Publius Septimius Geta

Publius Septimius Geta (189-211), younger son of the Roman emperor Septimius Severus, was born on March 7, 189 at Mediolanuni (Milan).

In 198 he received the title of Caesar, and in 209 those of Imperator and Augustus. Between him and his brother Caracalla there existed from their early years a keen rivalry and antipathy.

On the death of their father in 211 they were proclaimed joint emperors; and after the failure of a proposed arrangement for the division of the empire, Caracalla pretended a desire for reconciliation. He arranged a meeting with his brother in his mother's apartments, and had him murdered in her arms by some centurions.

Dio Cassius lxxvii. Spartianus, Caracalki, 2; Herodian iv. I.

This entry was originally from the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.