The Roman sent to rid Channel of pirates

He distinguished himself during a campaign of Emperor Maximian - the Roman Emperor in the West – against rebels in northern Gaul.

This success and his former occupation as a pilot guide led to his appointment in 286 to command the Classis Britannica, a fleet based at Boulogne.

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He was tasked with clearing the English Channel of Frankish and Saxon pirates, who had been raiding the coasts of Gaul and Southern England.

He may well have been responsible for starting the series of fortifications on both sides of the English Channel known as the Saxon Shore, which includes Portchester Castle.

The forts were built over the course of the later 3rd century, to meet the threat presented by those pirates whom Carausius had been sent to subdue.

In 287 he was suspected by the Emperor of allowing pirates to carry out raids and collect loot, then attacking them and keeping the captured treasure for himself.

Maximian swiftly ordered his execution.

Carausius learned of this sentence and responded by declaring himself Emperor in Britain and Northern Gaul - the Britannic Empire.

His forces comprised not only his fleet and three legions stationed in Britain, but a legion he had seized in Gaul. He also had barbarian mercenaries attracted by the prospect of booty.

Maximian prepared an invasion of Britain in 289 to oust him, but it failed thanks to Carausius's military skill, and it seemed that peace was agreed.

Carausius began to entertain visions of legitimacy – he issued the first proper silver coins that had appeared in the Roman Empire for generations. He then issued coins with the presumptuous words: “Carausius and his brothers, Diocletian and Maximian”, the two real Emperors, and heads of all three.

He appears to have appealed to native British dissatisfaction with Roman rule. Some of his coins even carried words such as Restitutor Britanniae (Restorer of Britain).

A milestone from Carlisle with his name on it, suggests that the whole of Roman Britain was in his grasp. Indeed, Carausius seemed to have provided the Emperor with exactly what he needed in Britain.

He resisted the incursions of the Picts, repaired Hadrian’s Wall, and kept the regions secure.

However, his declaration of independence could not be tolerated and Maximian waited until the time was ripe to strike.

In 293, Constantius Chlorus, a junior-ranking caesar, marched into Gaul and reclaimed it for the Empire. He captured Boulogne, and invaded Batavia in the Rhine delta, securing his rear against Carausius' Frankish allies.

Carausius' grip on power was fatally undermined, but Constantius had to wait to mount an invasion of Britain until a suitable fleet could be built.

In 293 Allectus, Carausius’ Minister of Finance, assassinated him and assumed power. Legend has it that Carausius was enjoying a bath when Allectus entered, picked up a weapon and plunged it into his eye – a rather more dramatic death than the illustration!

Allectus’ reign would last only three years.

Constantius launched an invasion to depose him in September 296.

He led one division from Boulogne to London, but he seems to have been delayed by bad weather.

Another division, under the praetorian prefect Asclepiodotus, sailed from Le Havre.

Allectus' ships were stationed off the Isle of Wight, but Asclepiodotus’ troops took advantage of fog to avoid them and landed somewhere around Southampton Water, burning their boats.

Allectus' forces sailed back to join his troops on land. They were forced to retreat but made a stand at Silchester.

In what was apparently a fairly short battle, the invading Romans defeated the rebels and Allectus was killed in action. The remnants of the rebel forces went to London with the intent of looting it but Constantius’s soldiers had arrived and massacred them.

With the defeat and death of Allectus, Britain was once again part of the Roman Empire.

Jack Wilson is a tour guide with SeeSouthampton.co.uk .

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