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Constitutio Antoniniana de Civitate
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Constitutio Antoniniana de Civitate

Roman law
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The Constitutio Antoniniana de Civitate, also known as the Edict of Caracalla, was a decree issued in 212 CE by Roman Emperor Caracalla. This edict granted Roman citizenship to all free inhabitants of the Roman Empire.1

Before this edict, citizenship was acquired through birth, grant, or military service, and various rights and privileges were tied to it. The Constitutio Antoniniana aimed to standardize the legal status of all free individuals within the empire, simplifying the complex system of citizenship and rights that had developed over centuries. This expansion of citizenship was a significant step in the Romanization of the provinces and marked a shift towards a more unified empire.12

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. civitas
  2. ancient Rome - Trend to absolute monarchy

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