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Primary sourceBookc. 361 CE

The Caesars

Julian · c. 361 CE

A satirical dialogue by Emperor Julian, Constantine's nephew, mocking Constantine as a luxury-loving ruler among the Roman emperors.

Julian, Constantine's nephew and a later emperor, mocked Constantine in this satire, offering a critical family perspective.

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About this source

What it is

The Caesars, also called the Symposium or Kronia, is a satirical work written by Emperor Julian in Constantinople around 361, likely addressed to his friend Sallust. It imagines a festival contest among past emperors, modeled on the satirical dialogues of the Greek writer Lucian.

Why it matters

Julian was Constantine's own nephew and, unlike his uncle, rejected Christianity. In this satire he portrays Constantine as indulgent and luxury-loving, someone who sought refuge in the figure of Jesus. This makes the text a rare insider's critical view of Constantine, from within his own family, challenging the more flattering image spread by Christian writers like Eusebius.

Look closer

  • Why might a family member write such a critical portrait of Constantine?
  • How does satire differ from a straightforward history as a way of judging a ruler?
  • What does Julian's attack suggest about disagreements within the imperial family over religion?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Constantine the Great on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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