Page "Diocletian" Paragraph 11

Despite having the stronger army, Carinus held the weaker position.

His rule was unpopular, and it was later alleged that he had mistreated the Senate and seduced his officers ' wives.

It is possible that Flavius Constantius, the governor of Dalmatia and Diocletian's associate in the household guard, had already defected to Diocletian in the early spring.

When the Battle of the Margus began, Carinus ' prefect Aristobulus also defected.

In the course of the battle, Carinus was killed by his own men.

Following Diocletian's victory, both the western and the eastern armies acclaimed him Augustus.

Diocletian exacted an oath of allegiance from the defeated army and departed for Italy.