M. Moravius Piscinus cultoribus Deorum et omnibus salutem plurimam
dicit: Diis bene iuvantibus sitis
Hodie est ante diem VI Kalendas Quintilias; haec dies comitialis est:
Ludi Tauri Quinquwnnales.
The second day of the Ludi Tauri celebrated with horse races in the
Circus Flaminius.
AUC 585 / 168 BCE: News of the Victory at Pydna reaches Rome
"The heralds of victory travelled to Rome with the utmost possible
speed, but on their arrival they found that the rejoicings over it
had forestalled them. Four days after the battle, while the Games
were going on in the Campus Martius, a whispered rumour suddenly
spread amongst the whole concourse of spectators to the effect that a
battle had taken place in Macedonia resulting in the utter defeat of
the king. Then the rumour grew louder until at last cheers and
applause arose as though definite tidings of victory had been brought
to them. The magistrates were taken by surprise and enquired who had
started this sudden outburst of joy. As no one could be found the
excitement produced by what they had taken for a certainty calmed
down, but still they were convinced that it was a happy omen, which
was subsequently verified by the arrival of the authentic messengers.
They were delighted quite as much at their prognostications proving
true as at the victory itself. A second outburst amongst the crowd in
the Circus is recorded." ~ Titus Livius 45.1
AUC974 / 221 CE: Elagabalus adopts Severus Alexander.
"On the sixth day before the calends of July, because noster dominus
Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander was acclaimed Caesar and assumed
the toga virilis, to the Genius of Alexander Augustus a bull." ~
Fasti Dura Europa
AUC 1116 / 363 CE: Death of Julian the Blessed at Maranga
"To our dominus Flavius Claudius Julianus, devout, blessed, powerful
in every kind of virtue, invincible leader, restorer of freedom and
of the religio Romanaa nd conqueror of the world." ~ CIL 8.18529,
Casae, Numidia
"The most splendid town council of Tbibilis set up this statue and
dedicated it to our dominus Flavius Claudius Julianus, devout,
blessed, victor and conqueror, ever Augustus, restorer of the sacred
rites." ~ ILAlg. II.2.4647, Tbilis, Numidia
"In the time of one most Beloved of God, renewer of the sacred rites,
lord and victor over every barbarian people, Claudius Julianus, all-
powerful and sole ruler of the world, Callioius, most distinguished
consular, dedicated this altar." ~ AE (1983) 895, Thessalonica.
"To the Renewer of the Roman world, to the restorer of all things and
of all happiness, to the reviver of the culti Deorum and extinguisher
of superstition, to Flavius Julianus, ever Augustus, mighty victor
over the Germans, mighty victor over the Alamanni mighty victor over
the Sarmatians, and the Franks, pontifex maximus." ~ AE (1907) 191,
Baalbek, Syria
"To our lord Claudius Julianus, born for the good of the state,
greatest of emperors, celebrator of triumphs, ever Augustus, on
account of his having done away with the errors of times past." ~ ILS
8946, Mursa, Panonnia
Upon becoming sole emperor, Julianus re-instituted a general
religious tolerance on 11 December 361. This included the reopening
of temples, restoration of the culti Deorum ex patriae, as referred
in inscriptions throughout the empire. He also granted tolerance to
Jews and all Christian sects. He therefore reversed earlier policies
that used the power of the State against those Christian sects viewed
as heretical by other sects. His reinstituting tolerance of Jews
earned him the name Julianus the Hellene among them. He drew up
plans to rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem, although the plan was
abandoned with his death. He was later reviled by Christians as
Julian the Apostate for his effort to preserve the sacra and culti
Deorum. At the time of his reign the population of the empire was
still predominantly cultores Deorum, and his successors, Jovianus and
then Valentinianus I, although Christians, retained his official
policy of religious tolerance, even as local bands of Christians
began once more to persecute their fellow Romans and attacked the
temples and synagogues once more.
Named Caesar by Constantius, 6 Nov. 355 CE, after Constantius had
murdered his cousin and Julianus' half-brother, Gallus, and forced
Julianus to marry his (Constantius') sister Helena, Julianus
successfully defended the western borders of the empire against
Alamanni amd Frankish incursions. His legions declared him emperor
and he began a march east against Constantius in 360. Constantius,
marching to meet Julianus died enroute, acknowledging in his will
that Julianus, the last grandson of Constantine I, as rightful heir
and sole emperor. In March 363 Julianus launched campaign against
the Sassanid (Persian) empire to regain those provinces lost by
Constantius. Following an unsuccessful attack on the Persian capital
at Ctesiphon Julianus thought it prudent to withdraw from the
campaign. His retreat was harassed by skirmishers. It was during an
ambush near Maranga that Julianus charged into battle on different
fronts, each time without his armour.
Suddenly news was brought to the emperor, who had gone on unarmed to
reconnoitre the ground in front, that our rear was attacked. He,
roused to anger by this mishap, without stopping to put on his
breastplate, snatched up his shield in a hurry, and while hastening
to support his rear, was recalled by fresh news that the van which he
had quitted was now exposed to a similar attack. Without a thought of
personal danger, he now hastened to strengthen this division, and
then, on another side, a troop of Persian cuirassiers attacked his
centre, and pouring down with vehemence on his left wing, which began
to give way, as our men could hardly bear up against the foul smell
and horrid cries of the elephants, they pressed us hard with spears
and clouds of arrows. The emperor flew to every part of the field
where the danger was hottest; and our light-armed troops dashing out
wounded the backs of the Persians, and the hocks of the animals,
which were turned the other way. Julian, disregarding all care for
his own safety, made signs by waving his hands, and shouted out that
the enemy were fleeing in consternation; and cheering on his men to
the pursuit, threw himself eagerly into the conflict. His guards
called out to him from all sides to beware of the mass of fugitives
who wore scattered in consternation, as he would beware of the fall
of an ill-built roof, when suddenly a cavalry spear, grazing the skin
of his arm, pierced his side, and fixed itself in the bottom of his
liver. He tried to pull it out with his right hand, and cut the
sinews of his fingers with the double-edged point of the weapon; and,
falling from his horse, he was borne with speed by the men around him
to his tent; and the physician tried to relieve him. ~ Ammianus
Marcellinus, Roman History 25.3.2-7
One story said that Julianus had been assassinated in the midst of
battle by one of his own Christian soldiers:
"Who was the one that killed him, does anyone desire to hear? His
name I know not, but that he who killed him was not an enemy there is
a clear proof, namely, that none of the opposite side received
rewards for the fatal blow, although the Persian king summoned by
public proclamation the slayer to come forward and receive reward,
and it was in his power if he did come forward to gain great things.
And yet no one from desire of the rewards boasted of the deed." ~
Libanius, Funerary Oration for Julianus 208; Orations 18.274
This claim was not repeated by Ammianus and other Christian
historians. There was, however, a Christian fable that said Basil of
Antioch had prayed for Julianus' death, and that a soldier named
Mercurius appeared to Basil in a dream, announcing that he had done
the deed. Thus was Mercurius inducted as a saint into the liturgy of
the Coptic Christian church. Soon after his death the Christian
author Gregory of Nazianzen attacked Julianus' work "Against the
Galileans," and in the following century Theodorus of Mopsuestia,
Philip Sideta, and Cyril of Alexandria continued to try to refute
Julianus' criticism of Christianity. But mostly Romans mourned the
loss of Julianus, with much the same sentiments as Libanius expressed
in his funeral oration.
"O Jove, that Lydian king, with bloodstained hands, one of his race
reigned for nine-and-thirty years, another for fifty-seven; and the
murderous guardsman himself for forty all but two: but to this
prince thou hast granted only to touch upon his third year on the
higher throne; a man whom thou ought to have thought worthy of a
longer, or at any rate, no shorter life than the great Cyrus; for
like him he had preserved for his subjects the institutions of their
fathers."
"O offspring of deities, disciple of deities, associate of deities! O
thou that dost fill but a little spot of earth by thy tomb, but the
whole inhabited world with admiration!" ~ Libanius, Funerary Oration
for Julianus 214; 218
For works by Julian the Blessed online:
To the Sovereign Sun:
http://www.tertulian.org/fathers/julian_apostate_1_sun.htm
On the Mater Deorum:
http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/julian_apostate_2_mother.htm
Against the Galileans:
http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/julian_apostate_galileans_1_text.htm
Today's thought is from Flavius Claudius Julianus the Blessed:
"The first thing we ought to preach is reverence toward the Gods. For
it is fitting that we should perform our service to the Gods as
though They were Themselves present with us and beheld us, and though
not seen by us could direct Their gaze, which is more powerful than
any light, even as far as our hidden thoughts."
AUC 585 / 168 BCE: News of the Victory at Pydna reaches Rome
"The heralds of victory travelled to Rome with the utmost possible
speed, but on their arrival they found that the rejoicings over it
had forestalled them. Four days after the battle, while the Games
were going on in the Campus Martius, a whispered rumour suddenly
spread amongst the whole concourse of spectators to the effect that a
battle had taken place in Macedonia resulting in the utter defeat of
the king. Then the rumour grew louder until at last cheers and
applause arose as though definite tidings of victory had been brought
to them. The magistrates were taken by surprise and enquired who had
started this sudden outburst of joy. As no one could be found the
excitement produced by what they had taken for a certainty calmed
down, but still they were convinced that it was a happy omen, which
was subsequently verified by the arrival of the authentic messengers.
They were delighted quite as much at their prognostications proving
true as at the victory itself. A second outburst amongst the crowd in
the Circus is recorded." ~ Titus Livius 45.1
AUC974 / 221 CE: Elagabalus adopts Severus Alexander, wherein he
donned the toga virilis, and Alexander was raised to the rank of
Caesar.
AUC 1116 / 363 CE: Death of Julian the Blessed at Maranga
"To our dominus Flavius Claudius Julianus, devout, blessed, powerful
in every kind of virtue, invincible leader, restorer of freedom and
of the religio Romanaa nd conqueror of the world." ~ CIL 8.18529,
Casae, Numidia
"The most splendid town council of Tbibilis set up this statue and
dedicated it to our dominus Flavius Claudius Julianus, devout,
blessed, victor and conqueror, ever Augustus, restorer of the sacred
rites." ~ ILAlg. II.2.4647, Tbilis, Numidia
"In the time of one most Beloved of God, renewer of the sacred rites,
lord and victor over every barbarian people, Claudius Julianus, all-
powerful and sole ruler of the world, Callioius, most distinguished
consular, dedicated this altar." ~ AE (1983) 895, Thessalonica.
"To the Renewer of the Roman world, to the restorer of all things and
of all happiness, to the reviver of the culti Deorum and extinguisher
of superstition, to Flavius Julianus, ever Augustus, mighty victor
over the Germans, mighty victor over the Alamanni mighty victor over
the Sarmatians, and the Franks, pontifex maximus." ~ AE (1907) 191,
Baalbek, Syria
"To our lord Claudius Julianus, born for the good of the state,
greatest of emperors, celebrator of triumphs, ever Augustus, on
account of his having done away with the errors of times past." ~ ILS
8946, Mursa, Panonnia
Upon becoming sole emperor, Julianus re-instituted a general
religious tolerance on 11 December 361. This included the reopening
of temples, restoration of the culti Deorum ex patriae, as referred
in inscriptions throughout the empire. He also granted tolerance to
Jews and all Christian sects. He therefore reversed earlier policies
that used the power of the State against those Christian sects viewed
as heretical by other sects. His reinstituting tolerance of Jews
earned him the name Julianus the Hellene among them. He drew up
plans to rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem, although the plan was
abandoned with his death. He was later reviled by Christians as
Julian the Apostate for his effort to preserve the sacra and culti
Deorum. At the time of his reign the population of the empire was
still predominantly cultores Deorum, and his successors, Jovianus and
then Valentinianus I, although Christians, retained his official
policy of religious tolerance, even as local bands of Christians
began once more to persecute their fellow Romans and attacked the
temples and synagogues once more.
Named Caesar by Constantius, 6 Nov. 355 CE, after Constantius had
murdered his cousin and Julianus' half-brother, Gallus, and forced
Julianus to marry his (Constantius') sister Helena, Julianus
successfully defended the western borders of the empire against
Alamanni amd Frankish incursions. His legions declared him emperor
and he began a march east against Constantius in 360. Constantius,
marching to meet Julianus died enroute, acknowledging in his will
that Julianus, the last grandson of Constantine I, as rightful heir
and sole emperor. In March 363 Julianus launched campaign against
the Sassanid (Persian) empire to regain those provinces lost by
Constantius. Following an unsuccessful attack on the Persian capital
at Ctesiphon Julianus thought it prudent to withdraw from the
campaign. His retreat was harassed by skirmishers. It was during an
ambush near Maranga that Julianus charged into battle on different
fronts, each time without his armour.
"Suddenly news was brought to the emperor, who had gone on unarmed to
reconnoitre the ground in front, that our rear was attacked. He,
roused to anger by this mishap, without stopping to put on his
breastplate, snatched up his shield in a hurry, and while hastening
to support his rear, was recalled by fresh news that the van which he
had quitted was now exposed to a similar attack. Without a thought of
personal danger, he now hastened to strengthen this division, and
then, on another side, a troop of Persian cuirassiers attacked his
centre, and pouring down with vehemence on his left wing, which began
to give way, as our men could hardly bear up against the foul smell
and horrid cries of the elephants, they pressed us hard with spears
and clouds of arrows. The emperor flew to every part of the field
where the danger was hottest; and our light-armed troops dashing out
wounded the backs of the Persians, and the hocks of the animals,
which were turned the other way. Julian, disregarding all care for
his own safety, made signs by waving his hands, and shouted out that
the enemy were fleeing in consternation; and cheering on his men to
the pursuit, threw himself eagerly into the conflict. His guards
called out to him from all sides to beware of the mass of fugitives
who wore scattered in consternation, as he would beware of the fall
of an ill-built roof, when suddenly a cavalry spear, grazing the skin
of his arm, pierced his side, and fixed itself in the bottom of his
liver. He tried to pull it out with his right hand, and cut the
sinews of his fingers with the double-edged point of the weapon; and,
falling from his horse, he was borne with speed by the men around him
to his tent; and the physician tried to relieve him." ~ Ammianus
Marcellinus, Roman History 25.3.2-7
One story said that Julianus had been assassinated in the midst of
battle by one of his own Christian soldiers:
"Who was the one that killed him, does anyone desire to hear? His
name I know not, but that he who killed him was not an enemy there is
a clear proof, namely, that none of the opposite side received
rewards for the fatal blow, although the Persian king summoned by
public proclamation the slayer to come forward and receive reward,
and it was in his power if he did come forward to gain great things.
And yet no one from desire of the rewards boasted of the deed." ~
Libanius, Funerary Oration for Julianus 208; Orations 18.274
This claim was not repeated by Ammianus and other Christian
historians. There was, however, a Christian fable that said Basil of
Antioch had prayed for Julianus' death, and that a soldier named
Mercurius appeared to Basil in a dream, announcing that he had done
the deed. Thus was Mercurius inducted as a saint into the liturgy of
the Coptic Christian church. Soon after his death the Christian
author Gregory of Nazianzen attacked Julianus' work "Against the
Galileans," and in the following century Theodorus of Mopsuestia,
Philip Sideta, and Cyril of Alexandria continued to try to refute
Julianus' criticism of Christianity. But mostly Romans mourned the
loss of Julianus, with much the same sentiments as Libanius expressed
in his funeral oration.
"O Jove, that Lydian king, with bloodstained hands, one of his race
reigned for nine-and-thirty years, another for fifty-seven; and the
murderous guardsman himself for forty all but two: but to this
prince thou hast granted only to touch upon his third year on the
higher throne; a man whom thou ought to have thought worthy of a
longer, or at any rate, no shorter life than the great Cyrus; for
like him he had preserved for his subjects the institutions of their
fathers."
"O offspring of deities, disciple of deities, associate of deities! O
thou that dost fill but a little spot of earth by thy tomb, but the
whole inhabited world with admiration!" ~ Libanius, Funerary Oration
for Julianus 214; 218
For works by Julian the Blessed online:
To the Sovereign Sun:
http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/julian_apostate_1_sun.htm
On the Mater Deorum:
http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/julian_apostate_2_mother.htm
Against the Galileans:
http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/julian_apostate_galileans_1_text.htm
Today's thought is from Flavius Claudius Julianus the Blessed:
"The first thing we ought to preach is reverence toward the Gods. For
it is fitting that we should perform our service to the Gods as
though They were Themselves present with us and beheld us, and though
not seen by us could direct Their gaze, which is more powerful than
any light, even as far as our hidden thoughts."
