Salutius
Encyclopedia
Saturninius Secundus Salutius was a career Roman official who was a native of Gaul
. He was a quaestor when he became a member of Julian
's staff, while the latter was Caesar in Gaul. Salutius was well versed in Greek philosophy and rhetoric and won the respect of Julian. It was probably through his counsel that Julian developed the skills of administration he displayed in Gaul. In 359 Constantius removed him from Gaul.
When Julian became sole emperor, he raised Salutius to praetorian prefect of the orient
late in 361 and one of his early tasks was to oversee the Chalcedon tribunal
. He accompanied his emperor on the Persian campaign, during which Julian was killed. As a sign of great respect, the military command first nominated him to become their emperor, but Salutius refused the honor, pleading illness and old age, and the honor then fell on Jovian. After the return from Persia Salutius continued in the office of praetorian prefect during the reign of Valentinian
until he was replaced by Nebridius.
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
. He was a quaestor when he became a member of Julian
Julian the Apostate
Julian "the Apostate" , commonly known as Julian, or also Julian the Philosopher, was Roman Emperor from 361 to 363 and a noted philosopher and Greek writer....
's staff, while the latter was Caesar in Gaul. Salutius was well versed in Greek philosophy and rhetoric and won the respect of Julian. It was probably through his counsel that Julian developed the skills of administration he displayed in Gaul. In 359 Constantius removed him from Gaul.
When Julian became sole emperor, he raised Salutius to praetorian prefect of the orient
Praetorian prefecture of the East
The praetorian prefecture of the East or of Oriens was one of four large praetorian prefectures into which the Late Roman Empire was divided...
late in 361 and one of his early tasks was to oversee the Chalcedon tribunal
Chalcedon tribunal
Shortly after the death of Roman emperor Constantius II, his successor Julian the Apostate held a tribunal at the city of Chalcedon, which was then a suburb of Constantinople...
. He accompanied his emperor on the Persian campaign, during which Julian was killed. As a sign of great respect, the military command first nominated him to become their emperor, but Salutius refused the honor, pleading illness and old age, and the honor then fell on Jovian. After the return from Persia Salutius continued in the office of praetorian prefect during the reign of Valentinian
Valentinian
Valentinian was the name of several Roman emperors:* Valentinian I , Roman Emperor from 364 to 375, son of Gratian the Elder, commonly known as Valentinian the Great* Valentinian II , Roman Emperor from 375 to 392...
until he was replaced by Nebridius.
Sources
- Athanassiadi, Polymnia, Julian: An Intellectual Biography, Routledge, London, 1992. ISBN 0-415-07763-X
- Bowersock, Glen Warren, Julian the Apostate, London, 1978. ISBN 0-674-48881-4
- Rolfe, John C., translator, Ammianus Marcellinus, HUP, Cambridge Mass., 1956.