JOVIAN (Flavius Jovianus)

• Julian II, the last of the Constantinian dynasty, launched an invasion of Mesopotamia in March 363. There he was wounded in a skirmish and died shortly afterwards (26th June 363).
• The Roman army assembled next morning to chose a successor. A group of soldiers started shouting the name of Jovian, the commander of the imperial guard, and suddenly Jovian found himself emperor.
• Jovian began to lead the army into a retreat, and the Persian king, Shapur II, offered Jovian humiliating terms. Jovian accepted, effectively renouncing all claims in the east.
• He led the army back to Antioch, where he issued an edict of religious toleration, ending Julian's persecution of the Christians.
• He was on his way to Constantinople, when, on 16th February 364, he was found dead in his rent, suffocated by fumes from a brazier. Strangely enough, foul play was not suspected.