• Restoration of the Empire• Attempting to cope with the

economy– The rich get richer

• Usurpers – British Emperors• Invaders

– The rich flee?

Fourth centurySunset Approaches Unrest at Home and Abroad

1

Ties of Britain and the Empire

• Political– Military and political leaders under central command– Movement of people

• Economic– Trade– Taxes – Money

• Religious– State religion– Hierarchal church

2

Other Ties(for some)

• Commonality of language• “ “ religious beliefs and practices• “ “ culture

3

Restoration of the Empire

• Postumus successors in the Gallic Empire were generally short-lived

• Tetricus was defeated by Aurelian with his own connivance

• Reformation of currency– Increased silver (still only 5%)– Increased weight

4

Tetrarchy

D ioc le tianA u g u s tu s

M axim ian u sA u g u s tu s

C on s tan tiu sC aesar

G au l an d B rita in

G a le riu sC aesarB a lkan s

5

Carausius – Usurper

• Humble origin• Naval commander• Charged with fighting Frankish and Saxon

pirates• Technique is to gain their booty• Sentenced in absentia for embezzlement• Allies with Picts and Scots to defeat British

governor and then captures London.

6

Carausius-Rebuilding the empire

Romano RenovaRoman Renewal

RSRRedeunt saturnia regna

Iam nova progenies caelo demittir alto.(I N P C D A) Virgil, Ecologues IV

The golden age returns.Now a new generation is sent down from heaven above.

7

Carausius

• Hoped to be named third Augustus with Diocletian and Maximian

• Constantius I defeats his Frankish allies.• Assassinated by his minister, Allectus.

8

Taking Control of the Legions

I Minerva

Carausius – the third ruler with Diocletian and Maximian

9

Arrival in Britain

EXPECTATE VENI 10

Allectus-Usurper

• Supported by landowners• Used Frankish and/or Frisian mercenaries• Defeated by Constantius

11

Frome Hoard

• Found 2010• 52,500 coins (160kg)• Largest find of coins

of Carausius

12

Tetrarchy

Diocletian Maximianus

GaleriusConstantius13

Constantius-Rescue Of London

14

Inflation

1

10

100

1000

10000

100000

-100 0 100 200 300 400

Date (CE)

Am

ou

nt

(d)

Wages

Wheat Cost/Yr.

Inflation

Diocletian

15

Diocletian Reforms

• Tetrarchy– Provision for succession; term limits

• Wage and price controls• Reorganization of provinces

– Separation of civil and military• Compulsory service

– Soldiers, bakers, decurions of town councils, and tenant farmers

• State religion

16

Reorganization of provincesH ie ra rchy

P ro v ince (5 0)G o vern or

D io ce se (1 2)V ica r

P ra e to ria n P re fe c t(4 )

17

Reorganization of Britain

18

Governance of Late Roman Britain

C ivita tes

Brittania Prim a

C ivita tes

Brittan ia Secunda

C ivita tes

F lavia Caesa riens is

C ivita tes

M axim a C aesa rensis

C ivita tes

Va len tia?

D iocese-London

Prefect-G aul-T rier

Em peror

Cirencester York Lincoln London ?

19

Military

• Generals-Dux• Comitatenses-field forces

– Auxilia-recruited from Germans

• Limitanei-Garrison troops• German commanders occupy many high

positions; learn Roman tactics• Mercenaries?

20

Economic Reforms

• Maximum Price Edict – Set maximum prices for goods– Set price for labor

• Impact– Black market– In-kind payments– Decline of money economy

21

Fourth Century InflationInflation

1

10

100

1000

10000

100000

280 290 300 310 320 330

Date (CE)

Am

ou

nt

(d)

Wages

Wheat Cost/Yr.

22

Constantine

• 305 Diocletian abdicates• 306 Constantius dies at York fighting Picts

and Scots• 306 Constantine proclaimed by his troops

23

One Unhappy FamilyCrispus

Constantine II

Constantius II

FaustaCon

stan

tine

Helena

Minervina

Constans

24

Christian Emperors

Constantine 327 Vetranio 350 Decentius 353

25

Constantine: Companion of Sol

SOLI INVICTO COMITI

26

Constantine: Mars the Savior

MARTI CONSERVATORI

27

Distribution of Christian

Artifacts

28

Religion and Constantine

• Constantius was less diligent in enforcing Diocletian’s edicts against Christians

• Toleration and restoration of Christianity under Constantine

• Strip some temples of wealth• Julian revival of paganism

29

Church Organization

• Nicaea – primacy of Rome and Alexandria• Metropolitan bishops – capital cities

– Bishops in each city; some market towns, military areas

• Tituli –financed by bishop• Parochiae, dioceses – financed by wealthy and

offerings

30

Corbridge Lanx (Tray)31

Constans Galley CoinsWhich one is forged?

32

Barbarian or Great Conspiracy 367 CE

• Rising sea level in Saxony• Simultaneous raids of Picts, Scots, Attacotti,

Frankish and Saxon pirates• Deaths of leaders Nectaridus, Fullofaudes• Corruption of frontier troops• Put down by Theodosius

33

Theodosian Restoration

• Official Christianity• Rebuild forts along Hadrian’s wall with

reduced garrisons• Saxon shore forts• Addition of circular or polygonal towers to

forts and city walls

34

Notitia Dignatum

35

Northern Defenses• Route along the line of the Wall

– Includes line along west coast– Supporting forts south of Wall – Lanchester, Elslack,

Ribchester, Bainbridge

• Other– HQ – legio VI, York– Arbeia, supply fort; Ribchester, Malton– Signal towers on North Sea

36

Defenses

37

Invasions

• Picts

• Scotti

• Attacotti

• Saxons

38

Picts

Meigle Aberlemno 39

O G H A MGorse Ivy Hawthorn Fir Vine

40

Saxon Shore

41

Comes litoris Saxonici

• Portchester –scouts• Lympne - units from Tournai?• Dover-Tungrians• Richborough – II Augusta• Reculver - infantry from

Weslafen, Germany• Bradwell - remnant from legio

II Traiana Fortis?• Brancaster – Dalmatian

cavalry

42

Saxon Shore Fort

Portchester

43

Alderney

44

Evidence of Decline

• Abandonment of towns• Abandonment of villas• Decline in construction• Less innovation in manufacturing (pottery)

45

Construction

46

47

Occupancy - Villas

Pottery Industry

48

Fortified Cities

Caerwent49

Changing Role of Cities• Basilicas sometimes turned to other uses.• Continue to maintain baths, amphitheaters,

roads and water systems.• Administer taxes. Tax rate from 25% to

33% of gross.• Revenue used to support army and buy

produce.• Decline of long-distance trade – London.

50

Changes in Cities

• In most cases buildings (baths, basilicas, theatres) remained, were partially demolished and were not repaired; some deliberate demolition

• Gates blocked at Silchester, Caerwent, Canterbury

51

New Construction

• Possible agricultural buildings– No verification

• Canterbury, Gloucester – paved courtyard in temple area– Gathering areas for military?

52

Reuse

• Industrial activity– Iron, bronze, lead, pewter and silver working– Glass working, bone working– Found in forum/basilica and temple/’church’

structures

• Recycling• Metal working may have had ritual

significance53

Timber rather than stone

• Structures take advantage of supporting walls

• Previously interpreted as squatters

54

Wroxeter in its last years

55

A Leader in Wroxeter?

Date: 460-475

Inscription:

CVNORIX | MACVSM/A | QVICO[L]I[N]ETranslation:Cunorix son of Maqui Coline . 

56

More Usurpers and Barbarians

• Magnus Maximus 383-8– Use of barbarians to

maintain power– Withdraws troops to fight on Continent

• Stilicho, of Vandal birth, commander of field army in the west. – Fights Picts in 398; takes control of sea to

defeat Saxons and Scots

57

Magnus Maximus

58

Foederati - Federates

• Non-Roman troops with non-Roman commanders– Attacotti – Irish federates?– Saxons or Alemanni?

• Declining literacy of the military• Garrison troops (limitanei) -local

59

More Evidence of Decline

• Decrease in money supply– Coin clipping– Hoards– Counterfeits

• Abandonment of shops

Clipped Coins

Mildenhall Treasure

Mildenhall Treasure

Hoxne Hoard

Good luck, Lady Juliana

Hoxne Hoard

Hoards67

Empire under Siege

• Invasions threaten heart of Empire• Troops needed• Britain considered less vital• Is the end near?• Stay tuned

68