In the 3rd century AD, the Roman Empire faced a tumultuous period known as the Crisis of the 3rd Century. This era, marked by instability and power struggles, began with the assassination of Emperor Severus Alexander in 235 AD and lasted for about 50 years. During this time, over two dozen individuals claimed the throne, leading to internal conflicts and weakening the Empire. Although Emperor Aurelian made efforts to stabilize the situation in 270 AD, it was not until Diocletian’s reign that the Empire began to recover. However, the Empire remained vulnerable to revolts, invasions, and civil wars.
Amidst this chaos, a man named Carausius emerged as a significant figure. Initially serving as a military commander under Diocletian, Carausius was later labeled a pirate, a usurper, and eventually an emperor. Despite limited historical records about him, coins from his reign provide valuable insights into his life and achievements.
Carausius was born in Northern Gaul, likely in the mid-3rd century AD, and belonged to the Menapii tribe. His early life remains largely unknown until he joined the Roman military, serving under Maximian, Diocletian’s co-emperor. Carausius’s naval career began as a helmsman, and he played a crucial role in suppressing rebellions in Gaul and Hispania during the mid-280s. His military prowess earned him a reputation for excellence, which later facilitated his rise to power.
Impressed by his abilities, Maximian appointed Carausius as the commander of the Classis Britannica, a fleet tasked with defending the Northern Gaul coast from Frankish and Saxon pirates. Although successful in his role, Carausius faced accusations of hoarding spoils and colluding with pirates. When Maximian ordered his execution, Carausius fled to Britain and declared himself emperor.
By the end of 286 AD, Carausius had established control over Roman Britain and parts of Northern Gaul. He styled himself as an Augustus of Rome, positioning himself as a co-emperor alongside Diocletian and Maximian. His coins depicted the three leaders with the inscription “Carausius et fratres sui,” meaning “Carausius and his brothers.”
Carausius’s claim to power was bolstered by his military strength. He commanded his fleet and had the support of three Roman legions stationed in Britain, as well as another legion from Gaul. The reasons for the British legions’ loyalty to Carausius remain debated, with theories ranging from his military victories to financial incentives.
Despite his success, Carausius faced challenges from Diocletian and Maximian, who were preoccupied with other issues in the Empire. In 288 AD, Maximian attempted to reclaim Britain but was defeated by Carausius’s forces, leading to a temporary peace agreement.
Although Carausius hoped for recognition as a legitimate co-ruler, Diocletian had other plans. He aimed to implement the Tetrarchy, a system with four emperors, excluding Carausius. In 293 AD, Constantius, a Roman general, launched a campaign against Carausius, successfully reclaiming Northeast Gaul. Carausius’s reign ended when he was assassinated by his treasurer, Electus, who sought power for himself.
With Carausius’s death, Roman control over Gaul was restored, and Britain was no longer a formidable challenge. In 296 AD, Constantius led a naval invasion against Electus, who was killed in battle. Constantius was welcomed into London as a liberator, and Britain was reintegrated into the Roman Empire.
Carausius’s story remains an intriguing chapter in British history, although often overlooked. He is mentioned in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s “Historia Regum Britanniae,” a work of historical fiction written around 1136, which acknowledges him as a king of Britain.
Carausius’s tale highlights the complexities of power dynamics during the Roman Empire’s decline and the opportunities seized by ambitious individuals in times of chaos.
Research the Crisis of the 3rd Century, focusing on the political, economic, and social factors that contributed to the instability of the Roman Empire. Prepare a presentation that outlines these factors and discusses how they set the stage for figures like Carausius to rise to power. Use visual aids to enhance your presentation and engage your audience.
Participate in a debate where you will argue either for or against the notion that Carausius was more of a pirate than a legitimate emperor. Use historical evidence from the article and additional sources to support your position. This activity will help you develop critical thinking and public speaking skills.
Examine images of coins from Carausius’s reign and analyze their inscriptions and iconography. Discuss what these coins reveal about his claims to power and his relationship with other Roman leaders. This activity will enhance your understanding of how material culture can provide insights into historical narratives.
Engage in a role-playing game where you assume the roles of Diocletian, Maximian, Carausius, and other key figures of the time. Navigate the political landscape of the Roman Empire, make strategic decisions, and attempt to maintain or challenge the status quo. This interactive activity will deepen your understanding of the complexities of Roman politics.
Write an essay exploring the legacy of Carausius and his impact on Roman Britain. Consider how his story reflects the broader themes of power, legitimacy, and ambition during the decline of the Roman Empire. This activity will help you develop your analytical writing skills and historical interpretation.
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Welcome back to Biographics! I’m your host, Eric Malachite, and today we’ve got another bite-sized bio for you about Carassius, written by Ru Alexander. So strap in, check the links in the description and pinned comment, and let’s dive in.
During the 3rd century AD, the Roman Empire was on the brink of collapse. The Severan Dynasty ended in 235 AD with the assassination of Emperor Severus Alexander, followed by 50 years of chaos known as the Crisis of the 3rd Century. Over two dozen men claimed the throne during this period, fighting with each other while the Empire slowly crumbled around them. Aurelian was the one who started to get things back on track in 270 AD, but it wasn’t until Diocletian came along that the Empire finally stepped away from the precipice. However, that should not suggest that Rome was back to the strength of its glory days—far from it. Decades of instability and a lack of strong leadership left it vulnerable to countless revolts, invasions, migrations, and civil wars. The talons of the Roman Eagle weren’t as sharp as they used to be, and many looked at the weakened Empire as an opportunity to seize power for themselves. One of these individuals was Carassius. First, he was a military commander under Diocletian, then he was branded a pirate, then a usurper, and finally, he became an emperor. Not too shabby!
Important PSA: Not much is known about Carassius. The main source we have on him is actually the coinage that was issued during his time as emperor, which is a first for Biographics. But hey, we like a challenge, right? Yes, I think so.
Passing mentions of him are also made by historians such as Eutropius, Orosius, and Aurelius Victor, who covered the reign of Diocletian and therefore talked about Carassius’s successful rebellion. So that’s what we are working with. He was born in Northern Gaul, and although we have no idea of the date, it would have been sometime during the mid-3rd century AD. Carassius was part of the Menapii, a Belgic tribe first attested by Julius Caesar during his conquest of Gaul. We really do not have any other information on him until he joined the military to serve Maximian, who was Diocletian’s co-emperor under his new and bold plan to restore order to the Roman Empire.
At some point in his life, he joined the Roman Navy as a helmsman. During the mid-280s, he was part of Maximian’s effort to suppress rebellions throughout Gaul and Hispania by a group of people known as the Bagaudae. While we do not have specifics on what he did during the war, Carassius distinguished himself with great honor. According to Eutropius, Carassius had gained an extraordinary reputation through active service in war. This newfound reputation would prove useful during his later coup.
Carassius impressed Maximian enough that the co-emperor promoted him to commander of his very own fleet, the Classis Britannica. Carassius’s new task was to patrol the waters off the coast of Northern Gaul, protecting them from the attacks of Frankish and Saxon pirates. He did his job well, capturing and defeating many raiders and barbarians. However, suspicions arose that Carassius was hoarding most of the spoils for himself. He was even accused of intentionally allowing pirate ships to attack cargo and merchant vessels just so he could intercept them on the way back.
When Maximian found out about Carassius’s extracurricular activities, he sentenced him to death. However, Carassius did not show up when summoned to Rome. Instead, he sailed to Britain and declared himself emperor.
Toward the end of 286 AD, Carassius established Roman Britain as his territory and became the de facto ruler, including parts of Northern Gaul in his new kingdom. He did not style himself simply as king of Britain; instead, he presented himself as an Augustus of Rome, a co-emperor on the same level as Diocletian and Maximian. We know this from coins he issued in his name, which depicted the three of them with the inscription “Carassius et fratres sui,” meaning “Carassius and his brothers.”
At this point, you might be wondering how someone could simply declare themselves emperor and not have everyone laugh in their face. Well, it’s because Carassius also had the military strength to back it up. Not only did he command his own fleet, but he also had the three Roman legions stationed in Britain, plus another legion he seized in Gaul.
There is ongoing debate about why the British legions declared their loyalty to Carassius. Some historians speculate that he could have been responsible for a great victory in Britain, which earned the respect of the soldiers. Another possibility is that he simply offered them a generous raise to switch sides. Regardless, the army in Britain was on his side, so if Maximian and Diocletian wanted to reclaim a sizable chunk of their empire, they would have to fight him for it.
However, due to the ongoing Crisis of the 3rd Century, Diocletian and Maximian had their hands full dealing with other issues in the Empire. It wasn’t until 288 AD that Maximian was able to muster the time and resources to build up a fleet and lead an incursion to the coast of Britain. Although we have no details on how the fighting went down, we know that Carassius won the day by destroying the enemy fleet in battle. Maximian retreated and was forced to negotiate an uneasy peace with the usurper that would last almost five years, allowing Carassius to enact his vision of a new Roman Empire.
With the compelled approval of the two real emperors, Carassius was now the legitimate ruler of Britain and Northeast Gaul, which at the very least secured one frontier for Maximian and allowed him to concentrate his efforts in Germany. As far as he and Diocletian were concerned, this was just a stalling tactic until other problems were resolved. When that happened, the usurper would get what was coming to him.
Carassius adopted the name Marcus Aurelius, which was also that of Maximian, and it was at this time that he started minting his own coins with the three emperors on them. Perhaps he genuinely hoped that, with time, Maximian and Diocletian would accept him as a co-ruler, as it would be the easier solution compared to going to war against him. However, Diocletian had no intention of accepting the authority of the usurper on a permanent basis. He had a plan to enact a new system of governance called the Tetrarchy, which would see the Roman Empire have four emperors instead of two, but Carassius was not included in this scheme.
In 293 AD, Constantius marched against Carassius, starting with Gaul and laying siege to Bologna. This time, he was successful, and Constantius wrested control of Northeast Gaul from the usurper. However, Carassius still had one shot at triumph, but he was ultimately assassinated by his own treasurer, Electus, who decided he would be a better fit to rule.
With Carassius dead, Gaul was back in Roman hands, and retaking Britain was no longer seen as a major hurdle. In 296 AD, Constantius led a naval invasion against Electus, who was killed in battle. According to records, Constantius was welcomed into London as a liberator of the people, and Britain became part of the Roman Empire once again.
Carassius became an odd and often forgotten chapter of British history, although he did make an appearance in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s “Historia Regum Britanniae,” written around 1136. It is more fictional literature than a historical account, but it does recognize Carassius as a king of Britain.
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This version removes informal language, jokes, and promotional content while maintaining the core historical narrative.
Carausius – A Roman military commander who declared himself emperor of Britain and northern Gaul in the late 3rd century AD. – Carausius is often remembered for his bold move to establish an independent rule in Britain, challenging the authority of the Roman Empire.
Empire – A large political unit or state, usually under a single leader, that controls many peoples or territories. – The Roman Empire was known for its extensive reach and influence across Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia.
Military – Relating to the armed forces or to soldiers, arms, or war. – The Roman military was a formidable force, known for its discipline, organization, and innovative tactics.
Britain – An island nation in the northwest of Europe, which was part of the Roman Empire from 43 to 410 AD. – Roman Britain was marked by significant cultural and architectural developments, including the construction of Hadrian’s Wall.
Gaul – A region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman period, inhabited by Celtic tribes, roughly corresponding to modern-day France and parts of Belgium, western Germany, and northern Italy. – Julius Caesar’s conquest of Gaul was a pivotal moment in the expansion of the Roman Empire.
Piracy – The practice of attacking and robbing ships at sea, which was a significant issue in the Mediterranean during ancient times. – The Roman navy was tasked with combating piracy to secure trade routes and protect coastal settlements.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – Understanding the history of the Roman Empire provides insights into the development of Western civilization.
Legions – Large units of the Roman army, typically composed of 3,000 to 6,000 soldiers. – The legions were the backbone of Roman military power, enabling the empire to expand and maintain its territories.
Reign – The period during which a sovereign rules. – The reign of Augustus marked the beginning of the Pax Romana, a long period of relative peace and stability in the Roman Empire.
Instability – The state of being prone to change, unpredictability, or lack of stability, often leading to disorder. – Political instability in the late Roman Empire contributed to its eventual decline and fall.
