Editing Macrinus (section)

==Background and career==
Macrinus was born in [[Caesarea Mauretaniae|Caesarea]] (modern [[Cherchell]], Algeria) in the [[Roman province]] of [[Mauretania Caesariensis]] to an [[Equites|equestrian]] family of [[Berbers|Berber]] origins.{{sfn|Naylor|2015|p=49}}{{sfn|Grant|1996|p=22}} According to [[David Stone Potter|David Potter]], his family traced its origins to the Berber tribes of the region and his pierced ear was an indication of his Berber heritage.{{sfn|Potter|2004|p=146}} He received an education which allowed him to ascend to the Roman political class.{{sfn|Gibbon|1776|p=162}} Over the years, he earned a reputation as a skilled lawyer; and, under Emperor [[Septimius Severus]], he became an important bureaucrat. Severus' successor Caracalla later appointed him a [[Praetorian prefect|prefect]] of the [[Praetorian Guard]].{{sfn|Gibbon|1776|p=162}}{{sfn|Mennen|2011|p=15}}

While Macrinus probably enjoyed the trust of Emperor [[Caracalla]], this may have changed when, according to tradition, it was prophesied that he would depose and succeed the emperor.{{sfn|Gibbon|1776|p=162}} Macrinus, fearing for his safety, resolved to have Caracalla murdered before he was condemned.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2009|p=[https://archive.org/details/howromefelldeath0000gold/page/75 75]}}

In the spring of 217, Caracalla was in the eastern provinces preparing a campaign against the [[Parthian Empire]].{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2009|p=[https://archive.org/details/howromefelldeath0000gold/page/74 74]}}{{sfn|Mennen|2011|p=22}} Macrinus was among his staff, as were other members of the Praetorian Guard. In April, Caracalla left the winter military camp at Edessa to visit a temple of [[Selene|Luna]] near the site of the [[battle of Carrhae]] and was accompanied only by his personal guard, which included Macrinus. The guard returned to the camp with two bodies: that of the dead emperor, and that of one of the accompanying soldiers.{{sfn|Meckler|2006}} The story that was told indicated that on 8 April, while travelling to the temple, Caracalla was stabbed to death by Justin Martialis, a soldier who was later claimed to have been recruited by Macrinus to commit the murder.{{sfn|Gibbon|1776|p=163}} In the aftermath, Martialis was killed by one of Caracalla's men.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2009|p=[https://archive.org/details/howromefelldeath0000gold/page/74 74]}}

For two or three days, Rome remained without an emperor.{{sfn|Gibbon|1776|p=163}}{{sfn|Ando|2012|p=63}} On 11 April, Macrinus proclaimed himself emperor and assumed all of the imperial titles and powers, without waiting for the Senate.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2009|p=[https://archive.org/details/howromefelldeath0000gold/page/75 75]}} The army backed his claim as emperor and the Senate, so far away, was powerless to intervene.{{sfn|Gibbon|1776|p=164}} Macrinus never returned to Rome as emperor and remained based in [[Antioch]] for the duration of his reign.{{sfn|Varner|2004|p=185}} Macrinus was the first emperor to hail from the equestrian class, rather than the senatorial, and also the first emperor of Mauretanian descent.{{sfn|Dunstan|2011|p=407}} He adopted the name of Severus, in honour of the Severan dynasty, and conferred the imperial title of Augusta to his wife Nonia Celsa{{refn|group="note"|The only evidence for her existence is a fictitious letter written in Diadumenianus' biography in the [[Historia Augusta]].{{sfn|Scott|2008|p=190}}}} and the title of Caesar and name of Antoninus to his son Diadumenianus in honour of the [[Five Good Emperors|Antonine dynasty]], thus making him second in command.{{sfn|Dunstan|2011|p=407}}{{sfn|Mennen|2011|p=26}}{{sfn|Crevier|1814|p=238}}{{sfn|Varner|2004|pp=184–188}}{{sfn|Bunson|2014|p=173}} At the time of Diadumenian's accession he was eight years old.{{sfn|Vagi|2000|pp=289–290}}