Carausius coin from Londinium mint. On the reverse, the lion, symbol of Legio IIII Flavia Felix.

Marcus Aurelius Mausaeus Carausius (d. 293) was a Roman imperial usurper in Britain and northern Gaul (286–293). Carausius. ... Carausius. ... Antoninianus minted under Carausius. ... Events March 1 - Diocletian and Maximian appoint Constantius Chlorus and Galerius as Caesars. ... For other senses of this name, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... Usurpers were a common feature of the late Roman Empire, especially from the so-called crisis of the third century onwards, when political instability became the rule. ... Map of Gaul circa 58 BC Gaul (Latin Gallia, Greek Galatia) was the region of Western Europe occupied by present day northern Italy, France, Belgium, western Switzerland and the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the west bank of the Rhine river. ... This article is about the year 286. ... Events March 1 - Diocletian and Maximian appoint Constantius Chlorus and Galerius as Caesars. ...

Biography

Carausius was a Menapian who had proven his ability during Maximian's campaign against the Bagaudae rebels in Gaul in 286. As a result, he was appointed to command a navy based in the English Channel with the responsibility of eliminating Frankish and Saxon pirates who had been raiding the coast. Apparently, however, Carausius adopted the practice of keeping captured treasure for himself and using it to recruit former pirates into his own fleet. Due to this practice, Maximian came to regard Carausius as a threat and ordered his execution. Carausius learned of this and responded by declaring himself Emperor, winning the alliegance of the three legions based in Britain, as well as one in northern Gaul. The Menapii were a Belgic tribe of north-eastern Gaul in the 1st century BC, dwelling around the Rhine estuary, and extending inland towards the Ardennes. ... Maximian Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus Herculius (c. ... Bagaudae (also spelled Bacaudae) was the name for groups of peasant insurgents during the Crisis of the Third Century, particularly in Gaul. ... Map of Gaul circa 58 BC Gaul (Latin Gallia, Greek Galatia) was the region of Western Europe occupied by present day northern Italy, France, Belgium, western Switzerland and the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the west bank of the Rhine river. ... Satellite view of the English Channel The English Channel (French: La Manche, IPA: , the sleeve), also for some time known in England as the British Sea, is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean that separates the island of Great Britain from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the... For other uses, see Franks (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... The Roman legion (from Latin legio, from legere — to collect) was the basic military unit of the ancient Roman army. ...

Quite how he was able to win support from the army when his command had been sea-based is uncertain. It may be connected with the emperor's assumption of the title Britannicus Maximus in 285, possibly connected with an otherwise unrecorded victory there in which Carausius was instrumental. Two Romano-British towns show signs of destruction from this time and may be connected with an unrest. This article is about the year. ...

With the loyalty of these legions and control of his fleet, as well as the support of the Franks and Britons, Carausius was in a strong position. Maximian was busy with wars on the Rhine and was unable to begin planning an invasion until late 288. At 1,320 kilometres (820 miles) and an average discharge of more than 2,000 cubic meters per second, the Rhine (German Rhein, French Rhin, Dutch Rijn, Romansch: Rein, Italian: Reno) is one of the longest and most important rivers in Europe. ... Events Maximian becomes Roman Consul Deaths Saint Sebastian martyred Umro Bin Ada AI Lakhami, a king in what is now Bahrain Categories: 288 ...

In 289, an invasion of Britain intended to dislodge him failed badly due to storms, although a naval defeat is also possible. An uneasy peace continued until 293 during which Rome prepared for a second effort to retake the province, while Carausius began to entertain visions of legitimacy and official recognition. He minted his own coins and brought their value in to line with Roman issues as well as acknowledging and honouring Maximian and then Diocletian. Coinage is the main source of information about the rogue emperor; his issues were initially crude but soon became more elaborate and were issued from mints in Londinium, Rotomagnus and a third site, possibly Colonia Claudia Victricensis. A milestone from Carlisle with his name on it suggests that the whole of Roman Britain was in Carausius' grasp. Events Constantius Chlorus married Flavia Maximiana Theodora, stepdaughter of Maximian after renouncing Helena, his wife and mother of Constantine the Great. ... Events March 1 - Diocletian and Maximian appoint Constantius Chlorus and Galerius as Caesars. ... Emperor Diocletian. ... For other uses, see London (disambiguation) and Defining London (below). ... Location within France Rouen Cathedral The entrance to Rouen Cathedral Abbey church of Saint-Ouen, (chevet) in Rouen Rouen, medieval house Rouen (pronounced in French, sometimes also ) is the historical capital city of Normandy, in northwestern France, and presently the capital of the Haute-Normandie (Upper Normandy) région. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Carlisle is a city in the extreme north west of England, some 10 miles from the border with Scotland. ... Principal sites in Roman Britain Roman Britain refers to those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between 43 and 410. ...

It has been speculated (namely, by the historian S.S. Frere) that the rebellion of Carausius endangered Diocletian's vision of a strong, centralized government based on his tetrarchy. In any case, by early 293 Constantius Chlorus had gained control of northern Gaul, including the rebel's stronghold and port of Bononia, on which Carausius was heavily dependent. Constantius built a mole across the harbour mouth to ensure it did not receive maritime aid. The Tetrarchs, a porphyry sculpture sacked from a Byzantine palace in 1204, Treasury of St. ... On the reverse of this argenteus struck in Antioch under Constantius Chlorus, the tetrarcs are sacrificing to celebrate a victory against the Sarmatians. ... Boulogne-sur-Mer is a city and commune in northern France, in the Pas-de-Calais département of which it is a sous-préfecture. ... A mole is a massive structure, usually of stone, used as a pier, breakwater, or junction between places separated by water. ...

Constantius also regained the allegiance of the rebellious Gallic legion and defeated the Franks of the Rhine mouth who seem to have been working in league with Carausius. Weakened by these setbacks, Carausius was assassinated, possibly at York, by his treasurer, Allectus. York is a city in northern England, at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss. ... Allectus (died 296) was a Roman emperor in Britain (293–296). ...

In legend

In his mediaeval history, Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote that Carausius was given the kingship of the Britons over that of Caracalla, who died many years earlier. At some point in time, Carausius was able to sway the Picts to join him and they turned on the Romans. Caracalla was forced to flee Britain and it remained in Carausius's control for some time. He gave the Picts large tracts of land in Albany where they settled and married Britons. Geoffrey of Monmouth (c. ... The term Briton may have the following meanings: in a historical context: an inhabitant of Great Britain in pre-Roman times a descendant of Britons during a later period (e. ... Caracalla Caracalla (April 4, 186–April 8, 217) was emperor of the Roman Empire from AD 211–217. ... The Picts were a confederation of tribes in central and northern Scotland from the 3rd century to the 11th century. ... Alba is the ancient and modern Gaelic name (IPA: ) for the country of Scotland (also Alba in Irish, and in Old Gaelic Albu). ...

External links

• http://www.romanbritain.freeserve.co.uk/CARAUSIUS.HTM

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Carausius