Julian the Apostate
Roman Emperor Julian II (there was also an emperor
Didius Julianus). Ruled from 361 to 363 A.D. Is mainly notable as being the last
Pagan emperor of
Rome. All subsequent emperors were Christians. He was one of the two nephews of
Constantine I, who was not murdered by his son
Constantinus II (the other,
Gallus, was later executed for
corruption). He was given the rank of
Caesar in 355, and became
governor of
Gaul. He proved an able
administrator, and won the hearts of the people by winning decisive
victories against the
barbarians. Constantinus sought to decrease the growing power of Julian and his armies by removing his
troops and sending them to the east to fight the
Persians. Julian's troops rebelled, declaring him to be the true emperor. Constantinus was
moving his armies to meet those of Julian, but he died en-route, and Julian assumed
command of the
empire.
Julian was a
philosopher emperor who wrote his thoughts down, many of which
survive even today. He led the
neo-pagan movement which sought to return Rome to the old
gods of its
past. Though he found many followers in his lifetime,
Christianity was firmly entrenched by this time, and Julian simply didn't live long enough to bring about any
meaningful change. He was killed in 363 while fighting the
Persians, and
Jovian was named emperor after him.
See
Roman Emperors