Top 10 Remarkable Facts about Julian

Top 10 Remarkable Facts about Julian

Julian in a solidus minted at Antioch. Photo by Wikimedia. Wikimedia

Julian’s full name was Flavius Claudius Julianus, and he was born in Constantinople. It was then the capital of the Roman Empire. He was born around 331in a family where the emperor reigned.

His father was Julius Constantius, who was well known as a politician in the Roman Empire. Julian also worked as a praetorian prefect and acted as the head of the government during the period when emperor Licinius reigned.

Julian was raised in Constantinople. Greek was his first language to learn. His mother died immediately after his birth.

Since he was the nephew of Rome’s first Christian emperor, he grew up under the Christian faith.

Below are the 10 remarkable facts about Julian since his birth in 331

1. He Converted from Christianity to Paganism

4th-century cameo of an emperor, probably Julian, performing a sacrifice. photo by Sailko. Wikimedia

Julian was brought up under the Christian faith and took active roles in the church as a youth. This was from childhood until the age of 20 years when he began his conversion.

Julian recorded that he spent twenty years of his life in Christianity and about twelve years in the way of truth which was the way of Helios.

Helios was the god and the personification of the sun and was mostly depicted in art with a radiant crown.

In 351, Julian began to pursue the study of philosophical and religious studies in minor Asia. His rejection caused him to be called Julian the Apostate.

2. He had a Zeal Against Christians

Julian the Apostate presiding at a conference of sectarians, by Edward Armitage, 1875. Wikimedia

The conversion of Julian from Christianity took many people by surprise. This is because he was brought up as a Christian, baptized, and ordained as a leader in the church.

He probably hated Christianity since a Christian emperor killed his family for political reasons.

Julian with the support of another educated class began to restore the pagan traditions and ordered the old temples rebuild and new temples built.

Christians hated Julian’s actions. He began to fire Christian teachers who opposed the legend taught in the pages of the pagan authors.

3. He Grew up in a Difficult Environment

Julian grew up in a very difficult environment which might have tested his nerves at a tender age. It was the reason why he converted and hated Christianity.

He grew up in a paranoid environment where he lived as a prisoner. For most of his life as a youth, he was locked away from people in Cappadocia under the watch of a Christian bishop who was his tutor.

His best friend then was a philosopher and a household slave who acted as a father figure during the period he was confined.

4. Julian Reigned as a Roman Emperor

19th-century depiction of Julian being proclaimed Emperor in Paris. standing on a shield in the Frankish manner, in February 360. By Félix Thorigny. Wikimedia

Since the emperor was running out of family members, he chose Julian’s brother Gallus and Julian as colleagues.

In his early years as Caesar, he was stationed in Gual and gained a lot of respect due to this performance. Julian took over as the emperor in Rome at the time when Constantius was about to die.

5. He Attacked Christians in his Writing

Julian wrote much writing where he directly attacked the Christians using the influential debating skills he had acquired in his education. In one of his major works refers to as Caesars, he attacks Jesus for preaching forgiveness.

In writing, referred to as “Against the Galileans” he attacks the Christian community claiming that it is superstitious and unrealistic.

6. Julian Reopen the Pagan Temples

The purpose of reopening the temple was to convict the people about their opinions and beliefs over time. He also thought that he would undermine the Christians by rebuilding the pagan temple.

Since it was not difficult for the bishops to depict the morals of Christians, Julian decided to build new pagan temples.

He was harsh to the bishops who did not behave well morally.  He urged them to begin charity work and provide for the poor just as the Christians did.

7. He was  Shoved in his Gut During the War

Coptic icon showing Saint Mercurius killing Julian. Photo sourced from Wikimedia

Julian was badly wounded during the war with the Persians. A spear was shoved in his gut and died in so much agony.

He died at an age of 32 years in 363. He bled and died saying that Jesus Christ had conquered.

Roamers claimed that he was assassinated by the Christians. This is because the emperor had done everything to ensure that Christians had no power.

8. He was the Last Pagan Emperor

Julian was the last pagan emperor to sit on the Roman throne. He remained silent about his religion until after Constantius’ Christian funeral where he announced publically his true faith.

As the reigning king, he went on to bring back the traditional worship and the pagan temples which involved the offering of animal sacrifices. He campaigned for paganism both through spoken language and written materials. 

9. Julian Won Major Battles

During his early campaigns, Julian led an army to the Rhine where he was able to restore many towns that had been taken by the Frankish.

Upon his success, he withdrew his forces to Gual and distributed them to protect the towns, and reserved the smaller towns to wait until the spring.

Julian also led the forces in the Battle of Argentoratum. They were outnumbered but were able to take the advantage of the terrain and came out victorious.

10. He Rejected his Predecessor’s Style of Administration

Julian rejected Constantine’s style of administration and blamed his predecessor for abandoning the traditions of the past.

He viewed the courts as being inefficient and corrupt and thus dismissed some of the employees involved in the previous administration.

He also set up tribunals to deal with the corruption cases of the former administration and put in place magister militum Arbitio as the supervisor.

Julian was a great leader from a young age though he was raised in a tough environment. He had such a great desire to end the Christian religion that he went on to publish material and campaign for paganism.

He was a brave leader he led forces out and regained towns that had been taken into the hand of other rulers yet he was so young.