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Which earlier Roman emperor did Julian want to imitate as a philosopher-ruler?

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

As a philosopher-ruler, Julian sought to model his reign after Marcus Aurelius, a renowned emperor known for his commitment to Stoic philosophy.1

Upon becoming sole emperor in 361, Julian issued proclamations declaring his intention to rule in this manner, reflecting his broader desire to return to the liberal principate of the Antonines rather than the administrative structures established by his predecessors, Diocletian and Constantine.12