[Footnote36:Dion，l。lxxvii。p。1296。]
[Footnote37:Dion，l。lxxvi。p。1284。Mr。WottonHist。ofRome，p。330suspectsthatthismaximwasinventedbyCaracallahimself，andattributedtohisfather。]
[Footnote38:Dionl。lxxviii。p。1343informsusthattheextraordinarygiftsofCaracallatothearmyamountedannuallytoseventymillionsofdrachmaeabouttwomillionsthreehundredandfiftythousandpounds。ThereisanotherpassageinDion，concerningthemilitarypay，infinitelycurious，wereitnotobscure，imperfect，andprobablycorrupt。Thebestsenseseemstobe，thatthePraetorianguardsreceivedtwelvehundredandfiftydrachmae，fortypoundsayear，Dion，l。lxxvii。p。
1307。UnderthereignofAugustus，theywerepaidattherateoftwodrachmae，ordenarii，perday，720ayear，Tacit。Annal。i。
17。Domitian，whoincreasedthesoldiers\'payonefourth，musthaveraisedthePraetoriansto960drachmae，GronoviuedePecuniaVeteri，l。iii。c。2。Thesesuccessiveaugmentationsruinedtheempire；for，withthesoldiers\'pay，theirnumberstoowereincreased。WehaveseenthePraetoriansaloneincreasedfrom10，000to50，000men。
Note:ValoisandReimarhaveexplainedinaverysimpleandprobablemannerthispassageofDion，whichGibbonseemstomenottohaveunderstood。Heorderedthatthesoldiersshouldreceive，astherewardoftheirservicesthePraetorians1250
drachms，theother5000drachms。Valoisthinksthatthenumbershavebeentransposed，andthatCaracallaadded5000drachmstothedonationsmadetothePraetorians，1250tothoseofthelegionaries。ThePraetorians，infact，alwaysreceivedmorethantheothers。TheerrorofGibbonarosefromhisconsideringthatthisreferredtotheannualpayofthesoldiers，whileitrelatestothesumtheyreceivedasarewardfortheirservicesontheirdischarge:donativesmeansrecompenseforservice。AugustushadsettledthatthePraetorians，aftersixteencampaigns，shouldreceive5000drachms:thelegionariesreceivedonly3000aftertwentyyears。Caracallaadded5000drachmstothedonativeofthePraetorians，1250tothatofthelegionaries。Gibbonappearstohavebeenmistakenbothinconfoundingthisdonativeondischargewiththeannualpay，andinnotpayingattentiontotheremarkofValoisonthetranspositionofthenumbersinthetext。
—G]
Itwasimpossiblethatsuchacharacter，andsuchconductasthatofCaracalla，couldinspireeitherloveoresteem；butaslongashisviceswerebeneficialtothearmies，hewassecurefromthedangerofrebellion。Asecretconspiracy，provokedbyhisownjealousy，wasfataltothetyrant。ThePraetorianpraefecturewasdividedbetweentwoministers。ThemilitarydepartmentwasintrustedtoAdventus，anexperiencedratherthanablesoldier；andthecivilaffairsweretransactedbyOpiliusMacrinus，who，byhisdexterityinbusiness，hadraisedhimself，withafaircharacter，tothathighoffice。Buthisfavorvariedwiththecapriceoftheemperor，andhislifemightdependontheslightestsuspicion，orthemostcasualcircumstance。MaliceorfanaticismhadsuggestedtoanAfrican，deeplyskilledintheknowledgeoffuturity，averydangerousprediction，thatMacrinusandhissonweredestinedtoreignovertheempire。Thereportwassoondiffusedthroughtheprovince；andwhenthemanwassentinchainstoRome，hestillasserted，inthepresenceofthepraefectofthecity，thefaithofhisprophecy。Thatmagistrate，whohadreceivedthemostpressinginstructionstoinformhimselfofthesuccessorsofCaracalla，immediatelycommunicatedtheexaminationoftheAfricantotheImperialcourt，whichatthattimeresidedinSyria。But，notwithstandingthediligenceofthepublicmessengers，afriendofMacrinusfoundmeanstoapprisehimoftheapproachingdanger。TheemperorreceivedthelettersfromRome；andashewasthenengagedintheconductofachariotrace，hedeliveredthemunopenedtothePraetorianPraefect，directinghimtodespatchtheordinaryaffairs，andtoreportthemoreimportantbusinessthatmightbecontainedinthem。Macrinusreadhisfate，andresolvedtopreventit。Heinflamedthediscontentsofsomeinferiorofficers，andemployedthehandofMartialis，adesperatesoldier，whohadbeenrefusedtherankofcenturion。
ThedevotionofCaracallapromptedhimtomakeapilgrimagefromEdessatothecelebratedtempleoftheMoonatCarrhae。Hewasattendedbyabodyofcavalry:buthavingstoppedontheroadforsomenecessaryoccasion，hisguardspreservedarespectfuldistance，andMartialis，approachinghispersonunderapresenceofduty，stabbedhimwithadagger。TheboldassassinwasinstantlykilledbyaScythianarcheroftheImperialguard。
Suchwastheendofamonsterwhoselifedisgracedhumannature，andwhosereignaccusedthepatienceoftheRomans。^39Thegratefulsoldiersforgothisvices，rememberedonlyhispartialliberality，andobligedthesenatetoprostitutetheirowndignityandthatofreligion，bygrantinghimaplaceamongthegods。Whilsthewasuponearth，AlexandertheGreatwastheonlyherowhomthisgoddeemedworthyhisadmiration。HeassumedthenameandensignsofAlexander，formedaMacedonianphalanxofguards，persecutedthedisciplesofAristotle，anddisplayed，withapuerileenthusiasm，theonlysentimentbywhichhediscoveredanyregardforvirtueorglory。Wecaneasilyconceive，thatafterthebattleofNarva，andtheconquestofPoland，CharlesXII。thoughhestillwantedthemoreelegantaccomplishmentsofthesonofPhilipmightboastofhavingrivalledhisvalorandmagnanimity；butinnooneactionofhislifedidCaracallaexpressthefaintestresemblanceoftheMacedonianhero，exceptinthemurderofagreatnumberofhisownandofhisfather\'sfriends。^40
[Footnote*:Carrhae，nowHarran，betweenEdessanandNisibis，famousforthedefeatofCrassus—theHaranfromwhenceAbrahamsetoutforthelandofCanaan。ThiscityhasalwaysbeenremarkableforitsattachmenttoSabaism—G]
[Footnote39:Dion，l。lxxviii。p。1312。Herodian，l。iv。p。
168。]
[Footnote40:ThefondnessofCaracallaforthenameandensignsofAlexanderisstillpreservedonthemedalsofthatemperor。
SeeSpanheim，deUsuNumismatum，Dissertat。xii。Herodianl。
iv。p。154hadseenveryridiculouspictures，inwhichafigurewasdrawnwithonesideofthefacelikeAlexander，andtheotherlikeCaracalla。]
AftertheextinctionofthehouseofSeverus，theRomanworldremainedthreedayswithoutamaster。Thechoiceofthearmyfortheauthorityofadistantandfeeblesenatewaslittleregardedhunginanxioussuspense，asnocandidatepresentedhimselfwhosedistinguishedbirthandmeritcouldengagetheirattachmentandunitetheirsuffrages。ThedecisiveweightofthePraetorianguardselevatedthehopesoftheirpraefects，andthesepowerfulministersbegantoasserttheirlegalclaimtofillthevacancyoftheImperialthrone。Adventus，however，theseniorpraefect，consciousofhisageandinfirmities，ofhissmallreputation，andhissmallerabilities，resignedthedangeroushonortothecraftyambitionofhiscolleagueMacrinus，whosewell—dissembledgriefremovedallsuspicionofhisbeingaccessarytohismaster\'sdeath。^41Thetroopsneitherlovednoresteemedhischaracter。Theycasttheireyesaroundinsearchofacompetitor，andatlastyieldedwithreluctancetohispromisesofunboundedliberalityandindulgence。Ashorttimeafterhisaccession，heconferredonhissonDiadumenianus，attheageofonlytenyears，theImperialtitle，andthepopularnameofAntoninus。Thebeautifulfigureoftheyouth，assistedbyanadditionaldonative，forwhichtheceremonyfurnishedapretext，mightattract，itwashoped，thefavorofthearmy，andsecurethedoubtfulthroneofMacrinus。
[Footnote41:Herodian，l。iv。p。169。Hist。August。p。94。]
Theauthorityofthenewsovereignhadbeenratifiedbythecheerfulsubmissionofthesenateandprovinces。Theyexultedintheirunexpecteddeliverancefromahatedtyrant，anditseemedoflittleconsequencetoexamineintothevirtuesofthesuccessorofCaracalla。Butassoonasthefirsttransportsofjoyandsurprisehadsubsided，theybegantoscrutinizethemeritsofMacrinuswithacriticalseverity，andtoarraignthenastychoiceofthearmy。Ithadhithertobeenconsideredasafundamentalmaximoftheconstitution，thattheemperormustbealwayschoseninthesenate，andthesovereignpower，nolongerexercisedbythewholebody，wasalwaysdelegatedtooneofitsmembers。ButMacrinuswasnotasenator。^42ThesuddenelevationofthePraetorianpraefectsbetrayedthemeannessoftheirorigin；andtheequestrianorderwasstillinpossessionofthatgreatoffice，whichcommandedwitharbitraryswaythelivesandfortunesofthesenate。Amurmurofindignationwasheard，thataman，whoseobscure^43extractionhadneverbeenillustratedbyanysignalservice，shoulddaretoinvesthimselfwiththepurple，insteadofbestowingitonsomedistinguishedsenator，equalinbirthanddignitytothesplendoroftheImperialstation。AssoonasthecharacterofMacrinuswassurveyedbythesharpeyeofdiscontent，somevices，andmanydefects，wereeasilydiscovered。Thechoiceofhisministerswasinmanyinstancesjustlycensured，andthedissastifieddissatisfiedpeople，withtheirusualcandor，accusedatoncehisindolenttamenessandhisexcessiveseverity。^44
[Footnote42:Dion，l。lxxxviii。p。1350。Elagabalusreproachedhispredecessorwithdaringtoseathimselfonthethrone；
though，asPraetorianpraefect，hecouldnothavebeenadmittedintothesenateafterthevoiceofthecrierhadclearedthehouse。ThepersonalfavorofPlautianusandSejanushadbrokethroughtheestablishedrule。Theyrose，indeed，fromtheequestrianorder；buttheypreservedthepraefecture，withtherankofsenatorandevenwiththeannulship。]
[Footnote43:HewasanativeofCaesarea，inNumidia，andbeganhisfortunebyservinginthehouseholdofPlautian，fromwhoseruinhenarrowlyescaped。Hisenemiesassertedthathewasbornaslave，andhadexercised，amongotherinfamousprofessions，thatofGladiator。ThefashionofaspersingthebirthandconditionofanadversaryseemstohavelastedfromthetimeoftheGreekoratorstothelearnedgrammariansofthelastage。]
[Footnote44:BothDionandHerodianspeakofthevirtuesandvicesofMacrinuswithcandorandimpartiality；buttheauthorofhislife，intheAugustanHistory，seemstohaveimplicitlycopiedsomeofthevenalwriters，employedbyElagabalus，toblackenthememoryofhispredecessor。]
Hisrashambitionhadclimbedaheightwhereitwasdifficulttostandwithfirmness，andimpossibletofallwithoutinstantdestruction。Trainedintheartsofcourtsandtheformsofcivilbusiness，hetrembledinthepresenceofthefierceandundisciplinedmultitude，overwhomhehadassumedthecommand；
hismilitarytalentsweredespised，andhispersonalcouragesuspected；awhisperthatcirculatedinthecamp，disclosedthefatalsecretoftheconspiracyagainstthelateemperor，aggravatedtheguiltofmurderbythebasenessofhypocrisy，andheightenedcontemptbydetestation。Toalienatethesoldiers，andtoprovokeinevitableruin，thecharacterofareformerwasonlywanting；andsuchwasthepeculiarhardshipofhisfate，thatMacrinuswascompelledtoexercisethatinvidiousoffice。
TheprodigalityofCaracallahadleftbehinditalongtrainofruinanddisorder；andifthatworthlesstyranthadbeencapableofreflectingonthesureconsequencesofhisownconduct，hewouldperhapshaveenjoyedthedarkprospectofthedistressandcalamitieswhichhebequeathedtohissuccessors。
Inthemanagementofthisnecessaryreformation，Macrinusproceededwithacautiousprudence，whichwouldhaverestoredhealthandvigortotheRomanarmyinaneasyandalmostimperceptiblemanner。Tothesoldiersalreadyengagedintheservice，hewasconstrainedtoleavethedangerousprivilegesandextravagantpaygivenbyCaracalla；butthenewrecruitswerereceivedonthemoremoderatethoughliberalestablishmentofSeverus，andgraduallyformedtomodestyandobedience。^45Onefatalerrordestroyedthesalutaryeffectsofthisjudiciousplan。Thenumerousarmy，assembledintheEastbythelateemperor，insteadofbeingimmediatelydispersedbyMacrinusthroughtheseveralprovinces，wassufferedtoremainunitedinSyria，duringthewinterthatfollowedhiselevation。Intheluxuriousidlenessoftheirquarters，thetroopsviewedtheirstrengthandnumbers，communicatedtheircomplaints，andrevolvedintheirmindstheadvantagesofanotherrevolution。Theveterans，insteadofbeingflatteredbytheadvantageousdistinction，werealarmedbythefirststepsoftheemperor，whichtheyconsideredasthepresageofhisfutureintentions。
Therecruits，withsullenreluctance，enteredonaservice，whoselaborswereincreasedwhileitsrewardswerediminishedbyacovetousandunwarlikesovereign。Themurmursofthearmyswelledwithimpunityintoseditiousclamors；andthepartialmutiniesbetrayedaspiritofdiscontentanddisaffectionthatwaitedonlyfortheslightestoccasiontobreakoutoneverysideintoageneralrebellion。Tomindsthusdisposed，theoccasionsoonpresenteditself。
[Footnote45:Dion，l。lxxxiii。p。1336。Thesenseoftheauthorisastheintentionoftheemperor；butMr。Wottonhasmistakenboth，byunderstandingthedistinction，notofveteransandrecruits，butofoldandnewlegions。HistoryofRome，p。347。]
TheempressJuliahadexperiencedallthevicissitudesoffortune。Fromanhumblestationshehadbeenraisedtogreatness，onlytotastethesuperiorbitternessofanexaltedrank。Shewasdoomedtoweepoverthedeathofoneofhersons，andoverthelifeoftheother。ThecruelfateofCaracalla，thoughhergoodsensemusthavelongtaught\'ertoexpectit，awakenedthefeelingsofamotherandofanempress。
NotwithstandingtherespectfulcivilityexpressedbytheusurpertowardsthewidowofSeverus，shedescendedwithapainfulstruggleintotheconditionofasubject，andsoonwithdrewherself，byavoluntarydeath，fromtheanxiousandhumiliatingdependence。^46JuliaMaesa，hersister，wasorderedtoleavethecourtandAntioch。SheretiredtoEmesawithanimmensefortune，thefruitoftwentyyears\'favoraccompaniedbyhertwodaughters，SoaemiasandMamae，eachofwhomwasawidow，andeachhadanonlyson。Bassianus，^!forthatwasthenameofthesonofSoaemias，wasconsecratedtothehonorableministryofhighpriestoftheSun；andthisholyvocation，embracedeitherfromprudenceorsuperstition，contributedtoraisetheSyrianyouthtotheempireofRome。AnumerousbodyoftroopswasstationedatEmesa；andastheseveredisciplineofMacrinushadconstrainedthemtopassthewinterencamped，theywereeagertorevengethecrueltyofsuchunaccustomedhardships。Thesoldiers，whoresortedincrowdstothetempleoftheSun，beheldwithvenerationanddelighttheelegantdressandfigureoftheyoungpontiff；theyrecognized，ortheythoughtthattheyrecognized，thefeaturesofCaracalla，whosememorytheynowadored。TheartfulMaesasawandcherishedtheirrisingpartiality，andreadilysacrificingherdaughter\'sreputationtothefortuneofhergrandson，sheinsinuatedthatBassianuswasthenaturalsonoftheirmurderedsovereign。Thesumsdistributedbyheremissarieswithalavishhandsilencedeveryobjection，andtheprofusionsufficientlyprovedtheaffinity，oratleasttheresemblance，ofBassianuswiththegreatoriginal。
TheyoungAntoninusforhehadassumedandpollutedthatrespectablenamewasdeclaredemperorbythetroopsofEmesa，assertedhishereditaryright，andcalledaloudonthearmiestofollowthestandardofayoungandliberalprince，whohadtakenuparmstorevengehisfather\'sdeathandtheoppressionofthemilitaryorder。^47
[Footnote46:Dion，l。lxxviii。p。1330。TheabridgmentofXiphilin，thoughlessparticular，isinthisplaceclearerthantheoriginal。]
[Footnote*:AssoonasthisprincessheardofthedeathofCaracalla，shewishedtostarveherselftodeath:therespectshowntoherbyMacrinus，inmakingnochangeinherattendantsorhercourt，inducedhertoprolongherlife。Butitappears，asfarasthemutilatedtextofDionandtheimperfectepitomeofXiphilinpermitustojudge，thatsheconceivedprojectsofambition，andendeavoredtoraiseherselftotheempire。ShewishedtotreadinthestepsofSemiramisandNitocris，whosecountryborderedonherown。MacrinussentheranorderimmediatelytoleaveAntioch，andtoretirewherevershechose。
Shereturnedtoherformerpurpose，andstarvedherselftodeath。
—G。]
[Footnote!:Heinheritedthisnamefromhisgreat—grandfatherofthemother\'sside，Bassianus，fatherofJuliaMaesa，hisgrandmother，andofJuliaDomna，wifeofSeverus。Victorinhisepitomeisperhapstheonlyhistorianwhohasgiventhekeytothisgenealogy，whenspeakingofCaracalla。HisBassianusexavimaterninominedictus。Caracalla，Elagabalus，andAlexanderSeyerus，boresuccessivelythisname。—G。]
[Footnote47:AccordingtoLampridius，Hist。August。p。135，
AlexanderSeveruslivedtwenty—nineyearsthreemonthsandsevendays。AshewaskilledMarch19，235，hewasbornDecember12，205andwasconsequentlyaboutthistimethirteenyearsold，ashiseldercousinmightbeaboutseventeen。ThiscomputationsuitsmuchbetterthehistoryoftheyoungprincesthanthatofHerodian，l。v。p。181，whorepresentsthemasthreeyearsyounger；whilst，byanoppositeerrorofchronology，helengthensthereignofElagabalustwoyearsbeyonditsrealduration。Fortheparticularsoftheconspiracy，seeDion，l。lxxviii。p。1339。
Herodian，l。v。p。184。]
Whilstaconspiracyofwomenandeunuchswasconcertedwithprudence，andconductedwithrapidvigor，Macrinus，who，byadecisivemotion，mighthavecrushedhisinfantenemy，floatedbetweentheoppositeextremesofterrorandsecurity，whichalikefixedhiminactiveatAntioch。AspiritofrebelliondiffuseditselfthroughallthecampsandgarrisonsofSyria，successivedetachmentsmurderedtheirofficers，^48andjoinedthepartyoftherebels；andthetardyrestitutionofmilitarypayandprivilegeswasimputedtotheacknowledgedweaknessofMacrinus。
AtlengthhemarchedoutofAntioch，tomeettheincreasingandzealousarmyoftheyoungpretender。Hisowntroopsseemedtotakethefieldwithfaintnessandreluctance；but，intheheatofthebattle，^49thePraetorianguards，almostbyaninvoluntaryimpulse，assertedthesuperiorityoftheirvaloranddiscipline。
Therebelrankswerebroken；whenthemotherandgrandmotheroftheSyrianprince，who，accordingtotheireasterncustom，hadattendedthearmy，threwthemselvesfromtheircoveredchariots，and，byexcitingthecompassionofthesoldiers，endeavoredtoanimatetheirdroopingcourage。Antoninushimself，who，intherestofhislife，neveractedlikeaman，inthisimportantcrisisofhisfate，approvedhimselfahero，mountedhishorse，and，attheheadofhisralliedtroops，chargedswordinhandamongthethickestoftheenemy；whilsttheeunuchGannys，