Short Biography about the life of Geta
Short Biography profile and facts about one of the most famous Romans of all, in the life of Geta, Emperor of Rome and provinces of the Roman Empire.

• Name commonly known as: Geta

• Latin Roman Name: Publius Septimius Geta

• Reigned as Roman Emperor / Caesar: February - December 211 Geta ruled with his older brother Caracalla

• Dynasty / Historical Period: Severan

• Place and Date of Birth:  Born March 7, 189 in Rome

• Name of previous Emperor: His predecessor or the Emperor before Geta was his father Septimius Severus
  Geta jointly ruled with his older brother Caracalla

• Family connections / Genealogy

  • Name of Father: Septimius Severus

  • Name of Mother: Julia Domna

• Place and Date of Death: December 26, 211 (age 22) in Rome

• Name of next Emperor:  The successor to Geta was Caracalla

The Sons of Septimius Severus - Geta and Caracalla
Septimius Severus and his wife Julia Domna became the parents of two sons, Caracalla and Geta. Septimius Severus hoped that they would both prove worthy of the high office to which they were born. However, neither Caracalla nor Geta showed themselves capable of any serious study or employment, and were chiefly remarkable for the hatred they bore toward each other. Septimius Severus tried his best to remove their rivalry as he foresaw that eventually one must fall a victim to the hatred of the other.

Interesting facts about the life of Geta
Obtain a fast overview of the times of the Roman Emperor Geta from the following facts and information about his life. Septimius Severus died at York in Britain on February 4, A.D. 211. He left his empire to his two sons, Geta and  Caracalla returned to Rome, and were acknowledged by the Senate and the army as the joint emperors of the Roman Empire. Despite being joint rulers Geta was always in a secondary place to his older brother. Caracalla and Geta argued about every decision. The brothers planned a division of the empire, a measure which was then distasteful to all the Romans. The division was only prevented by the entreaties of their mother, Julia Domna. Caracalla and Geta were completely different in temperament. Caracalla was cruel and extremely ambitious whereas Geta had a more gentle personality. By the end of the first year of their joint rule the situation was unbearable. Caracalla organised the murder of Geta during the festival of Saturnalia.  Geta was murdered by centurions on December 26, 211. Geta died in his mother's arms. He was only 22 years old.

The Severan Dynasty (193 - 235)
Septimius Severus began the Severan Dynasty which included Caracalla, Geta, Macrinus, Diadumenian (son of Macrinus), Elagabalus and Alexander Severus. The Severan Dynasty marked the end of Pax Romana (Roman peace) and ended the practice of choosing heirs based on ability rather than lineage or civil war.