The roman soldier who became Emperor of Britain

Around the 250 A.D., a Roman military officer, who was named Carausius, received the task of defeating pirates by the Emperor Maximianus. Maximianus named Carausius Chief of a fleet, with which to defeat the pirates. Carausius seems to have not sent to Rome the treasures of the pirates, and for this reason, the Emperor sentenced his death. More likely, this decision was taken also because of the increasing influence that Carausius was gaining especially in the Britain. This positive situation made possible for Carausius to nominate himself Emperor of Britain in the 286 A.D.. He did lot of propaganda, such as minting coins with his image. However, after just 7 years, he was killed by one of his ministers, Allectus. In the 296 the Britain was reconqued by Maximianus.


Source: The Scotsman newspaper