Julien: les années parisiennes

This article intends to scrutinize in what ways Julian’s stay in Gaul as a Caesar were decisive in Julian’s political and military education, and whether a specific ruling style and manner may be detected in the Parisian years of Julian’s government. Relying on a critical analysis of the documentation (Julian himself, Mamertinus, Ammianus, Libanios), the author examines the military and civilian aspects of Julian’s training as an apparently inexperienced ruler but quick learner. She carries out a prosopographical study of the Caesar’s circle and the administrative staff which was then on duty, combining friendly and hostile persons. Gaul offered him a training ground and he became even the experimenter of Paris as a capital. An attempt is made at reconstructing Julian’s vision of and attitude towards barbarians, Celts and Romans, and how he perceived Gaul and Paris (taking in account what was Paris like in his days in the light of recent archaeological research). The Parisian years are a valuable test for checking Julian’s adaptability — and its limits — to life in a non hellenic world.