Marcus Opellius Macrinus: The First North African Roman Emperor and His Short Reign

The Romans had no knowledge of a large continent across the Mediterranean. On the other side of the sea lived the Afer people, with their capital in Carthage. The Romans referred to today’s Tunisia and Libya as *Africa Terra*, meaning the land of the Afers. This name later became the title for the entire continent.

WHO WAS MARCUS OPELLIUS MACRINUS?  

Marcus Opellius Macrinus, or simply Macrinus, was the first Roman Emperor of African origin, hailing from the Mauretania province of the Roman Empire. He made history as the first emperor to rise from this region. Born in 165 AD in Cherchell, a town on the Algerian coast, which was then part of the Roman province of Mauretania, Macrinus came from a wealthy family of the equestrian class.

He was brought to Rome by Septimius Severus, the first African Emperor of Rome, at a young age. Like Severus, Macrinus was a member of the Severan dynasty. He quickly climbed the ranks of Roman bureaucracy and politics through his education.

Although Macrinus was a highly skilled jurist, he was not a strong military leader, and unlike his predecessor, Caracalla, he did not focus solely on the military.

In Rome, a strict class system was in place. Macrinus belonged to the middle class, known as the equestrian class. This term referred to a group of individuals who, though not of noble birth, held wealth and influence, often serving in important administrative and military roles. His predecessor, the cruel Emperor Caracalla, appointed Macrinus as the leader of the Praetorian Guard, or *Praefectus*. The Praetorian Guard was an elite group that played a crucial role in the selection of emperors throughout Roman history. This was the only military unit permitted within the city of Rome, and Macrinus was second only to the emperor in terms of command over it.

Macrinus enjoyed his elevated position, but rumors soon began to circulate that he harbored ambitions for the throne. According to Roman tradition, if something were to happen to the emperor, Macrinus, as the next in line, would become emperor.

Whether Macrinus was aware of it or not, Caracalla was a paranoid and cruel ruler, even killing his own brother. He systematically eliminated his political rivals. However, fate seemed to favor Macrinus. Caracalla, who had succumbed to his own ambitions, met an uncertain end.

In 217 AD, Emperor Caracalla was preparing to campaign against the Parthian Empire. On April 8, 217, while stopping on the roadside to relieve himself near the town of Harran, he was assassinated by a single sword strike from Julius Martialis, a member of his imperial guard. There are two theories about Caracalla’s death. According to one, Martialis sought revenge for his brother’s murder at Caracalla’s hands. The other theory suggests that Martialis was angry because Caracalla had failed to fulfill his promise of a promotion.

ROMAN EMPEROR 

It is widely believed that Macrinus played a significant role in Caracalla's assassination. On April 11, 217, Macrinus declared himself emperor, and the Senate reluctantly accepted this, not because they believed him to be a suitable ruler, but because they detested Caracalla. Throughout his reign, Caracalla had focused solely on the military, indulging his legions to maintain his power. Thus, Macrinus became the first Roman Emperor of North African origin. Despite his background and social class, the Senate approved his reign simply because they were relieved to be rid of Caracalla.

HARRAN

Unlike Caracalla, Macrinus was not a warmonger. In foreign policy, he sought peaceful resolutions. He resolved disputes in Romania by releasing prisoners and addressed issues in Armenia through negotiation and leadership changes. He also cut the high military wages that Caracalla had introduced, which angered the legions. Though these cuts were necessary for the future of the empire, the soldiers, who had been greatly spoiled during Caracalla’s reign, were displeased.

It was not just the Senate and Macrinus who rejoiced at Caracalla’s death. Rome's long-standing enemy, the Parthians, took advantage of this change. In the summer of 217, the Parthians (based in modern-day Iran) invaded Mesopotamia, sparking a battle between Roman forces and the Parthians near Nisibis, which Macrinus lost.

To secure peace, Macrinus paid an enormous war indemnity of 200 million sestertii to Parthian Emperor V Artabanus.

MACRINUS' FALL  

Macrinus' reluctance to fight, the defeat at the hands of the Parthians, and the heavy war reparations combined to demoralize the Roman army. The soldiers began searching for a new emperor. Macrinus, meanwhile, was losing support in the capital. His appointees in Rome were unable to manage the damage caused by recent disasters, and Macrinus, who had never set foot in Rome, struggled to communicate effectively with the people.

Caracalla's shadow loomed large. His aunt, Julia Maesa of the Severan dynasty, began to stoke the discontent surrounding Macrinus in Rome. The Severan women were eager to ensure that their bloodline continued. Upon becoming emperor, Macrinus had expelled these women from the palace. The Severan women, however, claimed that Caracalla’s illegitimate son, Elagabalus, was the rightful emperor, and they found support within the military.

On May 18, 218, Elagabalus was declared emperor by the III Gallica Legion stationed in Raphana. This force marched toward Antioch and clashed with Macrinus' forces on June 8, 218. Macrinus was abandoned by his soldiers and attempted to flee to Rome disguised as a messenger, but he was captured in Chalcedon (modern-day Kadıköy, Istanbul) and executed in Cappadocia. His son, Diadumenianus, whom he had named Caesar and appointed as his successor, was also captured and executed in Zeugma.

WAS MACRINUS BLACK?

Macrinus was of Moorish descent and was born in North Africa, so it is likely that he had dark skin. Although there is no detailed description of his appearance, historians believe that he was not black but probably had a dark complexion.

MACRINUS' LEGACY

Macrinus, the first and only Roman Emperor of Moorish origin, received an excellent education and was an able administrator. However, his failure to please the army and his involvement in political intrigues led to a reign that lasted only 14 months. He remains the first Roman Emperor never to have set foot in the city of Rome. Little is known about his early life, and some sources even claim that he fought as a gladiator in his youth. Alongside his North African origins, Macrinus was the first emperor to rule without having senatorial ancestry.