ABSTRACT
THE LITERARY SOURCES GIVE A reasonably coherent story of events at the start of the reign of Carausius though they are partial in every sense. They are also very informative about events relating to the siege and fall of Boulogne and, to a lesser extent, those surrounding the fall of Allectus. They give only a superficial account of the revolt itself and the reasons for that revolt. There is no account of the manner in which Britain fell to the usurper, of why a part of the army on the Continent joined his cause. We are told nothing of his administration of Britain, of the reasons for his overthrow or the reign of his successor except that it was claimed to be oppressive by the panegyricist. But, as the lady said on another occasion, ‘He would, wouldn’t he?’
