The Image of Julian the Apostate in the Historiography of Ammianus Marcellinus ; Podoba Julijana Odpadnika v zgodovinopisju Amijana Marcelina

In the 4th century AD, when Christianity had already been firmly established under Constantine, the Roman emperor Julian the Apostate sought to turn history back to the pagan period. His rule was brief and unexpected, characterised by religious reforms and a march on Persia. While his portrayal by Christian writers is a negative one, he is considered by Ammianus Marcellinus, a pagan historiographer, as a model ruler. Ammianus’ history, Res gestae, presents Julian as one chosen by the gods. Despite his admiration, he does not hesitate to criticise the Emperor, but he deliberately downplays the significance of religious issues and of other matters which might tarnish Julian’s image. To improve his standing, Ammianus compares him to many famous personages from the Greek and Roman past, while the preceding Emperor Constantius and Julian’s brother Gallus are drawn in strikingly negative colours. Despite the favour of the gods, however, Julian rejected all warning signs on his march on Persia, which cost him his life. Comparing his death to the death of Socrates, Ammianus portrays him as a philosopher-ruler, which corresponds to Julian’s own ideal. ; Julijan Odpadnik je bil rimski cesar, ki je v četrtem stoletju, ko se je krščanstvo pod Konstantinom že uveljavilo, skušal preobrniti zgodovino nazaj v čas poganstva. Njegova vladavina je bila kratka in nepričakovana, zanjo pa so bile značilne verske reforme in vojaški pohod nad Perzijo. Krščanski pisci ga prikazujejo negativno, za poganskega zgodovinopisca Amijana Marcelina pa je predstavljal podobo idealnega vladarja. V svojem zgodovinopisnem delu Res gestae je Julijana prikazal kot izbranca bogov. Kljub občudovanju mu ni prizanesel s kritiko, je pa načrtno zmanjševal pomen verskih in drugih zadev, ki bi lahko škodovale njegovi podobi. Da bi mu povečal veljavo, ga je primerjal z mnogimi slavnimi osebami iz grške in rimske preteklosti, prejšnjega cesarja Konstancija in Julijanovega brata Gala pa je prikazal izrazito negativno. Kljub naklonjenosti bogov pa je Julijan na pohodu proti Perziji zavrnil vsa svarilna znamenja, kar ga je stalo življenja. Njegovo smrt Amijan vzporeja s Sokratovo smrtjo in ga s tem prikaže kot vladarja filozofa, kar se ujema z Julijanovim lastnim idealom.