I
or Julian the Apostate Latin Julianus Apostata orig. Flavius Claudius Julianus
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 the Apostate, detail of a marble statue; in the Louvre, Paris
Giraudon/Art Resource, New York
II
[c mediumvioletred] (as used in expressions)
Bond Horace Julian
Green Julian Hartridge
Huxley Sir Julian Sorell
Julian Alps
Julian of Norwich
{{link=Julian George Washington">Julian George Washington
Schnabel Julian
Weill Kurt Julian
Julian the Apostate