Diocletian's Carinus Fall

Diocletian had 20 years at his disposal to cement the idea that he rose to power as a divinely appointed defender of roman freedom. But carinus was not prepared to simply roll over for this upstart captain of the bodyguard. The two armies finally met in moesia in july of two 85. And at the outset, it looked like carinus was going to put down diocletian's insurrection as easily as he had put down the one in panonia. In a series of short gagements, carinus repeatedly got the better of Diocletian’s men. Up until the decisive battle of the margus river, it looks like di