Editing Numerian (section)

=== Numerian and Carinus as Augusti ===
The death of Carus left Numerian and Carinus as the new [[Augustus (title)|Augusti]]. Carinus quickly made his way to Rome from Gaul, arriving in January 284, while Numerian lingered in the East.<ref name="BNSCE4">Barnes, ''Constantine and Eusebius'', p. 4.</ref> The Roman retreat from Persia was orderly and unopposed, for the Persian King, [[Bahram II]], was still struggling to establish his authority.<ref name="SSC133">Southern, ''Severus to Constantine'', p. 133.</ref>

By March 284, Numerian had only reached Emesa ([[Homs]]) in [[Syria]]; by November, only [[Asia Minor]].<ref>Barnes, ''Constantine and Eusebius'', p. 4; Leadbetter, "Numerianus."</ref> In Emesa he was apparently still alive and in good health, as he issued the only extant [[rescript]] in his name there.<ref>''[[Codex Justinianeus]]'' 5.52.2; Leadbetter, "Numerianus"; Potter, ''The Roman Empire at Bay'', p. 279.</ref> Coins were issued in his name in [[Cyzicus]] at some time before the end of 284, but it is impossible to know whether he was still in the public eye by that point.<ref>''Roman Imperial Coinage'' 5.2 Numerian no. 462; Potter, ''The Roman Empire at Bay'', pp. 279–80).</ref>

After Emesa, Numerian's staff, including the prefect Aper, reported that Numerian suffered from an inflammation of the eyes and had to travel in a closed coach.<ref>Leadbetter, "Numerianus."</ref> When the army reached [[Bithynia]],<ref name="BNSCE4"/> or [[Thrace]],<ref name="Gibbon, p. 301">Gibbon, p. 301</ref> some of Numerian's soldiers smelled an odor reminiscent of a decaying corpse emanating from the coach.<ref name="SSC133"/> They opened its curtains and found Numerian dead.<ref>Barnes, ''Constantine and Eusebius'', p. 4; Leadbetter, "Numerianus"; Odahl, ''Constantine and the Christian Empire'', p. 39; Williams, ''Diocletian'', p. 35.</ref>