Jovian

  • Jovian (363-364 CE) was a Roman Emperor who revoked his predecessor’s attempts to reestablish Paganism.
  • He was forced to relinquish numerous fortress and cities in the East to the Persian Empire.

1. BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

  • NAME:
    • Flavius Jovianus
  • JOVIAN’S DATES OF REIGN AS EMPEROR:
    • 27 June 363 CE to 17 February 364 CE
  • FAMILY DYNASTY:
  • JOVIAN’S DATE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
    • Born: 331 CE. Died: 17 February 364 CE. Aged 33.
  • PLACE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
    • Born in Belgrade (Singidunum). Died in Dadastana, Anatolia.
  • JOVIAN’S PREDECESSOR:
  • JOVIAN’S SUCCESSOR:
  • HEIR TO THE THRONE BECAUSE:
    • Jovian was the son of a Commander in the Imperial Bodyguard, and became a Commander himself. He accompanied Julian on his Persian Campaign.
    • When Julian died from his wounds after the Battle of Samara, in June 363 CE, Jovian was proclaimed Emperor. Ammianus Marcellinus suggests Jovian was mistaken, either for another Jovian, or for Julian.
  • DIED PEACEFULLY OR ASSASSINATED:
    • Jovian died from an excess of mushrooms. Ammianus Marcellinus suggests that the suspicious thing was, that his death was never investigated.
  • WHERE BURIED:
  • JOVIAN WAS FAMOUS BECAUSE:
    • In 363 CE, Jovian ordered the Library of Antioch to be burnt.
    • He concluded a humiliating Peace Treaty with Persia, where most of the Roman Territory and influence was ceded.

2. BRIEF SYNOPSIS

  • CHRISTIANITY:
    • Jovian was a Christian who revoked the Tolerance Edict and other Edicts that had re-established Paganism by his predecessor, Julian.
    • Jovian restored the Labarum as the main standard of the Roman Army.
    • In 363 CE, he ordered the Library of Antioch to be burnt. This was full of Pagan works, to which Julian had added his own private library of Pagan works, including the Arrian works by George, Bishop of Alexandria.
  • PERSIA:
    • Jovian continued Julian‘s retreat from Persia, and was forced to sign a humiliating Peace Treaty with Shapur II.
    • He had to concede the fortresses of Nisibis, Castra Maurorum and Singara, and withdraw from the five Roman Provinces east of the Tigris.
    • Also, the Christian King of Armenia was obliged to cede half his kingdom to the Persians and to remain neutral.

3. BIBLIOGRAPHY

 

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