The Last Pagan Emperor

This book is testimony to the enduring fascination with the figure of the last pagan Roman Emperor Julian, better known as Julian the Apostate, for his conversion from Christianity to paganism and his desire to restore paganism following the “revolution” of his uncle Constantine the Great (306–337), the first Christian Roman emperor. Despite reigning for only a short period (sole Augustus from 361–363, though he was Caesar to his cousin Constantius II from 355), Julian dominates both ancient and modern literature on this watershed period of Roman and world history. Famously, Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus made Julian the central character of his history despite his brief tenure of power. It is not without significance that H. C. Teitler is known for his participation in the Dutch commentary project on the history of Ammianus; one has the sense that Teitler admires Julian as Ammianus did, but that he also admires Ammianus.

Ancient history · Art · Character (mathematics) · Christianity · Early Christianity · Emperor · History of Christianity · Literature · Paganism · Period (music) · Roman Empire · Roman history · Theology · Biblical Studies and Interpretation · Classics · Historical and Religious Studies of Rome · Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies · History · Philosophy