HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
On this page: The institution of the Dyarchy of Diocletian and Maximian Herculius, the geographical division of the Empire into East and West and the creation of seccessionist Britain by the Usurper Augustus, Carausius.
Diocletian - the reforming Augustus 284-305 AD
![[Diocletian coin photo]](const06.jpg)
Diocletian (Caius Aurelius Verus
Diocletianus) has come down in history as an
astute politician, accomplished administrator and a
stalwart leader. Upon assuming the Imperium as
Augustus in 284 he determined to bring an end to the
social and political chaos that had pervaded the Roman
Empire for over fifty years by instituting several
radical reforms. He was the driving force in
reorganizing the Imperial Governmental System and
reforming the coinage.
The accompanying image is an enlarged photograph of the obverse of a reformed aes follis (RIC VI, Londinium, Diocletian, No. 6a).
The Dyarchy of Diocletian and Maximian Herculius 285-293 AD
![[Maximian coin photo]](const07.jpg)
In 285 Diocletian appointed Maximian
(Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus), a close
friend and a renowned General like himself, as his
Caesar elevating him to co-Augustus the following year.
Diocletian subsequently divided the Empire
geographically with himself as Augustus of the East and
Maximian as Augustus of the West, thereby instituting a
Dyarchy. Diocletian emphasized his status as Senior
Augustus by adopting Jovius as his
Protector-God and assigning Herculius to
Maximian. Diocletian established his headquarters at
Nicomedia and Maximian established his at
Milan.
The accompanying image is an enlarged
photograph of the obverse of a reformed aes follis (RIC
VI, Londinium, Maximian Herculius, No. 6b).
Carausius - usurper Augustus of secessionist Britain 286-293
![[Carausius coin photo]](const05.jpg)
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, 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.
The accompanying image is an enlarged
photograph of the obverse of a typical antoninianus
(RIC V [2], London, Carausius, No. 475).
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 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 his own mints at London (Londinium) and Colchester - Camulodunum - Clausentum ("C" Mint) and across the Channel in Gaul which began to produce coins of distinctive style in Gold, Silver and Copper.
References and Resources
- IMPERIAL REPRESENTATION UNDER DIOCLETIAN AND THE
TETRARCHY, AD 284-305, Kiernan, Phillip, Master of Arts
in Classics Thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2003 - as
a
PDF File. Coins and Medals of the Tetrarchy are
discussed on pp 31-55.
2010-08-09
- DIOCLETIAN AND THE TETRARCHY, Roger Rees, Edinburgh University Press Ltd, (2004).
- IN PRAISE OF LATER ROMAN EMPERORS (The Panegyrici Latini), Rodgers, Barbara Saylor & C. E. V. Nixon, University of California Press, (1995).
- THE ROMAN IMPERIAL COINAGE (RIC), Volume VI, Diocletian's reform (AD 294) to the death of Maximinus (AD 313), C. H. V. Sutherland, Spink & Son Ltd, London (1967 et al).
- THE NEW EMPIRE - mostly devoted to the historical events pertaining to Roman Britain that are discussed at length on these pages. I think it is a nicely done online facility that, while quoting many anecdotal references, is pleasingly presented and offers much useful information.
Anyone is granted permission to use content on
this page in accordance with the terms of this Creative
Commons License. Used content should be imprinted
with: Used by permission of James
Pickering - http://jp29.org/
Link to go to The Britannic Coinage of Constantius Directory