Introduction
Roman Britain was no backwater: it was prosperous and civilised, and its people were critical of Rome’s bungled wars in the East and porous borders in Europe. In fact, her people felt ready to govern themselves, making Britannia a good place to start for would-be Emperors.
IN 286, Carausius was appointed to command the ‘Britannic Fleet’, patrolling the English Channel to keep Franks and Saxons from raiding Britain’s southern coasts. Rumour had it, however, that he let some raiders through so he could pocket their plunder for himself, and Emperor Maximian summoned him for a court martial.
Faced with likely execution, Carausius gambled. Since Rome already had two co-emperors, Maximian and Diocletian,* Carausius proclaimed himself their equal in London, naming himself ‘Restorer of Britain’ and ‘Spirit of Britain’ – not as if returning to Celtic barbarianism, but as if in Britain Rome was being reborn. “The Golden Ages return,” his imperial coinage proclaimed, quoting Rome’s national poet, Virgil, “a new generation is sent from heaven above.”*
For seven years not even Maximian could dislodge Carausius, but in 293 new Roman co-emperor Constantius stripped the rebel of his possessions in Gaul.* Support at home faltered, and Carausius was assassinated by his Treasurer, Allectus, who was defeated at Silchester three years later by Constantius.
That year, 286, the Emperor Diocletian had created Maximian his co-emperor with responsibility for the western provinces, so Diocletian could concentrate on battle-campaigns in the Balkans, Asia Minor and the east. Both had the rank of ‘Augustus’, though Diocletian was senior.
From Eclogue IV: ‘Redeunt Saturnia regna, / iam nova progenies caelo demittitur alto.’ Literally, ‘The reign of Saturn returns, now a new generation is sent down from high heaven’. The Age of Saturn was the Romans’ ‘Golden Age’ of innocence and equality, commemorated yearly in the Saturnalia of December, when certain social conventions and laws were temporarily suspended. The long line was fitted onto a coin by reducing it to ‘RSR INPCDA’, the first letter of each word in sequence.
In 293, Diocletian instituted the ‘Tetrarchy’, adding two additional and more junior ‘Caesars’, Galerius in Illyricum (the Balkans, including Greece) and Constantius Chlorus in Britain, Gaul and Spain. When Constantius died at York in 306, his son Constantine was proclaimed Emperor at his bedside, and after facing down his rivals became sole ruler in 324, until his death in 337.
Précis
Carasuius was a Roman army officer in command of a defensive fleet in the Channel, who (partly to avoid being court-martialled for corruption) proclaimed himself Emperor of Britain and parts of Gaul. Although Imperial Rome did not recognise his claim, he maintained it for seven years before being assassinated by his Treasurer, and three years later Rome regained control. (59 / 60 words)
Carasuius was a Roman army officer in command of a defensive fleet in the Channel, who (partly to avoid being court-martialled for corruption) proclaimed himself Emperor of Britain and parts of Gaul. Although Imperial Rome did not recognise his claim, he maintained it for seven years before being assassinated by his Treasurer, and three years later Rome regained control.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, if, must, or, otherwise, ought, whereas, whether.
Archive
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Channel. Equal. Gamble.
2 Execution. Falter. Support.
3 Even. Likely. Spirit.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
flr (8+1)
failure. flair. flare. flier. floor. flora. flour. fouler.
feeler.
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