Editing Macrianus Minor (section)

== Career ==

Although his father was from an [[Equestrianism|equestrian]] family,{{citation needed|date=August 2018}} Macrianus Minor's mother was of noble birth and her name, possibly, was Iunia. According to the often unreliable [[Historia Augusta]], he had served as military [[tribune]] under [[Valerian (emperor)|Valerian]].<ref name="jones 528" />

Macrianus, his father and his brother [[Quietus]], were in [[Mesopotamia (Roman province)|Mesopotamia]] in 260, for the [[Sassanid]] campaign of Emperor Valerian, when the Roman army was defeated, and the emperor was captured.<ref name="remp galusurp 2">Körner, http://www.roman-emperors.org/galusurp.htm#Note%202</ref> With help from his father, who kept the imperial treasure, and by the influence of [[Balista]], Valerian's [[praefect]], Macrianus gained the imperial office together with his brother [[Quietus]],<ref name="remp galusurp 2" /> through the election by the army, in contrast with the lawful Emperor [[Gallienus]], son and co-emperor with Valerian, who was far in the West. The two emperors and brothers were recognized in the eastern part of the Empire, having a stronghold in [[Egypt (Roman province)|Egypt]], the grain supplying province for the city of [[Rome]].

After having temporarily secured the Persian frontier, Macrianus Major and Macrianus Minor moved to the West to attack and eliminate their rival Gallienus.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}} They were however defeated in autumn 261 by [[Aureolus]],<ref name="jones 528" /> and later killed by their own soldiers at the father's request.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}