only in honor of Marcus—since Marcus had it as an adoptive name—but in honor of him who was surnamed Pius, namely Hadrian’s successor, 4 and indeed on this account, that that man had chosen Severus to the advocacy of the fisc from the forensic formulary, since for such advancements there had been opened to him, granted by Antoninus, the auspice of the first step or of honor, 5 and at the same time because no emperor seemed to him more fortunate for lending the name than that princeps, whose proper name had already run through four princes.

6 De hoc eodem Severus, gnarus geniturae illius, cuius ut plerique Afrorum, peritissimus fuit, dixisse fertur : 7 "Mirum mihi videtur, Iuvenalis amantissime, Geta noster divus futurus, cuius nihil omperiale in genitura video." Erat enim Iuvenalis praef. eius praetorii. nec eum fefellit.

6 About this same matter Severus, knowledgeable of his geniture—wherein, as with most of the Africans, he was most skilled—is said to have said : 7 "It seems strange to me, dearest Juvenalis, that our Geta is going to be deified, in whose geniture I see nothing imperial." For Juvenalis was the prefect of his praetorium. Nor did it fail him.

8 Nam Bassianus, cum eum occidisset ac vereretur tyrannicam ex parricidio notam audiretque posse mitigari facinus, si divum fratrem appellaret, dixisse fertur : "Sit divus, dum non sit vivus." 9 Denique eum inter divos rettulitatque ideo ut cumque redit fama in gratiam parricida.

8 For Bassianus, when he had killed him and feared he would hear the tyrannical stigma from parricide and heard that the crime could be mitigated if he should call his brother a divus, is said to have said: "Let him be deified, so long as he not be alive." 9 Finally he enrolled him among the divi, and for that reason the parricide somehow returns into favor with public report.

III. 1 Natus est Geta Severo et Vitellio cons(ulibu)s Mediolanii, etsi aliter alii prodiderunt, VI. kal. Iunias ex Iulia, quam idcirco Severus uxorem duxerat, quod eam in genitura habere compererat, ut regis uxor esset, isque privatus sed iam optimi in re p. loci.

3. 1 Geta was born at Milan, when Severus and Vitellius were consuls (although others have transmitted it otherwise), on the 6th day before the Kalends of June, from Julia—whom Severus had married for this reason, that he had discovered in her nativity that she would be a king’s wife—he himself then a private citizen, but already in an excellent position in the commonwealth.

2 Statim ut natus est, nuntiatum est ovum gallinam in aula peperisse purpureum. 3 Quod cum allatum Bassianum frater eius accepisset et quasi parvulus adplosum ad terram fregisset, Iulia dixisse ioco fertur : "Maledicte paricida, fratrem tuum occidisti." Idque ioco. 4 Quod dictum Severus altius quam quisquam praesentium accepit, a circumstantibus autem postea velut divinitus effusum adprobatum est.

2 Immediately when he was born, it was announced that a hen had laid in the hall a purple egg. 3 When this had been brought in and his brother Bassianus had received it and, like a little child, had dashed it to the ground and broken it, Julia is said to have said in jest : "Accursed parricide, you have killed your brother." And that in jest. 4 This utterance Severus took more deeply than anyone present, and by those standing around afterwards it was approved as if divinely poured forth.

5 Fuit etiam aliud omen: nam cum in villa cuiusdam Antonini, plebei hominis, agnus natus esset, qui vellus in fronte purpureum haberet, eadem die atque hora, qua Geta natus est, audissetque ille ab aruspice post Severum Antoninum imperaturum ac de se ille auguraretur, sed tamen tale fati timeret indicium, ferro eum adegit. 6 Quod et ipsum signo fuit Getam ab Antonino interimendum, ut posteasatis claruit. 7 Fuit etiam aliud omen, ut postea ingens exitus docuit, huius facinoris, quod evenit : 8 nam cum infantis Getae natalem Severus commendare vellet, hostiam popa nomine Antoninus percussit.

5 There was also another omen: for when, in the villa of a certain Antoninus, a plebeian man, a lamb had been born which had a purple fleece on its forehead, on the same day and hour at which Geta was born, and when that man had heard from a haruspex that after Severus an Antoninus would be emperor, and he augured this of himself, yet, fearing such an indication of fate, he drove it through with iron. 6 This itself also was a sign that Geta was to be slain by Antoninus, as afterwards became quite clear. 7 There was also another omen, as the great outcome later taught, of this crime which came to pass : 8 for when Severus wished to commend the birthday of the infant Geta, the victim was struck by a popa named Antoninus.

9 Quod tunc nec quaesitum nec animadversum, post vero intellectum est.

9 Which then was neither sought nor noticed, but afterwards indeed was understood.

IV. 1 Fuit adulescens decorus, moribus asperis, sed non impius, + gulosus, cupidus ciborum et vini varie conditi. 2 Huius illud pueri fertur insigne, quod, cum vellet partium diversarum viros Severus occidere et inter suos diceret : "Hostes vobis eripio" consentiretque adeo usque Bassianus, ut eorum etiam liberos, si sibi consuleret, diceret occidendos, Geta interrogasse fertur, quantus esset interficiendorum numerus; 3 cumque dixisset pater, ille interrogavit : "Isti habent parentes, habent propinquos?" Cum responsum esset habere, ait complorans : "Plures ergo in civitate tristes erunt quam laeti quod vicimus". Et optinuisset eius sententia, nisi Plautianus praefectus vel Iuvenalis institissent spe proscriptionum, ex quibus ditati sunt. His accedebat Bassiani fratris nimia crudelitas.

4. 1 He was a handsome adolescent, harsh in morals, but not impious, a glutton, greedy for foods and for wine variously mixed. 2 That notable thing is reported of him as a boy, that, when Severus wished to kill men of diverse parties and among his own would say, “I am snatching your enemies from you,” Bassianus so far consented that he said even their children ought to be killed, if he consulted his own interest; it is reported that Geta asked how great would be the number of those to be put to death. 3 And when his father had stated it, he asked: “Do these have parents, do they have kin?” When it was answered that they did, he said, weeping aloud: “Therefore more in the citizenry will be sad than glad because we have conquered.” And his opinion would have prevailed, had not Plautianus the prefect or Iuvenalis insisted in the hope of proscriptions, from which they were enriched. To these there was added the excessive cruelty of his brother Bassianus.

5 Qui cum contenderet et diceret qua[si] ioco qua[si] serio omnes cum liberis occidendos partium diversarum, Geta ei dixisse dicitur : "Tu qui nulli parcis, potes et fratrem occidere." Quod dictum eius tunc nihil, post vero pro praesagio fuit.

5 When he was contending and saying, as if in joke, as if in earnest, that all men of the diverse parties, together with their children, ought to be killed, Geta is said to have said to him : "You, who spare no one, can even kill your brother." That saying of his then was nothing, but afterwards proved a presage.

V. 1 Fuit in litteris adsequendis [et] tenax veterum scriptorum, paternarum etiam sententiarum memor, fratri semper invisus, matri amabilior quam frater, sub balbe tamen canorus. 2 Vestitus nitidi cupidissimus, ita ut pater rideret. si quid accepita p[r]a[e]rentibus, ad suum contulit cultum neque quicquam cuipiam dedit.

5. 1 He was, in acquiring letters, tenacious of the ancient writers, mindful also of paternal opinions, always hateful to his brother, more lovable to his mother than his brother, though somewhat stammering, yet melodious. 2 Most desirous of neat attire, so that his father laughed. If he received anything from his parents, he applied it to his own adornment and gave nothing to anyone.

3 Post Parthicum bellum pater cum ingenti gloria floreret, Bassiano participi imperii appellato Geta quoque Caesaris et Antonini, ut quidam dicunt, nomen accepit. 4 Familiare illi fuit has quaestiones grammaticis proponere, ut dicerent, singula animalia quomodo vocem emitterent, velut : 5 agni balant, porcelli grunniunt, palumbes minurriunt, ursi saeviunt, leones rugiunt, leopardi rictant, elefanti barriunt, ranae coaxant, equi hinniunt, asini rudunt, tauri mugiunt, easque de veteribus adprobare. 6 Seneri Sammonici libros familiarissimos habuit, quos ille ad Antoninum scripsit.

3 After the Parthian war, when his father was flourishing with immense glory, Bassianus having been named partner in the imperium, Geta also received the name of Caesar and, as some say, of Antoninus. 4 It was familiar to him to propose these questions to the grammarians, that they should say how individual animals emit a voice, for example: 5 lambs bleat, piglets grunt, wood-pigeons coo, bears growl, lions roar, leopards snarl, elephants barrit, frogs croak, horses whinny, asses bray, bulls bellow, and to corroborate these from the ancients. 6 He had the books of Serenus Sammonicus as most familiar, which that man wrote to Antoninus.

7 Habebat etiam istam consuetudinem, ut convivia et maxime prandia per singulas litteras iuberet scientibus servis, 8 velut in quo erat anser, apruna, anas, item pullus, perdix, pavus, porcellus, piscis, perna et quae in eam litteram genera edulium caderent, et item fasianus, farrata, ficus et talia. quare comis etiam habebatur in adulescentia.

7 He also had this custom, to order the banquets, and most especially the luncheons, by single letters, the servants being in the know, 8 for example: one under the letter A, in which there were goose, plums, duck; likewise under P, chicken, partridge, peacock, piglet, fish, ham, and whatever kinds of foods fell under that letter; and likewise under F, pheasant, spelt-cake, figs, and such things. Wherefore he too was regarded as affable in his youth.

VI. 1 Occiso eo pars militum, quae incorrupta erat, parricidium aegerrime accepit, dicentibus cunctis duobus se liberis fidem promisisse, duobus servare debere, clausique portis diu non est imperator admissus. 2 Denique nisi querellis de Geta editis et animis militum delenitis, inormibus etiam stipendiis datis Romam Bassianus redire non potuit. 3 Post hoc denique et Papinianus et multi alii interempti sunt, qui vel concordiae faverant vel qui partium Getae fuerant, ita ut utriusque ordinis viri et in balneo et cenantes et in publico percuterentur, Papinianus ipse securi percussus sit, inprobante Bassiano, quod non gladio res peracta sit.

6. 1 With him slain, that part of the soldiers which was uncorrupted received the parricide most grievously, with all saying that they had pledged their loyalty to two sons and ought to keep it to two, and with the gates closed the emperor was not admitted for a long time. 2 Finally, not until complaints against Geta had been published and the spirits of the soldiers had been soothed, with enormous stipends also given, could Bassianus return to Rome. 3 After this, at length both Papinian and many others were slain, who had either favored concord or had been of Geta’s party, such that men of both orders were struck down both in the bath and while dining and in public; Papinian himself was struck with the axe, Bassianus disapproving because the matter was not carried out with the sword.

4 Ventum denique est usque ad seditionem urbanicianorum militum, quos quidem non levi auctoritate Bassianus compressit tribuno eorum, ut alii dicunt, interfecto, ut alii, relegato. 5 Ipse autem tantum timuit, ut loricam sub lato habens clavo etiam curiam sit ingressus atque ita rationem facti sui et necis Geticae reddiderit. 6 Quo quidem tempore Helvius Pertinax, filius Pertinacis, qui postea est ab eodem Bassiano interemptus, recitanti fausta praetori et dicenti "Sarmaticus maximus et Parthicus maximus", quasi Gothicus.

4 At length it even came to a sedition of the Urbanician soldiers, whom indeed Bassianus suppressed with no slight authority, their tribune, as some say, having been slain; as others, banished. 5 He himself, however, was so afraid that, wearing a cuirass beneath the broad senatorial stripe, he even entered the Curia and thus gave an account of his deed and of the slaying of Geta. 6 At which time Helvius Pertinax, the son of Pertinax, who afterwards was slain by this same Bassianus, to the praetor reciting good wishes and saying "Sarmaticus maximus et Parthicus maximus", added, "as though Gothicus."

7 Quod dictum altius in[tere] pectus Bassiani descendit, ut postea nece Pertinacis est adprobatum, nec solum Pertinacis sed et aliorum, ut supra dictum est, passim et inique. 8 Helvium autem etiam suspectum habuit adfectatae tyrannidis, quod esset in amore omnium et filius Pertinacis imperatoris. Quae res nulli facile privato satis tuta est.

7 That remark sank deeper into Bassianus’s breast, as was later proved by the slaying of Pertinax— and not only of Pertinax but also, as said above, of others, at random and unjustly. 8 Moreover, he even held Helvius suspected of attempted tyranny, because he was in the love of all and the son of the emperor Pertinax. Which circumstance is scarcely safe enough for any private person.

VII. 1 Funus Getae accuratius fuisse dicitur quam eius, qui fratri videretur occisus. 2 Inlatusque est maiorum sepulchro, hoc est Severi, quod est in Appia via euntibus ad portam dextra, specie Septizodii extructum, quod sibi ille vivus ornaverat.

7. 1 The funeral of Geta is said to have been more carefully conducted than that of him who seemed to have been slain by his brother. 2 And he was borne into the sepulcher of his ancestors, that is, of Severus, which is on the Appian Way, on the right for those going to the gate, built in the guise of the Septizodium, which he had adorned for himself while alive.

3 Occidere voluit et matrem Getae, novercam suam, quod fratrem lugeret, et mulieres, quas post reditum de curia fluentes repperit. 4 Fuit praeterea eius inmanitatis Antoninus, ut his praecipue blandiretur, quos ad necem destinabat, ut eius magis blandimentum timeretur quam iracundia. 5 Mirum sane omnibus videbatur, quod mortem Getae totiens etiam ipse fleret, quotiens nominis eius mentio fieret, quotiens imago videretur aut statua.

3 He wanted to kill even Geta’s mother, his own stepmother, because she was mourning his brother, and the women whom, after his return from the Curia, he found streaming out. 4 Moreover, it was a mark of Antoninus’s inhumanity that he especially blandished those whom he had destined for slaughter, so that his blandishment was feared more than his irascibility. 5 It truly seemed wondrous to all, that he himself even so often wept for the death of Geta, as often as mention of his name was made, as often as his image or statue was seen.

6 Varietas autem tanta fuit Antonini Bassiani, immo tanta sitis caedis, ut modo fautores Getae, modo inimicos occideret, quos fors obtulisset. Quo facto magis Geta desiderabatur.

But such was the variety of Antoninus Bassianus—nay, such a thirst for slaughter—that now the supporters of Geta, now his enemies, he would kill, whomever Fortune had offered up. By this deed Geta was the more longed for.