Allectus

Allectus (d. 296) was a Roman emperor in Britain (293 - 296).

Allectus was the treasurer of Carausius. When Carausius lost control of northern Gaul and its crucial port of Boulogne, Allectus assassinated him and took control. (Geoffrey of Monmouth adds in his semi-legendary medieval history that as soon as Allectus assumed the kingship of Britain, he massacred hundreds of supporters of Carausius for breaking their allegiance to Rome.) However, Allectus proved unable to prevent the invasion of Constantius I, who launched a two-pronged attack on Britain in 296. Although at least part of the first invasion force under Constantius seems to have been turned back by storms, the second force under the praetorian prefect Asclepiodotus successfully landed and marched toward London. Allectus confronted him at Farnham (in Surrey), but was defeated and killed in battle.

Preceded by: Carausius

Mythical British Kings

Followed by: Asclepiodotus