Julian, along with his brother, Constantius Gallus, was one of the few members of the Constantinian dynasty to escape the massacre of 337 which killed their father. Julian was raised a Christian, but converted to worship of the old gods in early adulthood, through his exposure to neoplatonic philosophy. Julian became Caesar after the disgrace and execution of his brother Gallus in 354. He was reputedly a good soldier as well as a philosopher, and greatly admired by the soldier and historian Ammianus Marcelinus. In 360, Julian felt confident in his military support to take on Constantius II. He was raised as Augustus by his troops and marched to meet Constantinus, but the latter died before the civil war could happen, leaving Julian as sole emperor. As sole emperor, Julian attempted to reverse the Christianisation of the Empire. As a practised soldier, he was an emperor who led his troops into battle. Having led troops against the Sasanians in 363, Julian was injured by a spear and died of the wounds he sustained some time later.

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