Julian was born in the city of Constantine sometime in May 332 AD. His father was Julius Constantius, who was half brother to the emperor Constantine. His mother, Basilina, was the second wife of Constantius. She was a devout Christian who left her property to the church when she died shortly after Julian's birth. When emperor Constantine died on may 22, 337 the emperorship was up for grabs because he did not favor any of his three sons. The appointment of Damatius's sons confused the matter, but the three brothers negotiated a settlement and were proclaimed joint emperors in September 337, and splitting the land of the empire between them. They arranged the "executions" of their uncles, Dalmatius, the younger of Damatius's sons, and Hannibalianus, the older of Damatius's son's.
             The roman soldiers were enraged by a rumor that a will had been discovered in the dead emperor's hand that accused Dalmatius and Julius of poisoning Constantine. The soldiers, thinking the rumor may be true, murdered them, sparing Julian and his half brother Gallus because they were so young. Julian remembered this event well and often wrote of it. Constantius confiscated the murdered Julius's land. Afterwards Julian and his brother Gallus were sent into exile at Nicomedia in the care of bishop Eusebius. There, Julian was put in the care of Mardonius. He tutored Julian and became a major parental figure in his life. Mardonius was the first to introduce Julian to the works of Homer and was a lifelong influence on Julian.
             Later he was moved to Nicomedia, but Constantius II didn't like him being so close to "the centre of power" so he moved him again to a remote fortress in Macellum, where he was watched over by Constantius's agents. Mardonius was replaced by George, the bishop of Caesarea. George introduced Julian to Christianity and gave him access to his extensive library, bu...