Lucius Clodius Macer
Lucius Clodius Macer was a legatus of the Roman Empire in Africa in the time of Nero. He
renounced his allegiance to Nero in 68 AD during the civil war that erupted at the end of Nero’s reign,
although originally encouraged by Galba, by
April 68 Macer
he decided not to recognize Galba. He appears not to have had a great
deal of support outside his own province, but he was in the position, by seizing
Sicily, to control the grain supply to the city of Rome.
Macer power came from the legion Legio III Augusta
(he gave Legio III Augusta the additional title of "Liberatrix".) which he had at his disposal.and
he raised a second legion locally, Legio I Macriana liberatrix,
raising suspicion that he also harbored imperial ambitions. Macer
led his two legions eastward into the Proconsular Province, and siezed Carthage from where in
June after Nero death he began striking coins in his own name. Macer issued a series of denarii of which only about 85 are known to exist, of
which only 20 bear his portrait.
Amongst the issue are a series of coins paying tribute to both his
legions. All
of Macer.s coins are of rather crude style, an indication of the lack of skilled
die engravers and the haste at which they were produced.
Early in June Nero committed suicide, and the Senate named Galba (himself a
former Proconsul of Africa) as his successor. In
October of 68 after Galba had solidified his power in Rome he sent agents
to Africa to treat with Clodius Macer, but the latter refused to accept the
Senate's decision. On Galba's order Trebonius Garutianus, his newly-appointed
procurator, executed (murdered?) Macer in October ending the immediate crisis.
Curiously, he stands alone in the long roster of men who usurped the throne
but not the imperial title.
Suetonius
Galba.11: Galba assumes principate, does not put on toga until those plotting against him were accounted for, including Clodius Macer.
Tacitus. Histories
Book I.7: News of the execution of Clodius Macer reaches the capital. Macer,
obviously bent on causing trouble in
Africa
, had been put to death by the imperial agent Trebonius
Gautianus.
Book I.11: As for
Africa
and its legion, they had lived to see the execution of Clodius Macer and were
content with any kind of emperor after experiencing a lesser master.
Book I.37: In a set piece speach by Otho, Galba is stated to have caused the
execution of Clodius Macer.
Book I.73: Public demand was voiced for the execution of Calvia Crispinilla.
This woman had been Nero's tutor in vice before going over to the province of
Africa
to instigate Clodius Macer to revolt. Her plan was quite obvious - a blockade
of
Rome
.
Book II.97: Vitellius re-activates the legion recruited by Clodius Macer and
disbanded by Galba.
Book IV.49: Papirus, the centurion of Mucianus, is implicated in the
assasination of Clodius Macer.