Page "Diocletian" Paragraph 20

Maximian's campaigns were not proceeding as smoothly.

The Bagaudae had been easily suppressed, but Carausius, the man he had put in charge of operations against Saxon and Frankish pirates on the Saxon Shore, had begun keeping the goods seized from the pirates for himself.

Maximian issued a death-warrant for his larcenous subordinate.

Carausius fled the Continent, proclaimed himself Augustus, and spurred Britain and northwestern Gaul into open revolt against Maximian and Diocletian.

Spurred by the crisis, on 1 April 286, Maximian took up the title of Augustus.

Maximian's appointment is unusual in that it was impossible for Diocletian to have been present to witness the event.

It has even been suggested that Maximian usurped the title, and was only later recognized by Diocletian in hopes of avoiding civil war.

This suggestion is unpopular, as it is clear that Diocletian meant for Maximian to act with a certain amount of independence.