Dr. Alex Imrie

The Parthian king seems to be raising forces to counter the Roman army in this region. An army and empire without a commander at this point is unthinkable. And so Macrinus, as one of the most senior magistrates of the court, is apparently installed at this point. And this in itself is a remarkable chain of events because, as I said earlier, Macrinus is an equestrian. That does not happen.

Macrinus is the first man of equestrian status to achieve the purple. This is a real watershed moment for who gets to be in charge of the Roman Empire.

Macrinus is the first man of equestrian status to achieve the purple. This is a real watershed moment for who gets to be in charge of the Roman Empire.

Macrinus is the first man of equestrian status to achieve the purple. This is a real watershed moment for who gets to be in charge of the Roman Empire.

Oh, it's undoubtedly a difficult position. And it's ironic, though, you say that he would be worried about news getting to Rome. It seems that Rome is probably the safest environment that he could have been in. Certainly Dio and Herodian a little bit less. They say it's questionable why he didn't just disband the army immediately upon ending the Parthian campaign, which we'll get onto in a moment.

Oh, it's undoubtedly a difficult position. And it's ironic, though, you say that he would be worried about news getting to Rome. It seems that Rome is probably the safest environment that he could have been in. Certainly Dio and Herodian a little bit less. They say it's questionable why he didn't just disband the army immediately upon ending the Parthian campaign, which we'll get onto in a moment.

Oh, it's undoubtedly a difficult position. And it's ironic, though, you say that he would be worried about news getting to Rome. It seems that Rome is probably the safest environment that he could have been in. Certainly Dio and Herodian a little bit less. They say it's questionable why he didn't just disband the army immediately upon ending the Parthian campaign, which we'll get onto in a moment.

and just hightail it back to Rome. Why he dallied in the east and why he himself ended up in Antioch for a while, it seems that he himself wasn't sure how to respond to the kind of myriad problems and myriad little situations that he was facing as emperor and that would ultimately cost him his life. In the immediate sense, he does send letters to the senate in Rome and

and just hightail it back to Rome. Why he dallied in the east and why he himself ended up in Antioch for a while, it seems that he himself wasn't sure how to respond to the kind of myriad problems and myriad little situations that he was facing as emperor and that would ultimately cost him his life. In the immediate sense, he does send letters to the senate in Rome and

and just hightail it back to Rome. Why he dallied in the east and why he himself ended up in Antioch for a while, it seems that he himself wasn't sure how to respond to the kind of myriad problems and myriad little situations that he was facing as emperor and that would ultimately cost him his life. In the immediate sense, he does send letters to the senate in Rome and

It's interesting the way he tries to seize the initiative but also pander to the Senate as well. In his first letter, he apparently just claims a bunch of imperial titles. This is where his imperial nomenclature changes and he adds Severus to his naming tradition.

It's interesting the way he tries to seize the initiative but also pander to the Senate as well. In his first letter, he apparently just claims a bunch of imperial titles. This is where his imperial nomenclature changes and he adds Severus to his naming tradition.

It's interesting the way he tries to seize the initiative but also pander to the Senate as well. In his first letter, he apparently just claims a bunch of imperial titles. This is where his imperial nomenclature changes and he adds Severus to his naming tradition.

The Senate are a little bit confused by how presumptuous this new de facto emperor is being, I think, by claiming all of these imperial titles. But at the same time, they're just tremendously happy that somebody has gotten rid of Caracalla. And so in the very short term, they're just kind of happy to let things roll and let him be the emperor.

The Senate are a little bit confused by how presumptuous this new de facto emperor is being, I think, by claiming all of these imperial titles. But at the same time, they're just tremendously happy that somebody has gotten rid of Caracalla. And so in the very short term, they're just kind of happy to let things roll and let him be the emperor.

The Senate are a little bit confused by how presumptuous this new de facto emperor is being, I think, by claiming all of these imperial titles. But at the same time, they're just tremendously happy that somebody has gotten rid of Caracalla. And so in the very short term, they're just kind of happy to let things roll and let him be the emperor.

Now, his second letter follows after he concludes the parting campaign. he initially tries to negotiate with the Parthian king, because the Parthian king's bearing down on the Roman army at this point. The Parthian king's having none of it. He wants Rome out of the Mesopotamian region.

Now, his second letter follows after he concludes the parting campaign. he initially tries to negotiate with the Parthian king, because the Parthian king's bearing down on the Roman army at this point. The Parthian king's having none of it. He wants Rome out of the Mesopotamian region.

Now, his second letter follows after he concludes the parting campaign. he initially tries to negotiate with the Parthian king, because the Parthian king's bearing down on the Roman army at this point. The Parthian king's having none of it. He wants Rome out of the Mesopotamian region.

He wants them to rebuild all of the forts that they've destroyed at their own cost and basically to apologize to everyone on their way out. So, you know, rebuild the wall, I suppose you could use a modern political parlance. Now, Macrinus refuses. I mean, he's in no position to accede to that kind of demand.