The Emperor Julian

The Emperor Julian by Browning, Robert. paperback edition. ISBN: 9780520037311.

Flavius Claudius Julianus Augustus (331/2–6/26/363), aka Julian the Philosopher, was Roman Emperor (361-363) & a Greek author. A member of the Constantinian dynasty, he became Caesar over the western provinces by order of Constantius II in 355. He campaigned successfully against the Alamanni & Franks. Notable was his victory over the Alamanni in 357 at the Battle of Argentoratum despite being outnumbered. In 360 in Lutetia (Paris) he was acclaimed Augustus by his troops, sparking civil war with Constantius. Before the two could face off, however, Constantius died, after naming Julian as his successor. In 363, he began a campaign against the Sassanid Empire. Initially successful, he was wounded in battle & died shortly thereafter. A complex character, he was "the military commander, the theosophist, the social reformer & the man of letters". He was the last non-Xian ruler of the Empire. It was his desire to bring the Empire back to ancient Roman values in order to prevent its dissolution. He purged a top-heavy state bureaucracy & attempted to revive traditional religious practices. His rejection of Xianity in favor of Neoplatonic paganism caused him to be called Apostate by the church. He was the last emperor of the Constantinian dynasty, Romes 1st Xian dynasty.