Julian the Apostate
Julian the Apostate, a Roman Emperor who ruled from 361 to 363 CE, is known for his significant attempts to revive paganism in a time when Christianity was gaining dominance in the Roman Empire. Born into a prominent Christian family as the nephew of Constantine the Great, Julian experienced a shift towards Hellenistic beliefs during his education, which included Neoplatonism. After a successful military career marked by victories against the Allemanni and Franks, Julian ascended to the throne following the death of his cousin, Constantius II.
Julian's reign was marked by a series of actions aimed at diminishing the influence of Christianity. He sought to detach the religion from its Greco-Roman roots by prohibiting Christians from teaching classical literature and aimed to challenge its theological supremacy over Judaism through initiatives like the proposed rebuilding of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. He also established a network of pagan priests to create a structured alternative to the Christian clergy. Although his efforts ultimately did not succeed in curbing the rise of Christianity, Julian's legacy endured among Late Antique pagans, who viewed him as a symbol of resistance against Christian hegemony.
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Julian the Apostate
Related civilization: Imperial Rome
Major role/position: Roman emperor
Life
Julian was a nephew of Constantine the Great. Raised as a Christian, he had early inclinations toward Hellenic religion (paganism). His education introduced him to Neoplatonism. He was made Caesar by his cousin Constantius II in 355 c.e. As Caesar, Julian carried out successful campaigns against the Allemanni and Franks in Gaul. He was proclaimed emperor (Augustus) by his troops about 359 c.e. at Paris. When Constantius died en route to offer battle against Julian’s forces, Julian attained the throne in 361 c.e. In 362 c.e., Julian advanced east against the Persians. After limited success, he was mortally wounded in a skirmish early in 363 c.e.
Julian’s reign was characterized by his efforts to stem the growth of Christianity. He attempted to sever Christianity from its Greco-Roman intellectual heritage by prohibiting Christians from teaching the “pagan” classics, and he attempted to undermine Christianity’s claims to supercede Judaism by trying to rebuild the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. Julian also created a hierarchical empire-wide network of pagan priests to rival the well-organized Christian system. Among Julian’s writings are fragments of his anti-Christian polemic Against the Galileans (translation 1913), and two prose hymns, which espouse a Neoplatonic view of the traditional gods as offspring and agents of the Supreme One or Good.
Influence
Although Julian’s efforts to restrict Christianity failed, he remained an inspiration to Late Antique pagans, who dated their calendar from his reign.
Bibliography
Bowersock, G. Julian the Apostate. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1978.
Smith, R. Julian’s Gods. New York: Routledge, 1995.