Select Observations of Roman Emperors 2, Part 1 · Emperor 24
Choyce Observations OF OPILIUS MACRINUS, And his Son ANTONINUS DIADUMENVS.
MAcrinus was of so obscure par…ntage, that according to the custome of the Moores, he had one of his eares bored thorough. Xiphiline.
He was made a praefect by Caracalla, after whose death he was elected Emperour by the Souldiers, who were ignorant of his treason, the suspicion whereof he escaped by a seeming sorrow.
The Romans were so glad of Caracalla's death, that they considered not whether Macrinus was good or bad; men who are injured, when they overcome their enemies, respect not so much their profit as revenge.
He associated with himself his son Diadumenus, so called either from his Grand-Father by the Mothers side, or because he was born with a Diadem on his head, like a bow-string. Lampr…d. in Diadumeno. c. 4.
He commanded Diadumenus forthwith to be called Antoninus by the Souldiers, and assumed to himself the name of Severus, whose memory he pretended to reverence, that he might deface the suspicion of assasinating his Son.
He imitated Marcus Aurelius in a slow pace and low voice, and Nero in a cruell life.
Instead of Macrinus, he was by his own servants called Macellinus, as one would say Butcher, quòd macelli specie domus ejus cruentaretur sanguine vernularum. Because his house was like a shamble of murthered men. Capitolinus in Macrino. c. 13.
He was named Mezentius, because like him he joyned live bodies to dead.
He commanded 2. souldiers, who had ravished their hostesses maid, to be sewed up in the bellies of 2. great Oxen, their heads onelyonly left out, that they might speak one to another.
He caused those souldiers who committed Adultery to be tyed to the women, and burnt alive; though his Wife Nonia Celsa was insatiable that way.
He shut live men in seiled walls, where they dyed miserably.
Mothe le Vayer in his Opuscules p. 27. &c. thinketh that one reason why Macrinus banished Lucius Priscillianus a valiant Captain into an Island where he dyed, was because he had the boldnesse to encounter alone 4. such fierce beasts, as a Bear, a Leopard, a Lyonesse and a Lyon; though his cruell carriage under Caracalla who advanced him, afforded sufficient pretence for his punishment, as Dion informeth us. l. 78.
Macrinus said he was clement, when he punished but one souldier in an hundred with capitall punishment for a mutiny, when he thought they deserved to be decimated or at least one in 20. to suffer.
Having written to the Senate, that he knew no body desired his death, Fulvius Diogenianus cryed out; Yes but we all do.
After he had concluded a peace with Artabanus the Parthian King, he returned to Antioch in Syria, and there spent his time in sensual pleasures, being drenched so far therein, that the Army began to dislike his government, and to favour young Bassianus the son of Caracalla, then present at Emesa a Citie in Phoenicia, with Maesa his Grand-Mother by his Mothers side, who there had built a Temple to the Sun, and therein ordained him a Priest, for which cause he was called Heliogabalus, which in the Phoenician language is, the Priest of the Sun.
To this temple resorted many of the Souldiers, and seeing the beauty of the youth, allured Maesa to bring him to their Camp: where known to be the Son of Caracalla, the Souldiers proclaimed him Emperour, and maintained his right against Macrinus; who after this revolt, met young Heliogabalus in the confines between Phoenicia and Syria, where he fought a bloudy battel, but being put to flight, hasted to Chalcedon, fell sick, and was with his Son Diadumenus put to death by the Souldiers, because he contracted their pay, and suppressed their luxury.
He lived 54. yeares, reigned one year and 2. Moneths:
Principis hic custos, sumptum pro Caesare ferrum
Vertit in auctorem caede Macrinus iners.
Mox cum prole ruit. Gravibus pulsare querelis
Cesset persidiam. quoe patitur, meruit.
Ausonius.