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'Marcus Aurelius Carinus' (d. 285) was Roman Emperor (283 – July, 285) and elder son of the Emperor Carus, on whose accession he was appointed governor of the western portion of the empire.
He fought with success against the Quadi tribes, but soon left the defence of the Upper Rhine to his legates and returned to Rome, where he abandoned himself to all kinds of debauchery and excess. He also celebrated the ''ludi Romani'' on a scale of unexampled magnificence.
After the death of Carus, the army in the East demanded to be led back to Europe, and Numerian, the younger son of Carus, was forced to comply. During a halt at Chalcedon, Numerian was found dead, and Diocletian, commander of the body-guards, who had claimed that Numerian had been assassinated, was proclaimed emperor by the soldiers.
Carinus at once left Rome and set out for the East to meet Diocletian. On his way through Pannonia he put down the usurper Sabinus Iulianus, and encountered the army of Diocletian in Moesia.
Carinus was successful in several engagements, and at the Battle of the Margus River (Morava), according to one account, the valour of his troops had gained the day, when he was assassinated by a tribune whose wife he had seduced. In another account, the battle is represented as having resulted in a complete victory for Diocletian, for Carinus' army deserted him: this second account is also confirmed by the fact that Diocletian kept Carinus' Praetorian Guard commander in service.
Carinus has the reputation of having been one of the worst of the emperors. This fame was possibly supported by Diocletian himself. For example, ''Historia Augusta'' has Carinus marrying nine wives, while forgeting to mention his only real wife, Magnia Urbica.

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References

★ Leadbetter, William, "Carinus (283-285 A.D.)", ''DIR''

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