A Roman pirate in Britain

I just recently won a nice Carausius coin. Diocletian put Carausius in charge of clearing out the Frank and Saxon pirates pillaging the English Channel. Carausius defeated the pirates, but then declared himself ruler of Britain, in effect, becoming a pirate himself. Carausius struck coins in his name along with Diocletian and Maximianus in hopes that he would be formally named as a co-ruler; which did not happen. This presumptuous and ill-fated desire to be recognized is why the reverse legend ends with AVGGG- - one G for each Augustus. These coins coins also have XXI in the exergue, which is likely a mark of value, meaning 20 parts alloy to 1 part silver.





Carausius
A.D. 291
24mm 4.3g
IMP C CARAVSIVS P F AVG; radiate and cuirassed bust right
PAX AVGGG; Pax stg. l., holding olive branch and sceptre; S-P across fields.
In ex. MLXXI
RIC Vii London 143





Diocletian
A.D. 291
21x24mm 4.4gm
IMP C DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; radiate and cuirassed bust right
PAX AVGGG; Pax stg. l., holding olive branch and transverse sceptre; S-P across fields.
In ex. MLXXI
RIC Vii London 9





Maximianus
A.D. 291
24mm 3.8g
IMP C MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; radiate and cuirassed bust right
PAX AVGGG; Pax stg. l., holding olive branch and sceptre; S-P across fields.
In ex. MLXXI
RIC Vii London 34

 

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That's a great example.


Carausius (287 - 293 A.D.)
Æ Antoninianus
O: IMP C CARAVSIVS P F AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
R: PAX AVG, Pax standing left, holding olive-branch and sceptre; S in left field; P in right field.
Camulodunum(?) Mint
4.53g
23mm
RIC 475

 

I get a kick out of Maximian having not been able to confront Carausis in Britain due to his not having a fleet to cross the channel........... because he had given all his ships to Carausis!

Carausis


Diocletian


Maximian

 

I forgot to add that there is a new book on this topic.

 

I find these "break away empires within the Roman Empire" interesting. Postumus started another one, the Gallic Empire, in 260.

Here are the coins I have and the notes from my Roman coin notebook.



Antoninianus of Carausius, Romano-British Emperor, Obverse: IMP C CARAVSIVS P F AVG “Emperor Carausius Pius Felix (dutiful and patriotic) Augustus,” Reverse: PAX AVG Peace Augustus or Roman peace. Pax, personification of peace, holding an olive branch and a scepter. (Ornamental staff, carried by rulers during ceremonies indicating sovereignty. This piece was stuck at the London Mint

· Marcus Aurelius Mausaeus Valerius Carausius born into very humble circumstances. Little is known of his early life. He was a native of Menapia, was in modern Belgium.

· As a young man, he trained to be a sailor. That proved to be a valuable skill when he aided the emperor Maximian during the uprising of the Bagaudae in Gaul.

· The Bagaudae, which might mean “fighters” in Gaulish (an ancient Celtic language) who fought the Roman Empire starting in the third century and persisted in their resistance until the fall of western empire. Their ranks included impoverished peasants, robbers who ambushed people in forests and mountains (brigands), runaway slaves and deserters from the Roman Legions.

· In recognition of his achievements, Maximian gave Carausius command of the Channel Fleet. His main task was to confront the Frankish and Saxon pirates who were raiding Gaul and south-eastern Britain.

· Carausius saw an opportunity. In 286 instead of interdicting the pirates before they raided their victims, he waited until they were loaded down with booty.

· Upon hearing of this act of treason, Maximian ordered the arrest and execution of Carausius. Carausius heard that he was a wanted man. He set sail from his base in Boulogne (Gesoriacum) and took possession of the island province of Britain.

· Carausius was now a thorn in the side of the Roman Empire. Maximian tried to dislodge him, in 289, but was defeated. It is believed that Maximian’s fleet suffered a disaster in this effort. Carausius was not only able to establish his hold on Britain but also able to re-capture his base at Boulogne.

· This situation continued until 293. Newly appointed caesar, Constantius, initiated military operations against Carausius’ Boulogne (area of northern France). He blocked the harbor with timbers and put the town under siege. Carausius’ fleet was unable to bring supplies into the town because of the blockade. It was forced to surrender. The fall of Boulogne combined with further military actions led by Constantius undermined Carausius’ authority in Britain.

· Carausius was killed by his chief minister, Allectus in the summer of 293. Allectus assumed control of the government.

Allectus



Antoninianus of Allectus, Romano-British Emperor, Obverse: IMP C ALLECTVS P F AVG, Emperor Allectus Pius Felix (dutiful and patriotic) augustus.” Reverse: FIDES MILITVM, “Loyalty of the army.” The personification Fides, symbol of good faith, confidence. She is shown holding a signum in each hand.

· Little is known about Carausius’ successor Allectus. We do not even know his full name.

· He appears to have been a high ranking official in Carausius’ government, perhaps in the financial and accounting areas. He was probably the modern equivalent of a treasurer.

· Official reports, which were written in praise of caesar Constantius, paint Allectus as weak and ineffectual leader who merely sat by and waited for the invasion that was to come. There is considerable evidence that he was not an incompetent leader.

· Constantius did not rush in and attack Allectus position. He spent two and a half years building a fleet and preparing his forces for the invasion of Britain. He prepared for a two-pronged attack to capture Britain.

· Allectus built massive defenses on the south-west portions of London along the banks of the Thames River. These fortifications have been discovered in the 20th century.

· Early in the year in 296, Constantius launched his two-pronged attack. Praetorian prefect Asclepiodotus launched an invading force from the Seine and landed on the Hampshire coast. Constantius led his force from Boulogne and worked his way up the coast to Thames estuary. From there he headed toward London.

· Allectus had expected the attack to center on London, but when he heard about the force that had landed in Hampshire, he set out to meet them. A battle was fought somewhere in that area. Allectus’ force was defeated, and Allectus was killed during the battle.

· After Allectus men broke from the Hampshire battle, they headed toward London to sack the city. Constantius prevented them from doing so. Britain had been brought back into the Roman Empire, and Constantius held a triumphal celebration to mark the event.

Here is a second piece which I found interesting.



Quinarius of Allectus, Romano-British Emperor, Obverse: IMP C ALLECTVS P F AVG, Emperor Allectus Pius Felix (dutiful and patriotic) augustus.” Reverse: LAETITIA AVG, “The joy of the emperor.” A galley with mast.

The quinarius was valued at half of an antoninianus. The galley on the reverse represented the source of the usurper’s military power. This piece was struck at the Colchester Mint.