Carus was Probus's Praetorian Prefect. He was declared emperor by the assassins of Probus. Unlike the past few emperors Carus was educated in Rome and was also a senator. He rejoiced in his nobler past and compared himself to past emperors. He marched into the capital of Persia with ought a struggle and was poised to go beyond when an unexpected event occurred. Apparently, he died of natural causes during a freak thunderstorm. The tent where he slept was also accidentally set ablaze which gave way to the rumor that he had been hit by lighting. Although he already groomed his two sons to be his successors, the superstitious legions refused to continue with their Persian campaign.