A Companion to Julian the Apostate
Series: - Brill's Companions to the Byzantine World, Volume: 5
Few Roman emperors enjoy such fame as Flavius Claudius Iulianus – although he was sole ruler of the Roman Empire for only eighteen months (361-363). Since his early death he has been known as Julian the Apostate – the nephew of Constantine the Great who in vain tried to reverse the transformation of the Imperium Romanum into a Christian Empire. This companion synthesizes research on Julian conducted in many languages over the last decades and develops new perspectives. The authors scrutinize the voluminous and variegated sources for Julian's life and rule and reflect on the perceptions of modern research. Since Julian is the subject of scholarly discussion in various fields, this companion offers an interdisciplinary dialogue in which experts from many countries participate.
Contributors are Bruno Bleckmann, Scott Bradbury, Peter Heather, Arnaldo Marcone, Neil McLynn, Heinz-Günther Nesselrath, Stefan Rebenich, Christoph Riedweg, Sebastian Schmidt-Hofner, Peter van Nuffelen, Konrad Vössing, Hans-Ulrich Wiemer.
Contributors are Bruno Bleckmann, Scott Bradbury, Peter Heather, Arnaldo Marcone, Neil McLynn, Heinz-Günther Nesselrath, Stefan Rebenich, Christoph Riedweg, Sebastian Schmidt-Hofner, Peter van Nuffelen, Konrad Vössing, Hans-Ulrich Wiemer.
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Stefan Rebenich holds the Chair of Ancient History and the Classical Tradition at the University of Bern (Switzerland). He has published widely in the field of late antiquity and the history of historiography, including Jerome (London: Routledge, 2002), and Theodor Mommsen. Eine Biographie (2nd ed, C.H. Beck 2007). Recently, he has edited a volume on Monarchische Herrschaft im Altertum (W. de Gruyter, 2017).
Hans-Ulrich Wiemer holds the chair of Ancient History at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (Germany). He has published monographs and many articles on Alexander the Great, Hellenistic history and historiography, on Late Roman history and on the history of the Goths, including Libanios und Julian. Studien zum Verhältnis von Rhetorik und Politik (C.H. Beck, 1995) and Theoderich der Große. König der Goten, Herrscher der Römer(C.H. Beck, 2018).
Hans-Ulrich Wiemer holds the chair of Ancient History at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (Germany). He has published monographs and many articles on Alexander the Great, Hellenistic history and historiography, on Late Roman history and on the history of the Goths, including Libanios und Julian. Studien zum Verhältnis von Rhetorik und Politik (C.H. Beck, 1995) and Theoderich der Große. König der Goten, Herrscher der Römer(C.H. Beck, 2018).
"There is much to admire and be inspired by in the volume. [...] there are excellent discussions in the volume, and it is evident that debates about the interpretation of Julian and his actions will continue". Shaun Tougher, in The Byzantine Review, 2020.
"The Companion to Julian the Apostate is to be commended for its range of coverage, which mirrors the diverse disciplinary interests in Julian.[...] The Companion thus fills a gap. To my knowledge there is no other single resource on Julian that can serve as a gateway into the many sub-specialties that examine his life, writings, and legacy.[...] The Companion to Julian the Apostate will be a useful tool for anyone wishing to survey any number of topics about Julian or to join the interpretive fray themselves". Brad Boswell, in Bryn Mawr Classical Review (February 2021).
[...] "the volume is a success. The individual chapters are well written, nicely judged and provide very good introductions to the subjects that they discuss. The authors are very fair and restrained in their treatment of controversial issues and generally avoid inflicting their own pet theories on the reader.[...] The publication of this volume is extremely welcome because it serves as a very good introduction to the actions and writings of Julian as both Caesar and Augustus". David Woods, in The Classical Review .
"Angesichts des nach wie vor großen wissenschaftlichen Interesses an Julian gehört dieser Sammelband in jede größere althistorische Bibliothek; [...] Die in den insgesamt dreizehn Aufsätzen behandelten Themen eignen sich gut – teilweise vorzüglich – zur Einarbeitung in die hier aufbereiteten Fragestellungen". Ulrich Lambrecht in Plekos
"Alle Beiträge sind sehr solide, ausgezeichnet dokumentiert, was Quellen und Literatur angeht, zeichnen ein klares Bild von der gegenwärtigen wissenschaftlichen Diskussion und nehmen deutliche Standpunkte ein.Aber auch neue Impulse und eigene Interpretationen, meist zu Detailaspekten, fehlen nicht. Insbesondere verdient positiv hervorgehoben zu werden, dass sich alle Beiträger der problematischen Quellenlage zu Julian bewusst sind, und methodischen Fragen im Umgang mit den Quellen der gebührende Platz eingeräumt wird. Ausgesprochen nützlich sind die thematische Bibliographie am Ende des Bandes (ergänzt durch die Bibliographien der Einzelbeiträge) und die Darstellung der Quellen, Übersetzungen und Hilfsmittel zu Julian am Schluss der Einleitung. All dies macht diesen „Companion“ zum idealen Anlaufpunkt für alle, die sich über den Stand der historischen Forschung zu Julian informieren wollen". Stefan Schorn, in Neue Historische Literatur, 312 (2022).
"The Companion to Julian the Apostate is to be commended for its range of coverage, which mirrors the diverse disciplinary interests in Julian.[...] The Companion thus fills a gap. To my knowledge there is no other single resource on Julian that can serve as a gateway into the many sub-specialties that examine his life, writings, and legacy.[...] The Companion to Julian the Apostate will be a useful tool for anyone wishing to survey any number of topics about Julian or to join the interpretive fray themselves". Brad Boswell, in Bryn Mawr Classical Review (February 2021).
[...] "the volume is a success. The individual chapters are well written, nicely judged and provide very good introductions to the subjects that they discuss. The authors are very fair and restrained in their treatment of controversial issues and generally avoid inflicting their own pet theories on the reader.[...] The publication of this volume is extremely welcome because it serves as a very good introduction to the actions and writings of Julian as both Caesar and Augustus". David Woods, in The Classical Review .
"Angesichts des nach wie vor großen wissenschaftlichen Interesses an Julian gehört dieser Sammelband in jede größere althistorische Bibliothek; [...] Die in den insgesamt dreizehn Aufsätzen behandelten Themen eignen sich gut – teilweise vorzüglich – zur Einarbeitung in die hier aufbereiteten Fragestellungen". Ulrich Lambrecht in Plekos
"Alle Beiträge sind sehr solide, ausgezeichnet dokumentiert, was Quellen und Literatur angeht, zeichnen ein klares Bild von der gegenwärtigen wissenschaftlichen Diskussion und nehmen deutliche Standpunkte ein.Aber auch neue Impulse und eigene Interpretationen, meist zu Detailaspekten, fehlen nicht. Insbesondere verdient positiv hervorgehoben zu werden, dass sich alle Beiträger der problematischen Quellenlage zu Julian bewusst sind, und methodischen Fragen im Umgang mit den Quellen der gebührende Platz eingeräumt wird. Ausgesprochen nützlich sind die thematische Bibliographie am Ende des Bandes (ergänzt durch die Bibliographien der Einzelbeiträge) und die Darstellung der Quellen, Übersetzungen und Hilfsmittel zu Julian am Schluss der Einleitung. All dies macht diesen „Companion“ zum idealen Anlaufpunkt für alle, die sich über den Stand der historischen Forschung zu Julian informieren wollen". Stefan Schorn, in Neue Historische Literatur, 312 (2022).
Contents
Preface and Acknowledgments
List of Illustrations
Abbreviations
Contributors
Introduction
1 Introduction: Approaching Julian
Stefan Rebenich and Hans-Ulrich Wiemer
2 Julian’s Philosophical Writings
Heinz-Günther Nesselrath
3 The Gallic Wars of Julian Caesar
Peter J. Heather
4 From Caesar to Augustus: Julian against Constantius
Bruno Bleckmann
5 Reform, Routine, and Propaganda: Julian the Lawgiver
Sebastian Schmidt-Hofner
6 The Value of a Good Education: The School Law in Context
Konrad Vössing
7 Revival and Reform: The Religious Policy of Julian
Hans-Ulrich Wiemer
8 Anti-Christian Polemics and Pagan Onto-Theology: Julian’s Against the Galilaeans
Christoph Riedweg
9 Julian and the Jews
Scott Bradbury
10 The Persian Expedition
Neil McLynn
11 Pagan Reactions to Julian
Arnaldo Marcone
12 The Christian Reception of Julian
Peter van Nuffelen
13 Julian’s Afterlife. The Reception of a Roman Emperor
Stefan Rebenich
Bibliography
Index
Preface and Acknowledgments
List of Illustrations
Abbreviations
Contributors
Introduction
1 Introduction: Approaching Julian
Stefan Rebenich and Hans-Ulrich Wiemer
2 Julian’s Philosophical Writings
Heinz-Günther Nesselrath
3 The Gallic Wars of Julian Caesar
Peter J. Heather
4 From Caesar to Augustus: Julian against Constantius
Bruno Bleckmann
5 Reform, Routine, and Propaganda: Julian the Lawgiver
Sebastian Schmidt-Hofner
6 The Value of a Good Education: The School Law in Context
Konrad Vössing
7 Revival and Reform: The Religious Policy of Julian
Hans-Ulrich Wiemer
8 Anti-Christian Polemics and Pagan Onto-Theology: Julian’s Against the Galilaeans
Christoph Riedweg
9 Julian and the Jews
Scott Bradbury
10 The Persian Expedition
Neil McLynn
11 Pagan Reactions to Julian
Arnaldo Marcone
12 The Christian Reception of Julian
Peter van Nuffelen
13 Julian’s Afterlife. The Reception of a Roman Emperor
Stefan Rebenich
Bibliography
Index
All interested in the later Roman empire, early Christianity, late antiquity, and the historiography of these areas, both specialists and students.