or Julian the Apostate Latin Julianus Apostata orig. Flavius Claudius Julianus born AD 331/332, Constantinople died June 26/27, 363, Ctesiphon, Mesopotamia Roman emperor (361-363), noted scholar and military leader. The nephew of Constantine I, he was raised a Christian but converted to mystical paganism. As caesar (subemperor) in the west, he restored the Rhine frontier and was proclaimed Augustus (senior emperor) by his armies. Though Constantius II initially objected to Julian as his successor, he accepted him on his deathbed (361). As emperor Julian proclaimed freedom of worship for pagans and Christians in 361; he nevertheless promoted paganism over Christianity, against which he committed acts of violence and persecution. He introduced austerity to government, reducing imperial staff and overhauling imperial finances. To reassert Roman power in the east he attacked Persia; the effort failed, and he was killed in a retreat near Baghdad. adj. Julian Edwin Adderley Bond Horace Julian Green Julian Hartridge Huxley Sir Julian Sorell Julian Alps Julian of Norwich Julian George Washington Schnabel Julian Weill Kurt Julian Julian the Apostate