The Rise of Carus and the Challenges Ahead

The ascension of Carus to the Roman throne followed the death of Probus, his confusion surrounding the circumstances of Probus's demise, and the challenges he would face as emperor. There are conflicting accounts of Probus's death, suggesting that either his troops, fed up with labor demands, turned against him or that Carus's rebellion played a role in his downfall. The situation presented Carus with an imperial dynasty already in place, consisting of his two sons, Carinus and Numerian, which allowed for delegation of pressing military concerns on multiple fronts. This family structure was essential to managing the empire's growing challenges, with Carinus defending the western front while Carus and Numerian moved to tackle the threats posed by Persia in the east.