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Message:: [QUOTE="jamesicus, post: 3450733, member: 14873"]What an incredible find! The usurper Augusti of secessionist Britain - Carausius & Allectus The political and military turmoil of the third century spawned numerous external assaults on the Roman Empire. One of these was the incessant seafaring piracy in the waters surrounding the Roman occupied island outpost of Britain. In 286 Maximian Herculius, in his capacity as Dyarch Augustus of the West, designated a highly regarded military commander named Marcus Aurelius Mausaeus Carausius, of Flemish descent, to head a fleet of ships who's mission was to eliminate, or at least severely curtail, this piracy. Carausius had distinguished himself by outstanding leadership and military prowess, especially as a naval "Admiral", in the Gallic campaigns. Carausius established his operational base at the coastal city of Boulogne (Gesoriacum) in Roman occupied northern Gaul. Carausius did indeed accomplish his mission, but reports of corruption and extortion led Maximian Herculius to dispatch a fleet of ships in order to remove Carausius from command. However, Carausius proved too strong and he repulsed the attack. Carausius subsequently used his continental base to launch an invasion force to occupy and subjugate Britain. Landing in the north, Carausius secured the support of the native Picts and, advancing south, confronted and defeated the forces of the Roman Governor. Having thus conquered the Island, he proclaimed himself Augustus of a Secessionist Britain, becoming an effective and efficient Administrator using the Roman Imperial governmental framework as a model. He maintained control of Boulogne and coastal northern Gaul. Carausius established two mints in Britain: one at London (Londinium) and the other at Colchester (Camulodunum - Clausentum) and a Continental mint in Gaul. The coins depicted here were minted in Britain at the London (Londinium) mint. RIC V (2), Carausius, Antoninianus, No. 475: <img src="http://jp29.org/5475o.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /><img src="http://jp29.org/5475r.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />IMP C CARAVSIVS PF AVG ............................................... PA - X - AVG | S .....P Draped, radiate, bustLondon Mint.3.9 gm. Allectus, the chief minister of Carausius, assassinated him (or orchestrated his assassination) in AD 293. He continued operation of the British Carausian mints and coins were issued in his name and bearing his portrait RIC V (2), Allectus, Antoninianus, No. 33: <img src="http://jp29.org/533o.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /><img src="http://jp29.org/533r.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />IMP C ALLECTVS P F AVG .................................. PA - X - AVG ..... S (Pax standing left) AM L in reverse exergue. Cuirassed, radiate, bustLondon mint5.1 gm.Allectus died in battle with the invading force of Constantius in southern Britain AD 296[/QUOTE]

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