Dr. Alex Imrie

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.

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.

And indeed, it would have been political suicide with the army around him to be seen, I think, to surrender everything. So he has to fight, initially at least, and that doesn't go very well. The Roman army is defeated in the field at Nisibis, and he has to come to another negotiated conclusion. Now, In historical terms, he doesn't give away as much as the Parthian king seems to have wanted.

And indeed, it would have been political suicide with the army around him to be seen, I think, to surrender everything. So he has to fight, initially at least, and that doesn't go very well. The Roman army is defeated in the field at Nisibis, and he has to come to another negotiated conclusion. Now, In historical terms, he doesn't give away as much as the Parthian king seems to have wanted.

And indeed, it would have been political suicide with the army around him to be seen, I think, to surrender everything. So he has to fight, initially at least, and that doesn't go very well. The Roman army is defeated in the field at Nisibis, and he has to come to another negotiated conclusion. Now, In historical terms, he doesn't give away as much as the Parthian king seems to have wanted.

So it's not a completely dishonorable peace. And yet, in his communication, he's trying to big this up, that he has secured peace with honour. And this is where the threads start to unravel, because not everybody accepts this narrative. And certainly the army, while they may have been frustrated by Caracalla's campaign, this slightly ignominious end to their campaigning does him no favours either.

So it's not a completely dishonorable peace. And yet, in his communication, he's trying to big this up, that he has secured peace with honour. And this is where the threads start to unravel, because not everybody accepts this narrative. And certainly the army, while they may have been frustrated by Caracalla's campaign, this slightly ignominious end to their campaigning does him no favours either.

So it's not a completely dishonorable peace. And yet, in his communication, he's trying to big this up, that he has secured peace with honour. And this is where the threads start to unravel, because not everybody accepts this narrative. And certainly the army, while they may have been frustrated by Caracalla's campaign, this slightly ignominious end to their campaigning does him no favours either.

And so I think it's very easy to see with hindsight how Macrinus, his regime, comes unfurled within the space of months. But it would be a mistake to class him as inactive. I think he gets an unfair rap. I think he is dealing with a very difficult and unprecedented situation.

And so I think it's very easy to see with hindsight how Macrinus, his regime, comes unfurled within the space of months. But it would be a mistake to class him as inactive. I think he gets an unfair rap. I think he is dealing with a very difficult and unprecedented situation.

And so I think it's very easy to see with hindsight how Macrinus, his regime, comes unfurled within the space of months. But it would be a mistake to class him as inactive. I think he gets an unfair rap. I think he is dealing with a very difficult and unprecedented situation.

He's having to set a new political narrative in motion at the same time as having to inherit a campaign of his predecessor, which is less than stellar. And I think this whole move about keeping the sovereign women alive...

He's having to set a new political narrative in motion at the same time as having to inherit a campaign of his predecessor, which is less than stellar. And I think this whole move about keeping the sovereign women alive...

He's having to set a new political narrative in motion at the same time as having to inherit a campaign of his predecessor, which is less than stellar. And I think this whole move about keeping the sovereign women alive...

Yes, sure, we know it's a strategic tactical error, but if he is trying to paint himself as this Severan continuator, as a way of kind of glossing over his equestrian heritage, it seems to me at least a sensible move. I mean, I would hate to sort of put myself into McCrinish's shoes, but... I think it's coherent as a set of policy.

Yes, sure, we know it's a strategic tactical error, but if he is trying to paint himself as this Severan continuator, as a way of kind of glossing over his equestrian heritage, it seems to me at least a sensible move. I mean, I would hate to sort of put myself into McCrinish's shoes, but... I think it's coherent as a set of policy.

Yes, sure, we know it's a strategic tactical error, but if he is trying to paint himself as this Severan continuator, as a way of kind of glossing over his equestrian heritage, it seems to me at least a sensible move. I mean, I would hate to sort of put myself into McCrinish's shoes, but... I think it's coherent as a set of policy.

So I think there's a reason why he doesn't retreat to Rome immediately. But I think, ironically, that may have been the one course of action that could have saved his regime long term.

So I think there's a reason why he doesn't retreat to Rome immediately. But I think, ironically, that may have been the one course of action that could have saved his regime long term.

So I think there's a reason why he doesn't retreat to Rome immediately. But I think, ironically, that may have been the one course of action that could have saved his regime long term.