The New Student's Reference Work/Julian

Jul′ian, called the Apostate, because of his giving up Christianity. Born at Constantinople in 331 and half-brother of, he became Roman emperor from 361 to 363 A. D. His boyhood was embittered by a terrible tragedy. He was bred a Christian, studied philosophy and literature, and at Athens embraced paganism. About 355 he showed himself a good soldier. He overthrew the Alamanni, conquered the Frankish tribes along the and made his winter-quarters at Paris. The people liked him because he lightened their burdens; the soldiers, because of his courage, success in war and simple private life. In 360 Emperor Constantine became alarmed at his popularity, and ordered him to send some of his best troops against the Persians. His soldiers rose and proclaimed him emperor. His cousin’s death opened the government of the world to Julian. He reformed the civil service, persecuted neither Christians nor Jews, but reopened the old temples and tried (with poor success) to bring back the old religion. In 363 he marched against Persia, but was wounded. An old writer asserts that he cried: “Thou hast conquered, O Galilean!” which, whether he said it or not, was the fact. He died June 26, 363. See G. H. Rendall’s The Emperor Julian; Ibsen’s Emperor and Galilean; and Gibbon’s Rome.