Julian

Known as Julian the Apostate, he was the last non-Christian Roman emperor. Raised as a Christian but secretly devoted to traditional Greco-Roman religion, he attempted to restore paganism and reform the empire during his brief reign. He died from a wound received during his ambitious invasion of Sassanid Persia.

Julian was the last serious challenge to Christianity's dominance in the Roman state. His brief reign and death during the Persian campaign ensured that his pagan revival died with him, and subsequent emperors were uniformly Christian. His intellectual legacy, preserved in his own voluminous writings, makes him one of the best-documented ancient rulers.

Key Events

355 AD Appointed Caesar by Constantius II; sent to govern Gaul

357 AD Decisive victory over the Alamanni at the Battle of Strasbourg

360 AD Proclaimed Augustus by his troops in Paris; marched east against Constantius

361 AD Became sole emperor after Constantius II's death; publicly declared his paganism

362 AD Issued edicts of tolerance while actively promoting pagan worship and restricting Christian teaching

363 AD Died from a lance wound during the Persian campaign near Ctesiphon

Coinage

Julian's coinage is distinctive for its pagan imagery, notably the bull (Apis) reverse types that proclaimed his religious programme. His bearded portrait, modelled on the philosopher-emperors of the second century, deliberately rejected the clean-shaven Constantinian style. His double-maiorina is a notable late Roman denomination.

Denominations

Solidus Siliqua Double Maiorina (AE1) Maiorina (AE3)

Notable Types

Bull (Apis) reverse types
SECVRITAS REIPVB types
Bearded 'philosopher' portrait types
VOT X MVLT XX types

Common Reverses

SECVRITAS REIPVB (bull) VOT X MVLT XX VIRTVS EXERCITVS ROMANORVM VICTORIA DD NN AVG

Active Mints

Rome Aquileia Siscia Sirmium Thessalonica Heraclea Constantinople Nicomedia Cyzicus Antioch Alexandria Arles (Arelate) Lyon (Lugdunum)

Key Events

Coinage

Further Reading