Julian
or
Julian the Apostate Latin
Julianus Apostata orig.
Flavius Claudius Julianus
Julian the Apostate, detail of a marble statue; in the Louvre, Paris
(credit: Giraudon/Art Resource, New York)
(born
AD 331/332, Constantinople—died June 26/27, 363, Ctesiphon, Mesopotamia) Roman emperor (361–363), noted scholar and military leader. The nephew of
Constantine I, he was raised a Christian but converted to mystical paganism. As caesar (subemperor) in the west, he restored the Rhine frontier and was proclaimed Augustus (senior emperor) by his armies. Though Constantius II initially objected to Julian as his successor, he accepted him on his deathbed (361). As emperor Julian proclaimed freedom of worship for pagans and Christians in 361; he nevertheless promoted paganism over Christianity, against which he committed acts of violence and persecution. He introduced austerity to government, reducing imperial staff and overhauling imperial finances. To reassert Roman power in the east he attacked Persia; the effort failed, and he was killed in a retreat near Baghdad.
Julian known as Julian the Apostate; Latin name Flavius Claudius Julianus. 331--363 ad, Roman emperor (361--363), who attempted to revive paganism in the Roman empire while remaining tolerant to Christians and Jews
)