About this episode

This episode discusses Emperor Julian's disastrous invasion of Persia and its implications for pagan Rome.

363 AD: Emperor Julian, Rome’s last pagan ruler, wagered everything on a massive invasion of Persia to eclipse Alexander the Great and prove that the old gods blessed his empire. He crossed into Persia with tens of thousands of soldiers and a thousand supply ships. Fortresses fell, cities burned and Ctesiphon itself lay within reach. But Julian's careful efforts were undone by his own hubris. His death in battle ended both an emperor and pagan Rome’s final hope. Donate: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/WZTWCMWCJJYFC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ProfCPE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Buy Professor Elliott's book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pox Romana: The Plague that Shook the Roman World ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ .

More episodes of The Pax Romana Podcast

• Stilicho and the Failing Western Roman Empire - The Pax Romana Podcast 102 · May 6, 2026 · 24 min
• Theodosius and the Last Years of Roman Unification - The Pax Romana Podcast 100 · April 1, 2026 · 24 min
• The Massacre at Thessalonica - The Pax Romana Podcast 99 · March 13, 2026 · 19 min
• The Battle of Adrianople: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Empire - The Pax Romana Podcast 98 · February 24, 2026 · 20 min
• Jovian: The Forgotten Emperor - The Pax Romana Podcast 97 · February 4, 2026 · 23 min
• Did the Emperor Aurelian Break or Fix the Monetary System of the Roman Empire? - The Pax Romana Podcast 96 · January 14, 2026 · 40 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Pax Romana Podcast podcast page.