Basilina (died 332/333 ) was the wife of Julius Constantius and the mother of the Roman emperor Julian (r. 361–363) who in her honour gave the name Basilinopolis to a city in Bithynia (modern Pazarköy near Gemlik, in Turkey).

Biography

Basilina was of Greek descent born in Asia Minor. She was either the daughter of Caeionius Iulianus Camenius, or more likely of Julius Julianus, and received a classical education (i.e., Homer and Hesiod) from Mardonius, a eunuch who grew up in the house of her father. She had a sister who became the mother of Procopius. She was a relative of Bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia, her son's tutor. She became the second wife of Julius Constantius, whom she gave Julian; Basilina died a few months after childbirth. A Christian, Basilina initially favoured the Arians, but gave her lands as an inheritance to the church of Ephesus.

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