Theres
April 9th, 2002, 03:32 PM
Julian II was Emperor of Rome from 360-363 CE.
he is perhaps most well known for trying to bring Paganism back to Rome after his father Constantine the Great had made Christianity the official religion of Rome in an edict dated 313.
Julian was born in Constantinople, the Eastern capitol in 332. as a young man he was imprisoned by his uncle Constantius II at the time of Gallus' execution in 354. however, he regained Imperial favor by marrying Constantius' sister Helen in 355. this was a good career move, as Julian was named Caesar later that year.
however, while serving as Governor of Spain Constantius ordered him to provide troops and supplies for the Emperor's war against the Persians in the East. Julian refused, was proclaimed Emperor by his own troops, and a rebellion ensued. when Constantius died in Cilicia on route to meet him in battle, Julian became Augustus and the unchallenged Emperor of both the Eastern and Western Empires (360).
now Constantius was a Christian, and in 357 he had ordered the Pagan altar and the statue of the Goddess Nike removed from the Senate in Rome. but Julian, who favored the old Pagan ways, had never embraced the new religion, and one of his first deeds upon becoming Emperor was to have these artifacts restored.
unfortunately, his reign was not long lived. he died in battle against the Persians in 363.
but the altar and Nike statue remained in the Senate until they were again removed by Gratian in 382. there was a Pagan insurrection ten years later, when they were brought back once again, only to be removed for good in 394. the Roman Empire became The Holy Roman Empire, which evolved into the Byzantine Empire shortly after the sack of Rome by Barbarians in the following century.
Julian was a prolific writer, earning him the title 'Julian the Philosopher'. much of his writings are still extant. however, due to his Pagan beliefs, history now knows him better by the title 'Julian the Apostate'.
so all of this got me to thinking about how completely different the world we now live in would be if Julian had ruled for, say, twenty years instead of three. would the 'old ways' have regained a stronger foothold? would Paganism be more accepted now?
Christianity was already well on its way to becoming a popular religion by then, but would it have become the dominant religion of the western world?
much of our modern world was formed by the influence of the Roman Empire. but i'm wondering how you guys think things might differ today if Julian hadn't been killed in 363?
he is perhaps most well known for trying to bring Paganism back to Rome after his father Constantine the Great had made Christianity the official religion of Rome in an edict dated 313.
Julian was born in Constantinople, the Eastern capitol in 332. as a young man he was imprisoned by his uncle Constantius II at the time of Gallus' execution in 354. however, he regained Imperial favor by marrying Constantius' sister Helen in 355. this was a good career move, as Julian was named Caesar later that year.
however, while serving as Governor of Spain Constantius ordered him to provide troops and supplies for the Emperor's war against the Persians in the East. Julian refused, was proclaimed Emperor by his own troops, and a rebellion ensued. when Constantius died in Cilicia on route to meet him in battle, Julian became Augustus and the unchallenged Emperor of both the Eastern and Western Empires (360).
now Constantius was a Christian, and in 357 he had ordered the Pagan altar and the statue of the Goddess Nike removed from the Senate in Rome. but Julian, who favored the old Pagan ways, had never embraced the new religion, and one of his first deeds upon becoming Emperor was to have these artifacts restored.
unfortunately, his reign was not long lived. he died in battle against the Persians in 363.
but the altar and Nike statue remained in the Senate until they were again removed by Gratian in 382. there was a Pagan insurrection ten years later, when they were brought back once again, only to be removed for good in 394. the Roman Empire became The Holy Roman Empire, which evolved into the Byzantine Empire shortly after the sack of Rome by Barbarians in the following century.
Julian was a prolific writer, earning him the title 'Julian the Philosopher'. much of his writings are still extant. however, due to his Pagan beliefs, history now knows him better by the title 'Julian the Apostate'.
so all of this got me to thinking about how completely different the world we now live in would be if Julian had ruled for, say, twenty years instead of three. would the 'old ways' have regained a stronger foothold? would Paganism be more accepted now?
Christianity was already well on its way to becoming a popular religion by then, but would it have become the dominant religion of the western world?
much of our modern world was formed by the influence of the Roman Empire. but i'm wondering how you guys think things might differ today if Julian hadn't been killed in 363?