Severus left Rome to two sons, their mother stopped them dividing the empire, and Caracalla had his brother killed in her arms

The emperor Septimius Severus died in Britain on 4 February 211. Cassius Dio says his illness carried him off "not without some help, they say," from his elder son Antoninus, known as Caracalla. Dio gives his last advice to his two sons: "Be harmonious, enrich the soldiers, and scorn all other men." Caracalla and his brother Geta ruled together and hated each other. Herodian says they agreed to split the empire. Caracalla would take Europe and Geta Asia, with the strait of the Propontis as the border and their courts at Byzantium and Chalcedon. Their mother, Julia Domna, asked how she was to be torn apart between them. She told them to kill her first and divide her body as well. The meeting broke up, the plan was dropped, and each brother went back to his own half of the palace. Dio says Caracalla then had centurions kill Geta in their mother's arms. Geta cried out, "Mother that didst bear me, help! I am being murdered." Julia was covered in his blood and did not notice a wound to her own hand. She was not allowed to mourn. Dio says about 20,000 of Geta's freedmen and soldiers, men and women, were put to death. Anyone who wrote or spoke Geta's name was killed, coins with his face were melted, and his birthday was abolished. Caracalla ruled alone.