Carausius facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carausius |
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| Augustus of Gaul and Britannia | |||||||||
Carausius coin from Londinium mint. On the reverse, the lion, symbol of Legio IV Flavia Felix.
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| Emperor of Britannia | |||||||||
| Reign | 286–293 | ||||||||
| Predecessor | None | ||||||||
| Successor | Allectus | ||||||||
| Born | Gallia Belgica | ||||||||
| Died | 293 Britain |
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Marcus Aurelius Mausaeus Carausius was a Roman military leader in the 3rd century. He was from a region called Gallia Belgica, which is now part of Belgium. In 286 AD, he took control of Roman Britain and northern Gaul. He declared himself emperor during a time known as the Carausian Revolt.
Carausius ruled for seven years. He even called himself the "Emperor of the North." But his rule ended in 293 AD when his finance minister, Allectus, had him killed.
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Carausius's Rise to Power
Carausius came from a simple background. He became known for his bravery in 286 AD. This was during a fight against rebels in northern Gaul. He had also been a ship pilot.
Because of his success, he was put in charge of the Roman fleet in the English Channel. His job was to stop Frankish and Saxon pirates. These pirates were attacking the coasts of Gaul and Britain.
However, Carausius was suspected of letting the pirates raid first. Then, he would attack them and keep the stolen treasure for himself. The Roman Emperor Maximian ordered Carausius to be executed.
In late 286 or early 287 AD, Carausius found out about this order. He quickly reacted by declaring himself Emperor in Britain and northern Gaul. His forces included his fleet and three Roman armies stationed in Britain. He also had another army he took in Gaul. Many foreign soldiers and barbarian fighters joined him, hoping for treasure.
Historians wonder how Carausius gained so much army support. He was mainly a naval commander. Some think he might have won an important battle in Britain. Others believe he used the treasure he collected to gain loyalty from the soldiers.
Challenging the Roman Empire
Emperor Maximian tried to invade Britain in 288 or 289 AD. He wanted to remove Carausius from power. But the invasion failed, possibly due to bad weather. Carausius claimed this as a military victory.
A historian named Eutropius said that Carausius's military skills made the fight useless. So, a peace agreement was made. Carausius then started to believe he could be a real, recognized emperor.
Carausius's Coins and Messages
Coins are a main source of information about Carausius. He made coins in cities like Londinium (London) and Rotomagus (Rouen). He used these coins to spread his message.
He made the first good quality silver coins seen in the Roman Empire for many years. He knew that good coins would make him seem more powerful and successful. This also made him look better than the other emperors, Diocletian and Maximian.
How Carausius Looked on Coins
Early coins showed Carausius looking rough and tough. But the way the coins were made was very good. Later coins showed him looking neat and kind.
Carausius's Claim to Power
Some of his coins showed three faces on the back instead of one. The writing on the front said "PAX AVGGG," meaning "peace of three Augusti." This suggested that Carausius was recognized by the two other emperors, Diocletian and Maximian. However, their own coins only mentioned two emperors.
Carausius also made coins showing himself with Diocletian and Maximian. The coins said "CARAVSIVS ET FRATRES SVI," which means "Carausius and his brothers." This made it seem like he was part of their group of emperors.
Carausius's Control and Defenses
A stone marker found in Carlisle had Carausius's name on it. This suggests that he controlled all of Roman Britain. The inscription on the stone called him "Emperor Caesar Marcus Aurelius Mausaeus Carausius Pius Felix Invictus Augustus." This title showed he saw himself as equal to the main emperors, not a lesser one.
This stone was later reused around 306 AD. The old writing was covered, and new writing was added. The new writing was for Constantius I, another Roman leader.
Some people also believe Carausius built a series of forts. These forts were on both sides of the English Channel. They are known as the Saxon Shore forts.
The End of Carausius's Rule
Carausius's rule lasted until 293 AD. That year, Constantius Chlorus (Constantius I) became a powerful leader in the west. He marched into Gaul and took it back for the Roman Empire.
Constantius cut off Carausius by attacking the port of Gesoriacum (Boulogne-sur-Mer). He also invaded an area called Batavia. This helped him secure his position against Carausius's allies. Constantius could not invade Britain yet, as he needed to build a fleet.
However, Carausius's power was greatly weakened. Allectus, the person Carausius put in charge of his money, killed him. Allectus then took power himself. His rule lasted only three years. He was later defeated and killed by Constantius's general, Julius Asclepiodotus.
In 2010, a very large collection of Roman coins was found near Frome, Somerset. This collection, called the Frome Hoard, had over 52,500 coins. About 766 of these coins were made during Carausius's time. Only five of them were silver coins. This amount of coins was roughly equal to four years' pay for a Roman soldier.
Carausius in Old Stories
In a book from 1136 called History of the Kings of Britain, Carausius is a British man. He is said to have convinced the Roman Senate to give him a fleet. His job was to protect Britain from barbarians.
But once he had the fleet, he sailed around Britain causing trouble. He raised an army against a king of Britain named Bassianus. Carausius defeated Bassianus by getting his allies to leave him. Carausius then became king himself.
When the Romans heard about Carausius's betrayal, they sent Allectus to Britain. Allectus defeated Carausius, killed him, and became king in his place.
Carausius in Books
Carausius's death is an important part of the 1957 novel The Silver Branch by Rosemary Sutcliff.
Carausius also appears as a character named 'Caros' in a poem from 1761. This poem is called Fingal, An Epic Poem in Six Books by James Macpherson. In the poem, Carausius is defeated by a character named Oscar.
Images for kids
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Carausius coin from Londinium mint. On the reverse, the lion, symbol of Legio IV Flavia Felix.
