Numerian

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Portrait head of a Roman man (Boston MFA 58.1005) 02

Vexilloid of the Roman Empire

Vexilloid of the Roman Empire

Numerian (Latin: Marcus Aurelius Numerius Numerianus Augustus; c. 253 – November 284) was Roman Emperor from 283 to 284, succeeding his father Carus, who had begun a short-lived but significant campaign against the Sasanian Empire. Numerian's reign is mostly noted for its conclusion, which was marked by his mysterious death and the subsequent rise to power of Diocletian, one of his father's Carian officers, who would go on to implement significant reforms in the crumbling Roman Empire.

Early Life

Numerian was born around 253, the younger son of Carus, who was an esteemed officer in the Roman army and would later ascend to the throne as Emperor. Little is known about Numerian's early life prior to his father's accession to the throne in 282. Upon Carus' accession, Numerian was elevated to the rank of Caesar and later, after the death of his brother Carinus in 283, he was promoted to Augustus, making him a co-emperor alongside his father.

Reign

Numerian's reign was largely overshadowed by his father's military campaigns. In 283, Carus launched a campaign against the Sasanian Empire, achieving significant victories and advancing deep into enemy territory. However, Carus' sudden death in 283, under mysterious circumstances, left Numerian and his brother Carinus as the new leaders of the empire. While Carinus remained in the Western provinces, Numerian accompanied the army in the East.

The details of Numerian's reign in the East are scarce, but it is known that he was faced with the difficult task of managing the army and continuing his father's campaign. His reign was cut short in 284 when he was found dead in his litter while the army was returning from the Persian front. The official cause of death was reported as a disease that affected his eyes, but suspicions of foul play arose, particularly directed towards Arrius Aper, the Praetorian Prefect and Numerian's father-in-law.

Death and Succession

Numerian's death led to a crisis of succession. The army declared Diocletian, a commander of the bodyguard, as emperor after Diocletian claimed he had discovered Numerian's death and accused Arrius Aper of murder, executing him. Diocletian's rise to power marked the end of the Crisis of the Third Century, a tumultuous period of civil war, economic instability, and external threats that had plagued the Roman Empire for nearly fifty years.

Legacy

Numerian's short and relatively uneventful reign is often overshadowed by the subsequent reforms of Diocletian, who would go on to restructure the Roman government, economy, and military, laying the foundations for the later establishment of the Tetrarchy. Nevertheless, Numerian's reign represents a critical juncture in Roman history, bridging the gap between the chaotic third century and the stabilizing reforms of the late Empire.