Julian's recapitulation of Constantine
This thesis offers a new understanding of the reign of the Emperor Julian, using as a heuristic tool the Christian theological concept of recapitulation (anacephalaiosis/recapitulatio). Recapitulation encompasses similitudo, iteratio, and restitutio: in Christian thought, Adam is the similitudo of Christ, Christ reiterates Adamâs wrong acts for the purpose of setting them right, overwriting the narrative of his failure, and Christâs work has the goal of restoration of humanity to Godâs friendship. The thesis shows that Julian's imperial programme is illuminated when viewed in similar terms, with the substitution of his uncle Constantine for Adam. The Emperor Constantine had overwritten the narratives of his own political and religious opponents, while Eusebius of Caesarea had portrayed Constantine as a mimetic Christ-figure. The thesis uses the evidence of Julian's writings, above all his Oration VII âTo the Cynic Heracleiosâ to argue that Julian himself also adopted this approach and co-opted the Christian language of recapitulation, narrating Constantineâs career as one of religious apostasy which needed to be set right by his own reversal of Constantine's actions and consequent restoration of
Greenwood, David Neal
Julian ; Constantine ; recapitulation ; similitudo ; iteratio ; restitutio
Julian's recapitulation of Constantine. This thesis offers a new understanding of the reign of the Emperor Julian, using as a heuristic tool the Christian theological concept of recapitulation (anacephalaiosis/recapitulatio). Recapitulation encompasses similitudo, iteratio, and restitutio: in Christian thought, Adam is the similitudo of Christ, Christ reiterates Adamâs wrong acts for the purpose of setting them right, overwriting the narrative of his failure, and Christâs work has the goal of restoration of humanity to Godâs friendship. The thesis shows that Julian's imperial programme is illuminated when viewed in similar terms, with the substitution of his uncle Constantine for Adam. The Emperor Constantine had overwritten the narratives of his own political and religious opponents, while Eusebius of Caesarea had portrayed Constantine as a mimetic Christ-figure. The thesis uses the evidence of Julian's writings, above all his Oration VII âTo the Cynic Heracleiosâ to argue that Julian himself also adopted this approach and co-opted the Christian language of recapitulation, narrating Constantineâs career as one of religious apostasy which needed to be set right by his own reversal of Constantine's actions and consequent restoration of
julian constantine offer_new reign emperor julian use heuristic tool christian theological_concept encompass christian_thought christ christ reiterate wrong act purpose set right narrative failure christ work goal restoration humanity god friendship show julian imperial programme illuminate view similar term substitution constantine emperor constantine narratives political_religious opponent eusebius portray constantine mimetic christ figure evidence julian writings oration vii argue julian also adopt opted christian language narrate constantine career religious need set right reversal constantine action consequent restoration