Diadumenian

Diadumenian (/daɪˈædʊˌmiːniən/; Latin: Marcus Opellius Antoninus Diadumenianus; 14/19 September 208 – 218), was briefly Roman Emperor from May to June 218. He was born to Macrinus, his father, of which he was co-emperor, and Nonia Celsa, whose name may be fictitious, on 14 September 208. He was elevated to Caesar in May 217, and after Elagabalus revolted a few days later, Diadumenian was elevated to co-emperor. After Macrinus was defeated in the Battle of Antioch, on 8 June 218, Diadumenian was sent to the court of Artabanus V to ensure his safety; however, he was captured and executed along the way, in late June.

Diadumenian
An aureus bearing the image of Diadumenian Legend: M OPEL ANT DIADVMENIAN CAES
Roman emperor
Augustus	May–June 218
Predecessor	Macrinus (co-emperor)
Successor	Elagabalus
Caesar	May 217 – May 218
Born	14 September 208 AD
Died	June 218 AD (age 9) Zeugma (Gaziantep, Turkey)
Full name Marcus Opellius Diadumenianus (birth) Marcus Opellius Diadumenianus nobilissimus Caesar (April 217) Marcus Opellius Antoninus Diadumenianus nobilissimus Caesar (May 217)[1] Regnal name Imperator Caesar Marcus Opellius Antoninus Diadumenianus[1]
Father	Macrinus
Mother	Nonia Celsa

History

Diadumenian was born on 14 September 208, named Marcus Opellius Diadumenianus, to Macrinus, the Praetorian Prefect and future emperor, and his possibly fictitious wife Nonia Celsa.[2] Macrinus declared himself emperor on 11 April 217, three days after Emperor Caracalla was assassinated. Shortly after, Diadumenian was elevated to caesar at Zeugma, while his guard was escorting him from Antioch to Mesopotamia, to join his father. He was also given the name Antoninus, in honor of the Antonine dynasty, at this time.[3] On 16 May 218 a revolt against him was launched in Emesa by Elagabalus, a relative of Caracalla through his mother, Julia Soaemias, who was Caracalla's cousin. In order to put down the revolt, Macrinus led his legions to the praetorian fort at Apamea. There Macrinus elevated Diadumenian to augustus, making him co-emperor. After Macrinus was defeated by Elagabalus on 8 June 218, at the Battle of Antioch, Macrinus fled north to the Bosporus. Before fleeing he entrusted Diadumenian to loyal servants, instructing them to take him into the Parthian Empire, to the court of Artabanus V, to ensure his safety. Diadumenian was captured en route in Zeugma, and executed in late June.[4][5] His head was brought to Elagabalus, and reportedly kept as a trophy.[6]

Numismatics

While caesar, a large number of coins were struck for Diadumenian, although less than the amount struck for his father. Coins in which he is depicted as augustus are extremely limited, and the only known coins from this time are denarii. This has led to the suggestion, first proposed by Ancient Numismatist Curtis Clay, that a large issue of coins was being made for Diadumenian, however they were quickly melted down when the news of Macrinus' defeat spread. Notably, some eastern provincial coins from the period exist which give Diadumenian the title sebastos, at the time the Greek equivalent of the Roman augustus.[4] In terms of gold coins, Diadumenian has one known style of aureus, bearing his image on the obverse, and displaying Spes standing on the reverse, and one known style of half-aureus, bearing his image on the obverse, and displaying himself holding a sceptre and standard.[7]

References

Citations

1. Cooley, p. 496.
2. Vagi 2000, pp. 289–290.
3. Vagi 2000, p. 289.
4. Vagi 2000, p. 290.
5. Bédoyère 2017, p. 236.
6. Bunson 1991, p. 130.
7. Friedberg, Friedberg & Friedberg 2017, p. 45.

Bibliography

• Bédoyère, Guy de la (2017). Praetorian: The Rise and Fall of Rome's Imperial Bodyguard. Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300226270.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Bunson, Matthew (1991). Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire. Facts On File. ISBN 9781438110271.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Cooley, Alison E. (2012). The Cambridge Manual of Latin Epigraphy. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-84026-2.
• Friedberg, Arthur L.; Friedberg, Ira S.; Friedberg, Robert (2017). Gold Coins of the World - 9th edition: From Ancient Times to the Present. An Illustrated Standard Catlaog with Valuations. Coin & Currency Institute. ISBN 9780871840097.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Vagi, David L. (2000). Coinage and History of the Roman Empire, c. 82 B.C.- A.D. 480. Fitzroy Dearborn. ISBN 9781579583163.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

Regnal titles
Preceded by Macrinus	Roman Emperor 218 Served alongside: Macrinus	Succeeded by Elagabalus