Macrianus Minor

Titus Fulvius Iunius Macrianus (died 261), also known as Macrianus Minor, was a Roman usurper. He was the son of Fulvius Macrianus, also known as Macrianus Major.^[2]

Macrianus Minor
Usurper of the Roman Empire
Macrianus on a coin celebrating Eternal Rome.[1]
Reign	260-1 (with Quietus)
Predecessor	Gallienus
Successor	Gallienus
Died	261 Illyricum
Names Titus Fulvius Iunius Macrianus Regnal name Imperator Caesar Titus Fulvius Iunius Macrianus Augustus
Father	Macrianus Major
Mother	? (of senatorial descent)

Career

Although his father was from an equestrian family,^{[citation needed]} 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.^[2]

Macrianus, his father and his brother Quietus, were in Mesopotamia in 260, for the Sassanid campaign of Emperor Valerian, when the Roman army was defeated, and the emperor was captured.^[3] 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,^[3] 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, 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]} They were however defeated in autumn 261 by Aureolus,^[2] and later killed by their own soldiers at the father's request.^{[citation needed]}

Cultural depictions

Macrianus appears in Harry Sidebottom's historical fiction novel series as one of the series' antagonists.^{[citation needed]}.

See also

• Gallienus usurpers