The first part of his military career fits the typical
tres militiae of
equites. Julianus began his military career as
prefect or commander of
cohort III Augusta Thracum which was stationed in Syria; Karol Kłodziński dates his tenure there between 157 and 160. His next commission was as
military tribune of
cohort I Ulpia Pannoniorum, which was stationed in
Pannonia Superior. This assignment is confirmed by an inscription found in
Brescia, dated between 154 and 170; Kłodziński dates his tenure there between 160 and 163. His success apparently brought Julianus to the attention of emperor Marcus Aurelius, who was in need of capable generals. In 168 Marcus Aurelius had recalled
Marcus Bassaeus Rufus, whom he had just appointed
praefectus Aegypti, in order to fill the vacancy in the office of praetorian prefect. Once Rufus had assumed his duties, Marcus Aurelius with his imperial colleague
Lucius Verus left Rome for the Danubian provinces, making his base at
Carnuntum, headquarters of
Legio XIV Gemina, and set about organizing a new command, the
praetentura Italiae et Alpium ("the Italian and Alpine front"); the role of
Julius Julianus was to be commander of the
ala Tampiana, stationed in
Noricum, securing the left of Marcus Aurelius. With the onset of the
Marcomannic War, Julianus was plucked from his command in Noricum and put in charge of a series of
vexillationes drawn from
legions, each tasked to deal with a series of problems which threatened to distract the two emperors from their goal of subduing the
Marcomanni. His first assignment was as
prepositus against the Germans and
Sarmatians, as part of the Marcomannic War. We lack the details of this campaign, which
Valerie Maxfield dates to 170, but we know that for his actions he received his second award of military honors from both Marcus and his son Commodus. Julianus received a similar command -- but as procurator -- against the
Costoboci who had followed the Marcomanni across the Danube, and had reached as far south as the provinces of
Achaea and
Macedonia where the soldiers under Julianus fought them. Combined with this was a third assignment, where Julinaus led a third
vexallatio against Moors who had crossed into
Baetica. The Rome inscription mentions a fourth commission Julianus received, to lead yet another
vexillatio combined with the
Black Sea fleet against an unnamed enemy. For his successes in battle, he was given a more sedentary assignment as procurator of the imperial properties in
Lusitania and
Vettonia; Kłodziński dates his tenure to 177. However, this assignment was cut short when his services were needed in
Roman Britain: around 180 that province had been invaded by barbarians who killed a Roman
legatus. Although
Ulpius Marcellus is given credit for suppressing this invasion and bringing order to the province, he could not manage it alone and gladly accepted the help of an experienced officer like Julianus. == Career under Commodus ==