394

CHAP.
XIII.

A. D. 282.

BONOSUS, A BRITON, ASSUMES THE PURPLE. nor had been promoted*. Bonosus, another of the revolters against Probus, was a Briton by birth. His father was a Spaniard, and either a professor of rhetoric or a grammarian, and died while Bonosus was young: his mother was a Gaulese, and a woman of wit. Bonosus served first in the infantry, then in the cavalry; and when he became a general, he had charge of the frontier of Rhætia. No man ever drank like him. The Emperor Aurelian esteemed him for his military talents, and, as he could drink like a sieve, he appointed him to entertain the ambassadors from all nations, that he might discover their secrets; he himself remaining perfectly undisturbed by any quantity of wine.

The Germans having burnt the Roman shipping on the Rhine, and Bonosus fearing that he should be punished for his neglect, boldly claimed Britain, Gaul, and Spain, and assumed the purple. He engaged Probus in a severe battle, but being overpowered, he hanged himself. On which occasion, it was said of him, "here hangs a tankard, not a man." Probus gave his wife a pension, and forgave his two sons. His wife's name was Hunila, of the royal blood of the Goths. She was a woman of singular merit, and had been selected by Aurelian, in order that through her means Bonosus might become well acquainted with the affairs of the Goths. Aurelian commanded that the marriage should be at the public charge, and that Hunila should be presented with silk gowns of a violet colour, and one of silk embroidered with gold, one hundred golden Philips, a thousand Antonines in silver, ten thousand sesterces in brass, and all such things as were proper for a lady of quality †.

Probus was the first Emperor who permitted the Britons to plant vines, as well as the Gauls and Spaniards. He sent over to Britain many Vandals and Burgundians to settle in the island.

* Zosimus, p. 32.

+ Flavius Vopiscus. Aug. Hist.

REVOLT IN BRITAIN.

395

XIII.

While the Emperor Carus was in Persia, he left Britain and other CHAP. provinces under the goverment of his son Carinus*.

CARAUSIUS, EMPEROR OF BRITAIN.

In the beginning of the reign of Dioclesian, and his associate Maxi- A.D. 287. mian with the title of Augustus, and Galerius and Constantius Chlorus with the inferior titles of Cæsar, Carausius a Menapian, of mean origin, commanded the Roman fleet stationed at Boulogne. He had secured to himself immense spoil, taken from the French and German pirates. His great wealth being evidence of his guilt, Maximian gave orders that he should be put to death. Carausius's riches had enabled him to attach the fleet to his fortunes; and foreseeing the severity of the Emperor, he sailed over to Britain, persuaded the Roman legions and auxiliaries, who guarded that island, to embrace his party; built many more ships, and boldly assumed the Imperial purple with the title of Augustust. (A. D. 287).

* Augustan History, "Carinus." No Roman lavished so much art and expence on the hunting of wild beasts as Carinus. Gibbon, Ch. XII.

28 Claudius.-A triumphal arch at Colchester. (Found at Littleborough).
29 Uncertain.—This is probably a head of Claudius, to whom, as well as to his son,
the senate had decreed the surname Britannicus. Adminius or Etiminius
was son of Cunobeline king of Britain. His father gave him part of his
kingdom. Coins have been found at Colchester, with this inscription,
Μητρώπολις Ετιμινίε Βασιλέως. He was expelled, and fed to Caligula.
Ainsworth. "Etiminius." (This medal was found at Littleborough).
It is highly probable that Claudius espoused his cause.

396

CHAP.
XIII.

COINS OF BRITISH EMPERORS.

The Romans deplored the loss of an island so valuable for its rich mines, temperate climate, corn, abundant pastures, wealth, and convenient harbours. Carausius supported his rebellion with ability. The British Emperor invited from the continent skilful artists in great

30 Antoninus Pius.-(Found at Littleborough).

31 The same.-(Found in Leicestershire). The two, by the dates, are for different

occasions.

32 Commodus.-(Found at Littleborough).

EMPERORS OF BRITAIN.

33 Carausius (Silver).—Reverse, Temple at Granta, R. S. R. Reipublicæ Securitas Restituta. Haym. Vol. II. Plate XXVII. Carausius was assassinated in the Temple of Bellona at York. (In the possession of the Duke of Devonshire). In this Emperor's reign there were struck in Britain about three hundred different coins and medals.

34 The sume. (Silver).—Reverse, a lion. LEG IIII. The fourth legion was appointed to go to Syria, but joined the rebel. Carausius brought lions with him from Africa. M. S. R. Moneta Signata Rigoduni. Coined at Riblechester, or Richmond, Yorkshire. Hayın. Vol. II. Plate XXVII. (Mr. Bardon).

35 The same.-Reverse, a ram. LEG VIII. The eighth legion joined Carausius. M. L. Moneta Londinensis. Haym. Vol. 1. p. 289. (Lord Winchelsea). 36 Sylvius.-The head, is his father Carausius, with whom he was co-emperor, See Haym. Vol. I, p. 287, who conjectures that this reverse represents a son or nephew, not being acquainted with the fact of Carausius having a son. (Lord Winchelsea).

37 Allectus. (Silver).-(Found in London). Very rare. Haym. Vol. II. Plate XXVII. (Duke of Devonshire.)

38 The same.-Q. L. Quinti Libertus vel Liberta.

Ainsworth. This would

not accord with Allectus, if the history be correct, which assigns him two

or three years only. (Found at Chesterton).

39 Helena.-1 at first imagined this to be a coin of the wife of the British Em-
peror, Maximus; but Camden says it is of Helena, Empress of Constantius
Chlorus, and mother of Constantine the Great: she is by some said to have
been a Briton: as the other Helena certainly was, that circumstance may
have given rise to the error. (Found at Chesterton).
It is to be observed, that, on some of the medals, the words are not rightly spelt.
As they are copied from engravings, it is possibly the fault of the first
publisher: even the Romans are not correct or uniform in this respect.