Carausius: The Usurper and the Mystery (Part I)

[guy]

I recently have been given the privilege of reviewing the book, The Frome Hoard.

 

 

This giant hoard of 52,503 coins (coins collected weighed 160 kg or 350 lbs) was found in April 2010 near Frome in Somerset, England. (Source: Wikipedia) This coin hoard was notable for the many high quality coins of the usurper Carausius who ruled an independent Britain and Northern Gaul in AD 286.

 

 

Carausius was only one of the many usurpers who threatened the stability of Rome during the third century of crisis.

 

Before reviewing the book, I wanted to learn more about this poorly documented usurper and the numismatic evidence surrounding his reign.

 

In AD 286, Caesar Maximian under the Augustus Diocletian, was placed in charge of stabilizing and securing the western frontiers of the Roman Empire. Carausius, a man of humble origins, had distinguished himself fighting for Maximian against the Bagaudae rebels in Northern Gaul.

 

(The Bagaudae rebels have been described as

Edited September 12, 2011 by guy

[caldrail]

I suspect Carausius wasn't just keen to create some form of patriotic spirit toward Rome, but rather that it was essential for his survival. Whilst many often regard the later empire in Britain as essentially Roman, that ignores the continued existence of the Iron Age next door, and we should note that although many britons looked back fondly at imperial times, Gildas tells that by the end of the empire the British were Roman in name only, paying only lip service to Roman law. In order to retain Roman authority therefore the propaganda was a matter of political survival.