Macerian
Imperator, Dominus and Autocrat of the Rasenna Macerius Stilias Funarius
The last of Emperor Marcus Ferras Rursus' direct officer corp to assume the imperial throne. Macerian was known as a skilled military man who conducted a 15-year war on the Rhor known as the Savarian Wars. Macerian was a personally high strung and punitive man which explains his famous death from an aneurism after verbally assaulting a group of Herodi diplomats.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Often compared in appearance to a younger Rursus, Macerian was noted for his muscularity and strong physique during his younger years. However, he was often derided for his "barbarian" appearance at times due to his green eyes and red hair.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Emperor Macerian was likely born along the bank of the Oltune sometime in 682 to Agrihenian provincials. Macerian's status growing up was in line with a child of a long line of officers in the Rasennan military and records of the time indicate that the future emperor was enrolled in the themes at the age of 16. Macerian's father, a man named Macellus "Funarius" or "the rope man", due to his domestic position as a rope salesman. Nevertheless, Macerian's father was a noted cavalry leader during the reigns of Alexius and Arrius but seems to have fallen out of favor with the commanders of the emperor on account of suspected disloyalty.
Despite his father's falling out with the ruling dynasty, the Amelliae were ousted from power after Pracclius' assassination of Arrius in 650. As a noted cavalry leader himself during this time, Macerian was among the ranks when Rursus assumed the imperial seat following Pracclius' own defeat and death at Rasanid hands. In the Lakic campaign, Macerian proved his talent for swift, accurate scouting and leading the vanguard of Rursus' imperial army. In the subsequent battles at Pestra and Campe Corrazo, Macerian is said to have performed very well in leading his men and helping secure victory for the new emperor who rewarded him with estates, titles, and an invitation into his private quarters.
Besides the emperor, Macerian was among the emperor's favorites and acted as a prominent voice in meetings and aide-de-camp for Rursus. Among the seniormost commanders in Rursus' company, Macerian was seen as a shrewd, energetic, and active voice in contrast to the seniormost Appian who was often the opposite in his conduct. While Appian was promoted to captain of the Scholai, Macerian was made a senior member of the Cubrati and subordinate to another of Rursus' command tent, Bracchus. Macerian and Bracchus seem, according to accounts, to have been on amicable terms during Rursus' final days and it is reported that the two men personally captured Rursus' assassin Baculus, but credit was given to Appian for his announcement of the assassin's death.
During the rule of Appian, Macerian would twice nearly meet death as he was wounded by arrow fire in a battle against the Herodi and again in a melee with Yarmeg riders when a mace nearly caved in his chest. While recovering, Macerian wrote and was active in correspondence with Bracchus and the two seemed to be one of the causes for the army's eventual turn from Appian toward Bracchus and Macerian who set themselves up as Rursus' true successors. When Appian died and Bracchus assumed the throne, he had Appian's body thrown to the crowd and promoted Macerian to the captain of the Scholai.
During Bracchus' short reign, Macerian's activity is not well documented but he seems to have accompanied the emperor during his restoration of the Oltune border. Rumors circulated that Bracchus' death, of a tree falling on him, was a concocted story resulting from Macerian's assassination of him. Nevertheless, after Bracchus' sudden death, the army had little cause not to elevate Macerian to the imperial red and so he was acclaimed emperor in 627 B.E.
According to accounts surviving from Sastus, Macerian's rule began with controversy as apparently the soon-to-be Dominus impatiently grasped the diadem presented to him by an imperial auger and crowned himself. This caused quite the stir for some time as many believed it was an omen of Macerian's doomed reign but these tales died down as Macerian settled into his reign. Soon after his ascension, trouble began along the Rhor as the Herodi once again began terrorizing and migrating in the region. Macerian's imperial response was direct and bloody as the chief culprit of the trouble was the Savarii chieftain Fromar. For Macerian's entire 15-year reign, he would primarily be bogged down in fighting the Savarian Wars as they would become known.
15 years of war on the Rhor frontier came to an end when a group of Herodi diplomats came before the encamped throne of the emperor. Peace talks were conducted but Macerian was irate at the insinuation by the Herodi that the Rasenna had started the war via incursions into their neighbor's lands. Macerian, stoking with rage at the insinuation, rose from his throne and without taking a breath, berated the Herodi for their treachery and centuries of warfare with the Rasenna. The attitude and gall of the Herodi so enraged the emperor that he slumped over and fell in sight of the court. Never regaining conscientiousness, a day later he was pronounced dead from a brain bleed.
Macerian would be succeeded by his son Florvius whose rule would be contested by his brother Stilas and Scholai captain Aelian. Despite his less than savory personal reputation, Macerian would be remembered as a brutal but effective leader as well as an emperor who sought to enfranchise the lower classes during his rule due to his origin. The short-lived Macerian dynasty would rule the empire for 37 years before being dethroned and spawning the 40-year anarchy, a violent and turbulent period of Rasennan history that saw much societal, civic, religious, and military change in the empire and truly begin the era of the Dominate when Emperor Roman I finally assumed power in 514 B.E.
Despite his father's falling out with the ruling dynasty, the Amelliae were ousted from power after Pracclius' assassination of Arrius in 650. As a noted cavalry leader himself during this time, Macerian was among the ranks when Rursus assumed the imperial seat following Pracclius' own defeat and death at Rasanid hands. In the Lakic campaign, Macerian proved his talent for swift, accurate scouting and leading the vanguard of Rursus' imperial army. In the subsequent battles at Pestra and Campe Corrazo, Macerian is said to have performed very well in leading his men and helping secure victory for the new emperor who rewarded him with estates, titles, and an invitation into his private quarters.
Besides the emperor, Macerian was among the emperor's favorites and acted as a prominent voice in meetings and aide-de-camp for Rursus. Among the seniormost commanders in Rursus' company, Macerian was seen as a shrewd, energetic, and active voice in contrast to the seniormost Appian who was often the opposite in his conduct. While Appian was promoted to captain of the Scholai, Macerian was made a senior member of the Cubrati and subordinate to another of Rursus' command tent, Bracchus. Macerian and Bracchus seem, according to accounts, to have been on amicable terms during Rursus' final days and it is reported that the two men personally captured Rursus' assassin Baculus, but credit was given to Appian for his announcement of the assassin's death.
During the rule of Appian, Macerian would twice nearly meet death as he was wounded by arrow fire in a battle against the Herodi and again in a melee with Yarmeg riders when a mace nearly caved in his chest. While recovering, Macerian wrote and was active in correspondence with Bracchus and the two seemed to be one of the causes for the army's eventual turn from Appian toward Bracchus and Macerian who set themselves up as Rursus' true successors. When Appian died and Bracchus assumed the throne, he had Appian's body thrown to the crowd and promoted Macerian to the captain of the Scholai.
During Bracchus' short reign, Macerian's activity is not well documented but he seems to have accompanied the emperor during his restoration of the Oltune border. Rumors circulated that Bracchus' death, of a tree falling on him, was a concocted story resulting from Macerian's assassination of him. Nevertheless, after Bracchus' sudden death, the army had little cause not to elevate Macerian to the imperial red and so he was acclaimed emperor in 627 B.E.
According to accounts surviving from Sastus, Macerian's rule began with controversy as apparently the soon-to-be Dominus impatiently grasped the diadem presented to him by an imperial auger and crowned himself. This caused quite the stir for some time as many believed it was an omen of Macerian's doomed reign but these tales died down as Macerian settled into his reign. Soon after his ascension, trouble began along the Rhor as the Herodi once again began terrorizing and migrating in the region. Macerian's imperial response was direct and bloody as the chief culprit of the trouble was the Savarii chieftain Fromar. For Macerian's entire 15-year reign, he would primarily be bogged down in fighting the Savarian Wars as they would become known.
15 years of war on the Rhor frontier came to an end when a group of Herodi diplomats came before the encamped throne of the emperor. Peace talks were conducted but Macerian was irate at the insinuation by the Herodi that the Rasenna had started the war via incursions into their neighbor's lands. Macerian, stoking with rage at the insinuation, rose from his throne and without taking a breath, berated the Herodi for their treachery and centuries of warfare with the Rasenna. The attitude and gall of the Herodi so enraged the emperor that he slumped over and fell in sight of the court. Never regaining conscientiousness, a day later he was pronounced dead from a brain bleed.
Macerian would be succeeded by his son Florvius whose rule would be contested by his brother Stilas and Scholai captain Aelian. Despite his less than savory personal reputation, Macerian would be remembered as a brutal but effective leader as well as an emperor who sought to enfranchise the lower classes during his rule due to his origin. The short-lived Macerian dynasty would rule the empire for 37 years before being dethroned and spawning the 40-year anarchy, a violent and turbulent period of Rasennan history that saw much societal, civic, religious, and military change in the empire and truly begin the era of the Dominate when Emperor Roman I finally assumed power in 514 B.E.
Education
Given a primarily martial education early in life
Employment
Theme cavalryman
Theme commander
Cubrati senior commander
Scholai captain
Emperor of the Rasenna
Theme commander
Cubrati senior commander
Scholai captain
Emperor of the Rasenna
Accomplishments & Achievements
Victorious in accompanying Rursus in battles at Pestra and Campe Corrazo
Successive engagements with Herodi and Yarmeg
Successful conduct and eventual victory in the Savarian Wars
Successive engagements with Herodi and Yarmeg
Successful conduct and eventual victory in the Savarian Wars
Failures & Embarrassments
Rule led to the 40-year anarchy
Successors proved weak, tempermental and ill suited to the throne
Successors proved weak, tempermental and ill suited to the throne
Morality & Philosophy
Strength in numbers and salvation in faith
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Military security for the empire and the enfranchisement of the poor and his own family
Virtues & Personality perks
Just
Reasonable
Determined
Diligent
Reasonable
Determined
Diligent
Vices & Personality flaws
Violent
Punitive
Hostile
Punitive
Hostile
Social
Contacts & Relations
Subordinate of Emperors Rursus, Appian and Bracchus
Contemporary of Sastus
Contemporary of Sastus
Family Ties
Father of Emperor Florvius, Stilas and Antheria Macerina
Husband of Apiora Secunda
Husband of Apiora Secunda
Religious Views
Among the first emperors after Rursus to personally adopt the new imperial cult. Macerian was a fervent devotee of the new cult which his predecessors had largely ignored. Stories later persist of the emperor's personal piety in building holy temples and stoking great bonfires. However, the most famous and most Macerian-esque tale is that of a priest of Manus throwing water upon the emperor who recoiled and loudly shouted "I am not purified, I am defiled" before he assaulted the priest openly before the temple of the god.
Social Aptitude
"He was of a violent and brutal temper, and not only uncultivated himself, but hostile to cultivated persons. He hated the well-dressed and educated and wealthy and well-born". According to the account of Sastus
This account by Sastus gives a biased, yet useful glimpse into what Emperor Macerian was like and how he was perceived by his subjects. Unlike the cultivated benevolence of Rursus or the apathy and compassionate rule of Appian, Macerian was a disciplinarian and a harsh one at that. It seems a life of only fighting and warfare had hardened any compassion in Macerian's body and made him a demanding, cruel, and sometimes barbaric figure.
This account by Sastus gives a biased, yet useful glimpse into what Emperor Macerian was like and how he was perceived by his subjects. Unlike the cultivated benevolence of Rursus or the apathy and compassionate rule of Appian, Macerian was a disciplinarian and a harsh one at that. It seems a life of only fighting and warfare had hardened any compassion in Macerian's body and made him a demanding, cruel, and sometimes barbaric figure.
Relationships
(The brutal and bloody Savarian Wars, fought beyond the Rhor)
Ethnicity
Other Ethnicities/Cultures
Date of Birth
14th of Modia
Date of Death
21st of Larce
Life
682 B.E
612 B.E
70 years old
Circumstances of Birth
Born to provincials on the shore of the Oltune in Agrihenia
Circumstances of Death
Died of an aneurism after angrily yelling at a group of Herodi diplomats
Birthplace
Viresutra, Agrihenia Oltuna
Place of Death
Trevia, Areul
Spouses
Apiora Secunda
(spouse)
Siblings
Children
Gender
Male
Eyes
Dark Green
Hair
Short, Straight, Reddish
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Tan
Height
6'3
Weight
215 lbs
Quotes & Catchphrases
"All I see beyond the Rhor is Rasennan."
Belief/Deity
Cult of Victus Ouea
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
Mykran
Character Prototype
Valentinian I
Comments