Basilina


Basilina was the wife of Julius Constantius and the mother of Roman Emperor Julian, who in her honour gave the name Basilinopolis to a city in Bithynia.

Biography

Basilina was born of Greek origin, the daughter of Caeionius Iulianus Camenius or, more likely, of Julius Julianus, she was educated by Mardonius, a eunuch who grew up in the house of her father. She became the second wife of Julius Constantius, whom she gave Julian; Basilina died a few months after childbirth. Her sister was the mother of Procopius.
A Christian, initially she favoured the Arians, but gave her lands as an inheritance to the church of Ephesus. She was a relative of Bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia, her son's tutor.