Carus

Carus
Aureus of Emperor Carus
48th Emperor of the Roman Empire
Reign	282–283
Predecessor	Probus
Successor	Carinus
Born	c. 222 Narbo, Gallia Narbonensis
Died	July or August 283 (aged 61) Beyond the River Tigris, Mesopotamia
Issue	Carinus, Numerian, Aurelia Paulina
Full name Marcus Numerius Carus (from birth to accession); Caesar Marcus Aurelius Carus Augustus (as emperor)

Carus (Latin: Marcus Aurelius Carus Augustus; c. 222 – July or August 283) was Roman Emperor from 282 to 283, and was 60 at ascension. During his short reign, Carus fought the Germanic tribes and Sarmatians along the Danube frontier with success. He brought stability in the empire and died in 283 aged 61.

During his campaign against the Sassanid Empire, he sacked their capital Ctesiphon, but died shortly thereafter. He was succeeded by his sons Carinus and Numerian, creating a dynasty which, though short-lived, granted further stability to a resurgent empire.

Carus, whose name before the accession may have been Marcus Numerius Carus, was likely born at Narbo (modern Narbonne) in Gaul but was educated in Rome. He was a senator and filled various civil and military posts before being appointed prefect of the Praetorian Guard by the emperor Probus in 282.

After the murder of Probus at Sirmium, Carus was proclaimed emperor by the soldiers. Although Carus severely avenged the death of Probus, he was suspected as an accessory to the deed. He does not seem to have returned to Rome after his accession, contenting himself with an announcement to the Senate.

Bestowing the title of Caesar upon his sons Carinus and Numerian, he left Carinus in charge of the western portion of the empire and took Numerian with him on an expedition against the Persians, which had been contemplated by Probus. Having defeated the Quadi and Sarmatians on the Danube, for which he was given the title Germanicus Maximus, Carus proceeded through Thrace and Asia Minor, annexed Mesopotamia, pressed on to Seleucia and Ctesiphon, and marched his soldiers beyond the Tigris.