Dr. Alex Imrie

He's initially named as Caesar, and that is the extent of his formal acclamations that get agreed by the Senate. Macrinus will later name Diogenes and his son as a co-Augustus in the kind of frantic last few weeks of his regime, but the Senate barely even hear about this by the time he's assassinated.

He's initially named as Caesar, and that is the extent of his formal acclamations that get agreed by the Senate. Macrinus will later name Diogenes and his son as a co-Augustus in the kind of frantic last few weeks of his regime, but the Senate barely even hear about this by the time he's assassinated.

He's initially named as Caesar, and that is the extent of his formal acclamations that get agreed by the Senate. Macrinus will later name Diogenes and his son as a co-Augustus in the kind of frantic last few weeks of his regime, but the Senate barely even hear about this by the time he's assassinated.

Yeah, it's kind of gruesome stuff. I mean, just to go back a second, I'm a little bit more cynical on the whole Elagabalus as the son of Caracalla thing. I think everybody knew this was complete hokum, but we're being offered so much cash that it was an easy conceit to accept.

Yeah, it's kind of gruesome stuff. I mean, just to go back a second, I'm a little bit more cynical on the whole Elagabalus as the son of Caracalla thing. I think everybody knew this was complete hokum, but we're being offered so much cash that it was an easy conceit to accept.

Yeah, it's kind of gruesome stuff. I mean, just to go back a second, I'm a little bit more cynical on the whole Elagabalus as the son of Caracalla thing. I think everybody knew this was complete hokum, but we're being offered so much cash that it was an easy conceit to accept.

And also, I think it was probably a very thinly veiled statement by this quote-unquote Severan cause that they have more bloodline claim to being the Severans than Macrinus with his new Severan name coming out of nowhere. And yeah, events at Raphinae, I think, kind of show that the ground is ripe for the Severans to stage this counter-revolution.

And also, I think it was probably a very thinly veiled statement by this quote-unquote Severan cause that they have more bloodline claim to being the Severans than Macrinus with his new Severan name coming out of nowhere. And yeah, events at Raphinae, I think, kind of show that the ground is ripe for the Severans to stage this counter-revolution.

And also, I think it was probably a very thinly veiled statement by this quote-unquote Severan cause that they have more bloodline claim to being the Severans than Macrinus with his new Severan name coming out of nowhere. And yeah, events at Raphinae, I think, kind of show that the ground is ripe for the Severans to stage this counter-revolution.

It's interesting that Macrinus, I think it's in Herodian's telling of this episode, sure, Julianus has been sent with detachments to try and secure the third legion. Macrinus is at Apamea because that is the legionary fortress site of the second Parthica when it is in the east. So he is actively trying to court that legion at the point where Julianus is murdered.

It's interesting that Macrinus, I think it's in Herodian's telling of this episode, sure, Julianus has been sent with detachments to try and secure the third legion. Macrinus is at Apamea because that is the legionary fortress site of the second Parthica when it is in the east. So he is actively trying to court that legion at the point where Julianus is murdered.

It's interesting that Macrinus, I think it's in Herodian's telling of this episode, sure, Julianus has been sent with detachments to try and secure the third legion. Macrinus is at Apamea because that is the legionary fortress site of the second Parthica when it is in the east. So he is actively trying to court that legion at the point where Julianus is murdered.

And Herodian tells us that Macrinus gives this long speech and offers a bunch of money and a ton of honours and the troops at Apamea take the money, accept the honours and then one of them pulls Julianus' head out the basket to show Macrinus and Macrinus is just penniless, defeated, and that's it. Has to go back to Antioch, empty-handed, but at least with his head.

And Herodian tells us that Macrinus gives this long speech and offers a bunch of money and a ton of honours and the troops at Apamea take the money, accept the honours and then one of them pulls Julianus' head out the basket to show Macrinus and Macrinus is just penniless, defeated, and that's it. Has to go back to Antioch, empty-handed, but at least with his head.

And Herodian tells us that Macrinus gives this long speech and offers a bunch of money and a ton of honours and the troops at Apamea take the money, accept the honours and then one of them pulls Julianus' head out the basket to show Macrinus and Macrinus is just penniless, defeated, and that's it. Has to go back to Antioch, empty-handed, but at least with his head.

Oh yeah, there's a big battle, all right. The big battle takes place just outside Antioch, actually. The sources disagree a little bit on the location of the battle. Some want to see it situated further east. But it seems that in all of Macrinus' attempts to secure a power base, he really doesn't have a tremendously large force around him.

Oh yeah, there's a big battle, all right. The big battle takes place just outside Antioch, actually. The sources disagree a little bit on the location of the battle. Some want to see it situated further east. But it seems that in all of Macrinus' attempts to secure a power base, he really doesn't have a tremendously large force around him.

Oh yeah, there's a big battle, all right. The big battle takes place just outside Antioch, actually. The sources disagree a little bit on the location of the battle. Some want to see it situated further east. But it seems that in all of Macrinus' attempts to secure a power base, he really doesn't have a tremendously large force around him.

It's mainly comprised of his loyal Praetorians and some other local people. formations that he has brought with him to fight this battle and all of the defected forces that are now team Elagabalus are on top of him and a large battle ensues and doesn't the account of the battle shifts and changes between our sources and one telling Macrinus' forces just don't put up a fight.

It's mainly comprised of his loyal Praetorians and some other local people. formations that he has brought with him to fight this battle and all of the defected forces that are now team Elagabalus are on top of him and a large battle ensues and doesn't the account of the battle shifts and changes between our sources and one telling Macrinus' forces just don't put up a fight.