Britannica Sources used in this answer

How was Julian mortally wounded during the retreat from Ctesiphon?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Julian Julian the Apostate, detail of a marble statue; in the Louvre, Paris.

During the retreat from Ctesiphon, Emperor Julian was mortally wounded during a skirmish with Persian forces near Sāmarrāʾ, in present-day central Iraq.1

He was struck by a spear that pierced his liver. According to historical accounts, the weapon was thrown from an unknown source, described as coming from "no one knew whence". Julian died the following night from his injuries.1