Category:Macrinus (subject)
Marcus Opellius Macrinus (165 – 218 CE) reigned from 217 to 218 CE.
- This page is edited by Samuele Rocca, Israel
Overview
Macrinus, the praetorian prefect succeeded to the Imperial throne after the murder of Caracalla in 217 CE. However, following an unsuccessful campaign against Parthia, in 218 C.E., Macrinus was murdered in a conspiration headed by various members of the Severan dynasty whose purpose was to put on the Imperial throne Elagabalus, a cousin of Caracalla. Macrinus was the first emperor to become so being a member of the equestrian class.
Early Career
Marcus Opellius Macrinus was born in Caesarea in the province of Mauretania in 165 CE. Macrinus stemmed from an equestrian family. A skilled lawyer, he followed an equestrian cursus honorum under Septimius Severus and Caracalla which brought him the position of pretorian prefect. Macrinus, as the commander of the Praetorian Guard, thus followed Caracalla in the East. Macrinus was married to Nonia Caelsa.
Imperial Succession
After the murder of Caracalla in 217 CE, [[Macrinus] proclaimed himself as emperor. To guarantee and strengthen his position, soon after his accession, Macrinus appointed his son Diadumenianus as Caesar, with the name of Marcus Opellius Antoninus Diadumenianus. The Senate in Rome confirmed Macrinus, although he came from an equestrian background. Macrinus foreign policy was characterized by a trend towards conciliation. Therefore in Dacia he returned hostages taken by Caracalla and in Armenia, he appointed as king Tiridates, whose father had been imprisoned by Caracalla. At the beginning, also his relationship with the Severan Imperial family was characterized by a will of conciliation. However the mother empress Iulia Domna decided to starve herself to death. However, once the Parthians invaded Mesopotamia, taking advantage from the murder of [Caracalla]], Macrinus moved against them, but he was defeated at the battle of Nisibis. Macrinus had to negotiate a humiliating peace with the Parthian ruler Artabanus V, paying the indemnity of 200 million sesterces. This brought much anger and resentment from the army. The discontent of the army was played by various members of the Severan dinasty, chiefly Julia Maesa, the sister of Julia Domna, and her daughters Julia Soaemias and Julia Mamaea. In 218 CE, Elagabalus, the son of Julia Soemia was proclaimed emperor by the Legio III Gallica at Raphanea. Macrinus, deserted by most of his soldiers, was defeated by an army commanded by Gannys, the tutor of Elagabalus, near Antioch. Macrinus, was captured near Chalcedon and later executed in Cappadocia, while trying to flee to Italy. His son Diadumenianus, hastily proclaimed emperor was captured at Zeugma, while trying to escape to the Parthian court, and executed.
Macrinus in ancient sources
- Macrinus (sources) -- survey of ancient sources
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