Facts about Julian the Apostate
- 11
Julian's pagan revival included a massive increase in animal sacrifices that depleted imperial treasuries, reportedly consuming thousands of cattle and sheep monthly across temples throughout the Roman Empire.
- 10
Julian's personal library contained thousands of Greek philosophical manuscripts that he transported between military postings and imperial residences during the 350s and 360s CE.
- 09
Julian's attempt to restore pagan sacrifice traditions included animal offerings at altars throughout the empire, reversing decades of Christian suppression of such religious practices.
- 08
Libanius, a prominent pagan orator and Julian's close friend, delivered a funeral oration praising the emperor's religious reforms and intellectual achievements shortly after his 363 CE death in Persia.
- 07
Three surviving orations by Julian showcase his intellectual sophistication and reveal his systematic critique of Christian theology and Roman religious decline during the 360s CE.
- 06
After renouncing Christianity in 351 CE, Julian spent years studying philosophy and Neoplatonic texts in Athens before his unexpected elevation to emperor a decade later.
- 05
Julian's writings included over 80 surviving letters and numerous philosophical treatises promoting Neoplatonism and traditional Greek religious practices throughout his 20-month reign.
- 04
At age 32, Julian died from a battle wound sustained during his 363 CE Persian campaign, ending his brief 20-month reign as the last pagan Roman emperor.
- 03
During his reign from 361 to 363 CE, Julian issued edicts revoking Christian tax exemptions and redirecting church endowments to pagan temples across the empire.
- 02
Emperor Julian served as a Roman military commander in Gaul from 355 to 361 CE before being proclaimed Augustus by his troops.
- 01
In 362 CE, Julian the Apostate attempted to rebuild the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem but the project mysteriously halted after earthquakes and fires.