Julian, Volume I: Orations 1-5 (Loeb Classical Library 13)

The emperor who renounced Christianity. Julian (Flavius Claudius Iulianus) “the Apostate,” Roman Emperor, lived AD 331 or 332 to 363.Born and educated in Constantinople as a Christian, after a precarious childhood he devoted himself to literature and philosophy and became a pagan, studying in various Greek cities.In 355 his cousin Emperor Constantius called him from Athens to the court at Milan, entitled him “Caesar,” and made him governor of Gaul.Julian restored Gaul to prosperity and good government after the ravages of the Alamanni (he overthrew them at the battle of Strassburg in 357) and other Germans.Between 357 and 361 Julian’s own soldiers, refusing to serve in the East at Constantius’ orders, nearly involved Julian in war with Constantius-who, however, died in 361, making Julian sole Emperor of the Roman world.He began many reforms and proclaimed universal toleration in religion but pressed for the restoration of the older pagan worships.In 362-363 he prepared at Constantinopl