Editing Carausius (section)

==Early life and assumption of Imperial title==
Carausius was of humble origin, a [[Menapii|Menapian]] who distinguished himself during [[Maximian]]'s campaign against the [[Bagaudae]] rebels in northern [[Gaul]] in 286. This success, and his former occupation as a [[Harbour pilot|pilot]], led to his appointment to command the ''[[Classis Britannica]]'', a fleet based in the [[English Channel]], with the responsibility of eliminating [[Franks|Frankish]] and [[Saxon people|Saxon]] pirates who had been raiding the coasts of [[Armorica]] and [[Belgica]]. He was suspected of allowing pirates to carry out raids and collect loot before attacking them, then keeping captured treasure for himself, and Maximian ordered his execution. In late 286 or early 287 Carausius learned of this sentence and responded by declaring himself Emperor in Britain and northern Gaul.<ref>C. E. V. Nixon & Barbara Saylor Rodgers (ed & trans), ''In Praise of Later Roman Emperors: The [[Panegyrici Latini]]'', University of California Press, 1994, 8:6; [[Aurelius Victor]], ''Book of Caesars'' [http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/victor.caes.html#39 39:20-21]; [[Eutropius (historian)|Eutropius]], ''Abridgement of Roman History'' {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20031222152525/http://www.forumromanum.org/literature/eutropius/trans9.html#21 21]}}; [[Paulus Orosius|Orosius]], ''Seven Books of History Against the Pagans'' [http://www.attalus.org/latin/orosius7A.html#25 7:25.2-4]</ref> His forces comprised not only his fleet, augmented by new ships he had built and the three [[Roman legion|legions]] stationed in Britain, but also a legion he had seized in Gaul, a number of foreign [[auxiliaries (Roman military)|auxiliary]] units, a levy of Gaulish merchant ships, and barbarian mercenaries attracted by the prospect of booty.<ref>''Panegyrici Latini'' 8:12</ref>

British historian and archaeologist [[Sheppard Frere]] wonders how Carausius was able to win support from the army when his command had been sea-based, and speculates that he had perhaps been involved in an unrecorded victory in Britain, connected with [[Diocletian]]'s assumption of the title ''Britannicus Maximus'' in 285, and signs of destruction in Romano-British towns at this time.<ref>[[Sheppard Frere]], ''Britannia: a History of Roman Britain'', third edition, Pimlico, 1987, pp. 326-327</ref> The campaign against the [[Bagaudae]], however, was evidently land-based and may have been responsible for Carausius's popularity with the army. Equally, if the accusations of larceny are true, he could perhaps have afforded to buy their loyalty.

Maximian prepared an invasion of Britain in 288 or 289 to oust him,<ref>''Panegyrici Latini'' 10:12.1</ref> but it failed. A [[Panegyrici Latini|panegyric]] delivered to [[Constantius Chlorus]] attributes this failure to bad weather, but notes that Carausius claimed a military victory.<ref>''Panegyrici Latini'' 8:12.2</ref> [[Eutropius (historian)|Eutropius]] says that hostilities were in vain thanks to Carausius's military skill, and peace was agreed.<ref>Eutropius, ''Abridgement of Roman History'' {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20031222152525/http://www.forumromanum.org/literature/eutropius/trans9.html#22 22]}}</ref> Carausius began to entertain visions of legitimacy and official recognition.

It has been suggested that Carausius may have been responsible for the series of fortifications on both sides of the [[English Channel]] known as the [[Saxon Shore]], another factor that could explain the failure of Maximian's invasion.<ref name="D A White">{{cite book|last1=White|first1=Donald A|title=Litus Saxonicum: the British Saxon Shore in Scholarship and History.|date=1961|publisher=University of Wisconsin Press|location=Madison, Wisconsin}}</ref><ref name=Fields>{{cite book|last1=Fields|first1=Nic|title=Rome's Saxon Shore - Coastal Defences of Roman Britain AD 250-500 (Fortress 56)|date=2006|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=978-1-84603-094-9|pages=42–43}}</ref>