January 14, 2014

MARCUS OPELLIUS MACRINUS (174)

Roman emperor in 217 and 218, the first man to rule the empire without having achieved senatorial status.

His skills as a lawyer helped him to rise rapidly in an equestrian career (a step below a senatorial career in status) until he became a praetorian prefect under the emperor Caracalla (ruled 211-217).

Macrinus is alleged to have prompted the murder of Caracalla by an army officer in April 217 while the emperor was fighting the Parthians in present-day Iran. 

Three days after the assassination Macrinus was proclaimed emperor by his army. He fought an inconclusive battle with the Parthians and then agreed to a peace that was unfavourable to Rome. This decision cost him the support of his Syrian troops who transferred their allegiance to Elagabalus, the son of a cousin of Caracalla.

With his remaining forces Macrinus fled toward Italy. He was overtaken, defeated in a battle near Antioch (modern Antakya, Turkey) and subsequently captured and executed.

No comments:

Post a Comment