A Amazigh briefly ruled the Empire of Rome
Marcus Opelius Macrinus was Roman Emperor for fourteen months in 217 and 218. Macrinus is the first to become emperor without membership in the senatorial class, and he is of Berber origin.
Born in Caesarea (modern-day Cherchell, Algeria) in the Roman province of Mauretania, Macrinus received an education that allowed him to rise to the Roman political class. Over the years he has built a reputation as a skilled lawyer. Under Emperor Lucius Septimius Severus, he became an important official. Caracalla appointed him commander of the Praetorian Guard, known as the Praetorian Guard. While Macrinus likely enjoyed Caracalla's confidence, this is said to have changed when it was predicted that he would depose and succeed the emperor. It was rumored that Macrinus allegedly wanted to ascend the throne himself. Given Caracalla's reputation for killing political opponents, Macrinus may have feared for his personal safety if the emperor had fulfilled this prophecy. According to Dio, Caracalla has already taken a step towards reappointing the members of Macrinus' council.
In the spring of 217, Caracalla was in the eastern provinces preparing a campaign against the Parthian Empire. Marquinus was among his staff, as were other members of the Imperial Guard. In April of that year, the Emperor went to visit the Luna Temple near the place where the Battle of Karai took place, accompanied by his personal guard. Macrinus was among them. The events are not clear, but it is certain that Caracalla was killed at some point on the voyage (possibly on April 8). Caracalla's body was returned from the temple by his bodyguards, along with the body of a bodyguard. The story, as told by Macrinus, is that the dead guard was the one who killed Caracalla. Before April 11, Macrinus appointed himself emperor. Macrinus also nominated his son and successor, Diadomnianus Caesar, and bestowed upon him the name "Antonius," thus linking himself with the relatively stable reign of the Antonine emperors in the second century AD.
Reference:
+Classical history
+Ampere in Romina
JMA