This article examines the public image of the emperor Carausius, a Roman army officer who claimed authority over Britain and parts of Gaul between 286 and 293, in opposition to Diocletian and his Tetrarchic colleagues. Carausius’ coinage celebrated his fleet, his naval prowess, and his divine support from Neptune and Oceanus. These designs were created as part of a strategy to refashion Carausius’ humble background as a sailor into a statement of imperial suitability. However, Carausius’ claims were undermined by the orators who delivered speeches in praise of his Tetrarchic rivals, Maximian and Constantius, in the years 289, 291, and 297. Their panegyrics subverted Carausius’ naval experience and claim to control the Ocean, instead portraying him as a pirate, brigand, and threat to the people of Gaul. After the reconquest of Britain, the medallions and monuments of the Tetrarchic regime commemorated their own naval success and control over the Ocean, suppressing the claims of Carausius. The propaganda campaign against Carausius was driven by the fact that he was an emperor of undistinguished origin, who had risen up through the ranks of the army, just like the Tetrarchs themselves. The emperors wished to distance themselves from their former colleague in order to discourage further rebellion from within the officer corps.

中文翻译：

---

Carausius 和他的兄弟们：公元三世纪晚期帝国形象的建构与解构

本文检视皇帝 Carausius 的公众形象，他是一名罗马军官，他在 286 年至 293 年间声称对不列颠和高卢部分地区拥有权威，反对戴克里先和他的四国同僚。Carausius 的硬币庆祝了他的舰队、他的海军实力以及他来自海王星和大洋星的神圣支持。这些设计的创建是为了将 Carausius 作为一名水手的卑微背景重新塑造成帝国适宜性声明的一部分。然而，在 289 年、291 年和 297 年发表演讲赞美他的四国对手马克西米安和君士坦提乌斯的演说家破坏了 Carausius 的主张。他们的赞美诗颠覆了 Carausius 的海军经验并声称控制了海洋，而是描绘他是海盗、强盗和对高卢人民的威胁。重新征服英国后，Tetrarchic 政权的纪念章和纪念碑是为了纪念他们自己的海军成功和对海洋的控制，压制了 Carausius 的主张。反对卡劳修斯的宣传活动是因为他是一位出身不凡的皇帝，他是从军队中崛起的，就像领主们自己一样。皇帝希望与他们的前同事保持距离，以阻止军官团内部进一步的叛乱。