"You have won, O Galilean!" ~ Who killed Julian the Apostate?

Gloria Romanorum ^ | June 26, 2018 | Florentius

[Antoninus]

Today is the anniversary of the death of one of the most fascinating but tragic characters of history ~ Julian the Apostate.

[Antoninus]

Church history ping.

[Red Badger]

He died of Apostate Cancer!............

[freedomlover]

He died of Apostate Cancer!............

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That’s it, young man - go to your room!

;)

[chajin]

Gore Vidal wrote a bionovel, appropriately entitled Julian (Wikipedia here). I remember reading it in my pre-committed-to-Christ days; it is probably as accurate as anything else Vidal wrote, IYKWIM.

[chajin]

He died of Apostate Cancer!

It's why the angels' prostates fall at the power of Jesus' name...

[hanamizu]

He is also known as Julian the Philosopher. I have one of his coins—has a bull on the reverse.

[Red Badger]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!........😂

[Antoninus]

Gore Vidal wrote a bionovel, appropriately entitled Julian

I read it too in my college days. Thought it was interesting then, but when I read the actual historical sources it is based on, I realized just how much Vidal had injected his own poisonous ideologies into it.

[Antoninus]

He is also known as Julian the Philosopher.

That is a more modern epithet. What is perhaps most interesting about Julian's reign is how he attempted to reform paganism to adopt certain aspects of Christianity which he felt were attractive to the common people. These included an emphasis on caring for the poor and a willingness of the pagan priesthood to die for their beliefs.

Neither of these reforms were especially popular among the remaining pagans of the Empire.

[Williams]

Hes considered a very noble figure except for his energetic persecution of christians.

[Antoninus]

Hes considered a very noble figure except for his energetic persecution of christians.

That's a fairly paradoxical statement.

I would argue that he was also a poor general given how his army was beaten by the Persians.

[Sans-Culotte]

I would argue that he was also a poor general given how his army was beaten by the Persians.

I have always thought of him as Julian the Mediocre.

[Claud]

Awesome piece.

Great tagline BTW!

[InABunkerUnderSF]

Killed by the Iranians.

[fidelis]

Thanks for posting. Probably too obscure for most people, but I LOVE ancient history. Writer Rod Bennnet also has a great chapter on the last of the pagan Roman Emperors, Julian the Apostate, in his great book, “The Apostasy that Wasn’t”.

[Verginius Rufus]

Julian did very well fighting the Germans in the West while he was "Caesar" and Constantius II was "Augustus."

Sulpicius Severus in his Life of Martin of Tours describes a confrontation between Martin and the Caesar Julian at the place now called Worms. Martin demands his discharge from the army. "Up till now I have fought for you; allow me now to fight for God...I am a soldier of Christ; I am not allowed to fight."

Julian, called a "tyrant," is furious and accuses Martin of cowardice. Martin offers to stand unarmed in front of the front lines in the next day's battle. Martin was kept in prison overnight to ensure that he would do as promised. Instead, the next day the enemy sends envoys to sue for peace.

[Antoninus]

Julian, called a "tyrant," is furious and accuses Martin of cowardice. Martin offers to stand unarmed in front of the front lines in the next day's battle. Martin was kept in prison overnight to ensure that he would do as promised. Instead, the next day the enemy sends envoys to sue for peace.

That's a fantastic story. I had heard it before, but was not aware that it was from Suplicius Severus. Cool.

[Verginius Rufus]

Sulpicius Severus was the first biographer of St. Martin—whom he knew personally. He doesn’t include an account of Martin’s death because he was writing while Martin was still alive. He is the source of the very famous story of Martin, while still a soldier, cutting his military cloak in half and giving half to a naked beggar.

[Antoninus]

Sulpicius Severus was the first biographer of St. Martin—whom he knew personally. He doesn’t include an account of Martin’s death because he was writing while Martin was still alive. He is the source of the very famous story of Martin, while still a soldier, cutting his military cloak in half and giving half to a naked beggar.

Indeed. I have always found it interesting that some of the greatest saints of that era (Augustine, Martin, Ambrose, Anthony, etc.) have bios written by contemporaries who were close to them personally. They are fascinating historical sources.