essors on the imperial throne, Trajan and
Marcus Aurelius were those whom he most wished to emulate. But all these
princes had either led or sent expeditions into the far East, and had
aimed at uniting in one the fairest provinces of Europe and Asia.
Julian appears, from the first moment that he found himself peaceably
established upon the throne, to have resolved on undertaking in person a
great expedition against Sapor, with the object of avenging upon Persia
the ravages and defeats of the last sixty years, or at any rate of
obtaining such successes as might justify his assuming the title
of "Persicus." Whether he really entertained any hope of rivalling
Alexander, or supposed it possible that he should effect "the final
conquest of Persia," may be doubted. Acquainted, as he must have been,
with the entire course of Roman warfare in these parts from the attack
of Crassus to the last defeat of his own immediate predecessor, he can
scarcely have regarded the subjugation of Persia as an easy matter, or
have expected to do much more than strike terror into the "barbarians"
of the East, or perhaps obtain from them the cession of another
province. The sensible officer, who, after accompanying him in his
expedition, wrote the history of the campaign, regarded his actuating
motives as the delight that he took in war, and the desire of a new
title. Confident in his own military talent, in his training, and in
his power to inspire enthusiasm in an army, he no doubt looked to reap
laurels sufficient to justify him in making his attack; but the wild
schemes ascribed to him, the conquest of the Sassanian kingdom, and
the subjugation of Hyrcania and India, are figments (probably) of the
imagination of his historians.

Julian entered Constantinople on the 11th of December, A.D. 361; he
quitted it towards the end of May,12 A.D. 362, after residing there
less than six months. During this period, notwithstanding the various
important matters in which he was engaged, the purifying of the court,
the depression of the Christians, the restoration and revivification
of Paganism, he found time to form plans and make preparations for his
intended eastern expedition, in which he was anxious to engage as soon
as possible. Having designated for the war such troops as could be
spared from the West, he committed them and their officers to the charge
of two generals, carefully chosen, Victor, a Roman of distinction, and
the Persian refugee, Prince