Basilina

Basilina (Greek: Βασιλίνα; died 332/333[1][2]) 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).

[3][4] She was either the daughter of Caeionius Iulianus Camenius,[5] or more likely of Julius Julianus,[1][2] and received a classical education (i.e., Homer and Hesiod) from Mardonius, a eunuch who grew up in the house of her father.

[6] She was a relative of Bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia, her son's tutor.

[citation needed] She became the second wife of Julius Constantius, whom she gave Julian;[2] Basilina died a few months after childbirth.

[1][2] A Christian, Basilina initially favoured the Arians, but gave her lands as an inheritance to the church of Ephesus.