Opellius Macrinus (217

Opellius Macrinus (217 - 218 AD)

Family and Background

Macrinus was the first non-senator to become emperor of Rome. He appears to have been born in 164 at Caesarea in Mauretania. He embarked upon a legal career, and, through the successful advocacy of a friends case he came to the attention of Plautianus, probably in 202/3. Plautianus appointed him as procurator in charge of his private fortune. At some point he was befriended by Fabius Chilo, one of Severus' leading generals, who ensured that he was not executed after Plautianus' execution in 205. His next position seems to have been as a lawyer for the imperial treasury (advocatus fisci) and then, possibly in 207 he was procurator in charge of vehicular traffic on the Flaminian way in Italy. In 208 he was made procurator in charge of the "great aerarium", and seems, either at this point or a couple of years later to have been given a minor priesthood. In 213 (probably) he was promoted to Praetorian Prefect. In 217, he appears to have been the object of a conspiracy, as the commander of the garrison at Rome sent news of a prophecy that Macrinus was destined to become emperor to Caracalla. Macrinus intercepted the message and arranged the assasination of Caracalla instead. Negotiations about the succession to Caracalla took two days, and he emerged as the leading candidate (possibly because he had a son) and was proclaimed emperor on April 11

Principal Events (Foriegn)

Campaign against the Parthians, indecisive battle at Nisibis, treaty recognizing the status quo (217/8)

Principal Events (Domestic)

Proclamation of Diadumenianus (son of Macrinus) as Caesar (217)
Revolt of legio III Gallica at Emesa, proclamation of Elagabalus as emperor (May 16, 218)
Proclamation of Diadumenianus as co-Augustus (May 18, 218)
Defeat by the army of Elagabalus (June 8, 218).

Outlines of Policy

Cassius Dio criticized Macrinus for his failure to dismiss his army as soon as he took the throne, which, Dio believes, created the situation that made the proclamation of Elagabalus possible. He also says that he reduced the pay of soldiers who entered the army, though he did not reduce the pay of those already in it, suggesting that Macrinus was worried about imperial finance. His proclamation of Diadumenianus as Caesar also appears to have been unpopular. In his defense, it must be noted that he had inherited a difficult situation on the eastern frontier from Caracalla, and he appears to have been respectful of the family of Severus, which had taken up residence at Emesa (where Julia Domna, Severus' wife, was born).