Short Biography about the life of Carinus
Short Biography profile and facts about one of the most famous Romans of all, in the life of Carinus, Emperor of Rome and provinces of the Roman Empire.

• Name commonly known as: Carinus

• Latin Roman Name: Marcus Aurelius Carinus

• Reigned as Roman Emperor / Caesar: 282-3 under his father and jointly with his brother Carinus December 283 - November and 284-285 in competition with Diocletian

• Dynasty / Historical Period: Crisis of the Third Century (235 - 284) the era of Illyrian Emperors (268 - 285)

• Name of previous Emperor: His predecessor or the Emperor before Carinus was Carus

• Family connections / Genealogy

  • Name of Father: Carus

  • Married: Magnia Urbica

  • Children: Nigrinianus

  • Brother: Numerian

  • Sister: Aurelia Paulina

• Place and Date of Death: Died September 285 Place of death River Margus

• Name of next Emperor:  The successor to Carinus was briefly his infant child Nigrian. His competitors for the throne were the usurperJulian of Pannonia The next really famous emperor was Diocletian

Interesting facts about the life of Carinus
Obtain a fast overview of the times of the Roman Emperor Carinus from the following facts and information about his life. Carus the previous emperor was the father of Numerian and his older brother Carinus. The brothers were raised to the rank of Caesar in AD 282, soon after their father had become emperor. Carus had gained many victories over the Persians and Numerian accompanied his father to the East and Mesopotamia. Carinus stayed in Rome to rule the west. Their father died suddenly in A.D. 283 and his sons succeeded him ruling as co-emperors. Carinus was perceived as the 'senior' emperor. Carinus was, however, completely inept as a ruler. He led a life of vice and debauchery and spent enormous amounts of public money on festivals, entertaining and gaining support of the 'mob'.  He is said to have taken nine wives, some he murdered even while they were pregnant. He filled the Palace with actors and harlots, singers and pimps. Carinus was vain and a spendthrift. He wore jewels on his shoes, used only a jewelled clasp for his cloak and often a jewelled belt also. At one of his banquets Carinus served one hundred pounds of birds, one hundred pounds of fish, and one thousand pounds of meat of different kinds. He lavished on his guests vast quantities of wine. Carinus swam about among apples and melons and strewed his banqueting-halls and bedrooms with roses from Milan. The bedrooms were used for decadent orgies. He is also said to have been involved in an incestuous relationship with his sister Aurelia Paulina. This has given rise to doubts about whether it was his wife or his sister who was the mother of his heir, Nigrinianus. His brother Numerian was assassinated in November 284 travelling to Rome leaving Carinus as sole emperor which was disputed by many disapproving Romans including the great commander Diocletian and the usurper Julian of Pannonia - both of whom had been proclaimed emperor.  Carinus and his army defeated and killed Julian of Pannonia early in 285 in Verona. Carinus then marched against Diocletian. The infamous Carinus was defeated in battle when his army deserted him and subsequently assassinated in September 285. His infant heir Nigrian had died sometime between late 284 and early 285 leaving Diocletian as undisputed emperor of the vast Roman Empire and ending the rule of the Illyrian Emperors (268 - 285).

Carinus - Dynasties of Roman Emperors - Illyrian Emperors (268 - 285)
The Illyrian Emperors (268 - 285). The "Illyrian emperors" is the name given to the Roman emperors who governed the Roman Empire between 268 and 282. Illyria was  a region in the western part of today's Balkan Peninsula. The people for Illyria were renown for their military prowess and they became an important source of manpower for the Roman army. Because of their military strength many of the emperors from this period came from Illyria.