29. Julian & Old Gods

Below: in what seems to have been a misunderstanding by embattled troops after Julian’s death, Jovian, a bluff soldier was raised to the purple. He was ill-equipped for the role of imperial leader.

Flavius Claudius Julianus: the austere face of the man who decided to reinstate the pagan gods of old. Constantius underestimated the military abilities of scholarly young Julian (coin left). Once Julian was emperor (coin above), he instituted radical reforms at court. The thousands of flunkeys were reduced to a skeleton staff, and frugal simplicity ruled daily life. His political and religious reforms were just as drastic.