Carus

M. Aurelius Carus

Augustus (AD 282-283)

Carus, probably from Narbo in Gaul, was the Praetorian Prefect under Probus (Victor 38.1; Eutropius 9.18) and on Probus' death late in AD 282 (which Carus may have played a role in) he was proclaimed Emperor. According to Zonaras (12.29) Carus was reluctant to become emperor and tried to warn Probus that the soldiers were agitating to replace him. The emperor ignored the warning and when some soldiers proclaimed Carus, the rest deserted and Probus’ guardsmen murdered him. He initially appointed his elder son Carinus Caesar and then, shortly afterwards, also his younger son Numerian. Carus is also known to have a daughter, Paulina, from an inscription (SB 7028). According to RIC, Carus enlarged the mint at Rome at the expense of the mint at Serdica, opened under his predecessor. After defeating the Sarmatians, he resolved immediately to finish the Persian war that Probus had planned. He left Carinus in charge of the West and took Numerian with him on campaign. Before invading Persia, Carus was consul for the second time in AD 283, so was a suffect consul at some time earlier. Carus elevated both his sons to Augusti while staying in Antioch (early AD 283). The invasion met with success since the Persian king Vahram II was involved in a civil war at the time with his brother Hormizd. The capital Ctesiphon and several other important cities were captured. At the height of his success however (after the middle of AD 283) Carus was believed to have been killed by lightning (Victor 38.2; Eutropius 9.18; Zonaras 12.30; Historia Augusta, ‘Carus’, 8; 'Epitome' 38.3; Festus 24) although the sources mention various other reports of his sudden death. The Chronographer of 354 lists Carus’ reign as lasting ten months and five days. Numerian led his father’s dispirited army back beyond the Roman frontier. ‘Divus’ coins were issued for Carus by his sons proclaiming him ‘Persicus Maximus’.

Obverse Legends on coins depicting Carus

For explanations of many of the abbreviations used in Roman imperial obverse legends, click here.

CARVS AVG
CARVS ET CARINVS AVG
CARVS ET CARINVS AVGG
DEO ET DOMINO CARO AVG
DEO ET DOMINO CARO INVIC AVG
DIVO CARO
DIVO CARO AVG
DIVO CARO PARTHICO
DIVO CARO PERS
DIVO CARO PIO
IMP C CARVS AVG
IMP C CARVS PF AVG
IMP C KARVS PF AVG
IMP C M AVR CARVS AVG
IMP C M AVR CARVS P A
IMP C M AVR CARVS P AVG
IMP C M AVR CARVS PF AVG
IMP C M AVR KARVS AVG
IMP C M AVR KARVS PF AVG
IMP C M AVREL CARVS AVG
IMP CAESAR M AVR CARVS AVG
IMP CARVS AVG
IMP CARVS P AVG
IMP CARVS PF AVG
IMP M AVR CARVS AVG
IMP M AVR CARVS PF AVG
IMP P CARVS ET CARINVS AVGG
KARVS ET KARINVS AVGG
VIRTVS CARI AVG

Coins of Carus currently available

Currently there are no coins available for this person.