Julian the Apostate

:For other meanings of Julian, see Julian (disambiguation).

Rise to power

After his brother Constantius Gallus was made Caesar of the east (351) and executed (354) by Constantius II, Julian was called to the emperor in Mediolanum (Milan), in 355, made Caesar of the west and married to Constantius' sister Helena. In the years afterward he fought the Germanic tribes that tried to intrude upon the Roman Empire. He won back Colonia Agrippina (Cologne) in 356, defeated the Alamanni at Argentoratum (battle of Strasbourg) and secured the Rhine frontier for some 50 years. In 360 Constantius ordered Julian to send Gallic troops to his eastern army. This provoked an insurrection that led his troops to proclaim Julian emperor, and to a very swift miltary campaign to secure or win the allegiance of others. Civil war was avoided only by the death of Constantius II, who in his will recognized Julian as his rightful successor.

Related Topics:
Constantius Gallus - 351 - 354 - Milan - 355 - Germanic tribes - Roman Empire - Cologne - 356 - Alamanni - Battle of Strasbourg - Rhine - 360

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