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Carus was
Preceded by Probus
Succeeded by (and father of) Carinus and Numerian
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Marcus Aurelius Carus, born in Narbo, Gaul, (~223-230 to late July/early August, 283) was a Emperor of Rome from 282 to 283.
Carus succeeded Probus, either by revolt against Probus or by proclamation of troops upon the unrelated murder of Probus. The latter claim is made by the Historia Augusta, Eutropius and Aurelius Victor, against the Greek writers, Zonaras and John of Antioch, who hold that a revolt by Carus was the cause. Tom Jones, in a review of Piero Melini's Regno di Caro, Numerio e Carino, suggests that Zonaras may have had first-hand access to the Imperial Chronicle, strengthening the argument of involvement by Carus.
In any case, Carus assumed the title of emperor on Probus's death in 282, and appears to have informed the senate that he was now emperor, rather than requesting their approval. He saw to the deification of Probus, and appointed his elder son Carinus as caesar. After a successful campaign against the Sarmatians, Carus headed to Parthia to avenge the capture of Valerian with his younger son, Numerian. This campaign was successful, but Carus was soon found dead in his tent, the ancient sources report, victim of a lightning strike. Lightning deaths being fairly rare, and murder after a successful campaign seeming unlikely, it may be that disease was the cause, as suggested by the usually incredible Historia Augusta, here exercising skepticism of earlier accounts.
A marble portrait at the Ostia Museum (Inv. 75), discovered in the Mitreo della Planta Pedis, bears a reasonable resemblance to coin portraits of Carus. Von Heintze argued for a date for this bust between the time of Aurelian and that of the tetrarchs. In that period, Carus would be the only imperial candidate for the subject.
Other marble heads in Rome, Antioch and the Ny Carlsberg Glyptothek in Copenhagen have been proposed as possible portraits of Carus, though none are well accepted.
Many of Carus's coins bear surprisingly naturalistic portraits, given their position between prior and later abstract coin portraits. The silvered antoninianus below (RIC 39) is a beautiful example. A truly remarkable gold aureus of Carus (bottom, photo courtesy of Glenn W. Woods), shows Carus in a less serene, but appropriately imperial pose.
For other coins of Carus, see the
online reference at
Wildwinds.com.
Ostia Antica Museum, Inv 75.
