Stories Playlists Figures Eras Download for iOS
Julian the Apostate
Birth of Religions

Julian the Apostate

361 CE 3 min read · 5 min listen

An emperor tries to undo Constantine's revolution and bring back the old gods. Lasts 20 months before dying in battle in Persia.

Listen Free on History Tea

The Setup

Okay, picture this: It's the Roman Empire in the 4th century CE. Constantine the Great has left the chat, and in his wake, Christianity has gone from underground cult status to the Empire's main gig. But not everyone is vibing with this.

Enter Julian, known to his friends simply as Julian. He’s Constantine’s nephew, a scholarly guy with a passion for philosophy and a soft spot for the old Roman gods. Spoiler alert: He’s not a fan of Christianity and has some major plans.

Fast forward to 361 CE, Julian unexpectedly becomes the Emperor of Rome. And y'all, he's about to shake things up in the most dramatic way—by trying to put the old gods back on top. Buckle up!

🎧

Hear the Full Story

Listen to Julian the Apostate with immersive narration, or read the full transcript in the app.

Full audio narration Choose your narrator Read the transcript
Download History Tea — It's Free

Key Takeaways

  • Sometimes a "back to basics" move can backfire big time.
  • Mixing politics and religion is a drama magnet.
  • Revival doesn’t always mean success; think twice before undoing the past.
  • A charismatic leader can rally troops, but not always alter destiny.
  • Even emperors can't dodge the power of a good comeback story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened during Julian the Apostate?

An emperor tries to undo Constantine's revolution and bring back the old gods. Lasts 20 months before dying in battle in Persia. This event took place 361 CE. History Tea retells it as an immersive audio experience with cinematic narration so you can listen anywhere.

When did Julian the Apostate happen?

Julian the Apostate took place 361 CE. An emperor tries to undo Constantine's revolution and bring back the old gods. Lasts 20 months before dying in battle in Persia. You can listen to the full retelling with immersive narration on the History Tea app.

Why does Julian the Apostate matter?

Key takeaways from Julian the Apostate: Sometimes a "back to basics" move can backfire big time.. Mixing politics and religion is a drama magnet.. Revival doesn’t always mean success; think twice before undoing the past.. Listen to the full breakdown on History Tea.

Can I listen to Julian the Apostate as audio?

Yes! History Tea offers Julian the Apostate as an immersive audio story with cinematic narration. Download the free app on iOS to listen to this and 260+ other history stories.

Previous The Council of Nicaea Next The Sack of Rome