Numerian (-284) was the son of Emperor Carus and older brother to Carinus; who he would be joint emperor with in later life. Carus immediately elevated both Carinus and Numerian to Caesars after his ascension to the throne; taking Numerian east with him to wage war against the Sassanid Empire while Carinus was left in charge of the West.

Carus soon died after becoming emperor; making Numerian and Carinus the new emperors. While Carinus rushed back to Rome; Numerian lingered in the East; returning at a leisurely and ordered pace; unworried by the Persians due to their own internal issues. However; disaster struck on the way back.

While travelling through Asia Minor; Numerian began suffering from an inflammation of the eyes and had to travel by closed coach. Somewhere near Bithynia; Numerian's soldiers began smelling an odd odour coming from the coach; like that of a decaying corpse. They opened the coach's curtains to find Numerian dead within.