MacrinusArticle Free Pass Macrinus, in full Caesar Marcus
Opellius Severus Macrinus Augustus, original name Marcus
Opellius Macrinus (born c. 164, Caesarea, Mauretania [now
Cherchell, Algeria]—died June 218, in Bithynia [now in Tur.]),
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 the senatorial career in status) until he became a
praetorian prefect under the emperor Caracalla (reigned
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 what is now Iran. Three days after the
assassination Macrinus was proclaimed emperor (augustus) by his
army. He fought an inconclusive battle with the Parthians and
then agreed to a peace that was unfavourable to Rome. The treaty
was followed by pay cuts for the soldiers and by the decision to
keep legions summoned from Europe for th