![Nicholas Baker-Brian](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/2018?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Professor Nicholas Baker-Brian
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Teams and roles for Nicholas Baker-Brian
Professor (Late Antique Studies)
Overview
Research interests
- Early Christianity
- Manichaeism (and 'Gnosticism')
- Greek and Latin Patristics
- The Constantinian Dynasty
- The Writings of Julian the Apostate
Research projects
- Constantinian Culture: A History of the
Constantinian Dynasty - Imperial Wisdom: Towards a New History of the Third Century CE
- New Translation and Commentary of Psalms of Heracleides (Coptic Gospels and Associated Texts series)
Research group
Biography in Late Antiquty Research Cluster
Dynasty Ancient and Modern Research Cluster
Cardiff Centre for Late Antique Religion and Culture
Impact and engagement
**NEW PODCAST JUST LANDED - History Behind News - Mani and Manicheism in Sasanian Iran and the Roman Empire https://tinyurl.com/2wk8cpeu
New article for Engelsberg Ideas on Julian 'the Apostate' - Julian ‘the Apostate’: antiquity’s most prolific self-publicist - Engelsberg ideas
History of Veganism Podcast - 'The Vegan Option' - Episode 5 http://theveganoption.org/2016/06/07/veghist-ep05-rome-plutarch-neoplatonism-manicheans-david-grummet-nicholas-baker-brian-michael-beer-copts-hermits/
Publication
2025
- Baker-Brian, N. 2025. Restoration not revolution: Prophecy and diatribe in Constantine I's Oration to the Saints. In: Quiroga Puertas, A. and Fuentes Gonzalez, P. eds. Diatribe Reconsidered: Pedagogical Strategies in Greco-Roman Literature between Rhetoric and Philosophy. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 1-17.
2024
- Baker-Brian, N. 2024. Writing truth and secrets: Authorship and the legitimising role of apocalyptic in Manichaeism. In: Bonar, C. and Lidenlaub, J. D. eds. Authorial Fictions and Attributions in the Ancient Mediterranean. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, pp. 105-125.
2022
- Baker-Brian, N. 2022. The reign of Constantius II. Routledge.
2021
- Baker-Brian, N. J. and Lossl, J. 2021. Introduction. In: Baker-Brian, N. J. and Lossl, J. eds. Studia Patristica CII. Papers presented at the Seventh British Patristics Conference 5-7 September 2018. Studia Patristica Vol. 102. Peeters
- Baker-Brian, N. J. and Lossl, J. eds. 2021. Studia Patristica CII. Including papers presented at the Seventh British Patristics Conference, Cardiff, 5-7 September 2018. Peeters.
2020
- Baker-Brian, N. 2020. Revisiting Proba's Confession: The Proem of the Vergilian Cento and the Reign of Julian the Apostate. In: Baker-Brian, N. J. and Lossl, J. eds. Studia Patristica CII. Papers presented at the Seventh British Patristics Conference, Cardiff, 5-7 September 2018. Peeters
- Baker-Brian, N. 2020. ‘Very great are your words’. In: Flower, R. and Ludlow, M. eds. Rhetoric and Religious Identity in Late Antiquity. Oxford University Press, pp. 114-127., (10.1093/oso/9780198813194.003.0008)
- Baker-Brian, N. J. and Tougher, S. 2020. Introduction: In the shadows of Constantine and Julian: The sons of Constantine, AD 337-361. In: Baker-Brian, N. J. and Tougher, S. eds. The Sons of Constantine, AD 337-361: In the Shadows of Constantine and Julian. New Approaches to Byzantine History and Culture Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan, (10.1007/978-3-030-39898-9)
- Baker-Brian, N. and Tougher, S. eds. 2020. The sons of Constantine, AD 337-361: in the shadows of Constantine and Julian. New Approaches to Byzantine History and Culture. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. (10.1007/978-3-030-39898-9)
- Baker-Brian, N. J. 2020. 'I have taken pains to get copies of them': Epistolary relations between the sons of Constantine and the Christian Church. In: Baker-Brian, N. J. and Tougher, S. eds. The Sons of Constantine, AD337-361. In the Shadows of Constantine and Julian. New Approaches to Byzantine History and Culture Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan, pp. 347-388.
2018
- Baker-Brian, N. J. 2018. A new religion? The emergence of Manichaeism in Late Antiquity. In: Lossl, J. and Baker-Brian, N. J. eds. A Companion to Religion in Late Antiquity. Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World Chichester: Wiley, pp. 319-343., (10.1002/9781118968130.ch15)
- Lossl, J. and Baker-Brian, N. J. eds. 2018. A companion to religion in Late Antiquity. Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World. Chichester: Wiley. (10.1002/9781118968130)
- Baker-Brian, N. 2018. Introduction. In: Lossl, J. and Baker-Brian, N. eds. A Companion to Religion in Late Antiquity. Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 1-8.
2017
- Baker-Brian, N. 2017. Mass and elite in Late Antique religion: the case of Manichaeism. In: Evans, R. ed. Mass and Elite in the Greek and Roman Worlds: From Sparta to Late Antiquity. London: Routledge, pp. 165-184.
- Baker-Brian, N. 2017. Manicheism. In: Toom, T. ed. Augustine in Context. Cambridge University Press, pp. 137-144.
2016
- Baker-Brian, N. 2016. “Putrid boils and sores, and burning wounds in the body”: the valorization of health and illness in late antique Manichaeism: Introduction: health and the Manichaean body. Harvard Theological Review 109(3), pp. 422-446. (10.1017/S001781601600016X)
2013
- Baker-Brian, N. and Galynina, I. 2013. Contra Faustum. In: Pollmann, K. and Otten, W. eds. The Oxford Guide to the Historical Reception of Augustine. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 46-53.
- Baker-Brian, N. 2013. Manichaeism. In: Pollmann, K. and Otten, W. eds. The Oxford Guide to the Historical Reception of Augustine. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 871-877.
- Baker-Brian, N. 2013. Women in Augustine's anti-Manichaean writings: Rumour, rhetoric, and ritual. In: Vinzent, M. ed. Studia Patristica LXX: Papers presented at the sixteenth International Conference on Patristic Studies held in Oxford 2011: Volume 18: St Augustine and his Opponents. Studia Patristica Vol. 70. Leuven: Peeters, pp. 499-520.
- Baker-Brian, N. 2013. Between testimony and rumour: Strategies of invective in Augustine's 'De moribus manichaeorum'. In: Quiroga Puertas, A. J. ed. The Purpose of Rhetoric in Late Antiquity: From Performance to Exegesis. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, pp. 31-53.
2012
- Baker-Brian, N. and Tougher, S. F. eds. 2012. Emperor and author: The writings of Julian the Apostate. Swansea: Classical Press of Wales.
- Tougher, S. F. 2012. Reading between the lines: Julian's first panegyric on Constantius II. In: Baker-Brian, N. and Tougher, S. F. eds. Emperor and Author: The Writings of Julian 'the Apostate'. Swansea: The Classical Press of Wales, pp. 19-34.
- Baker-Brian, N. and Tougher, S. F. 2012. Introduction. In: Baker-Brian, N. and Tougher, S. F. eds. Emperor and Author: The Writings of Julian the Apostate. Swansea: The Classical Press of Wales, pp. xiii-xxi.
- Baker-Brian, N. 2012. The politics of virtue in Julian's Misopogon. In: Baker-Brian, N. and Tougher, S. F. eds. Emperor and Author: The Writings of Julian the Apostate. Swansea: Classical Press of Wales, pp. 263-280.
2011
- Baker-Brian, N. 2011. Manichaeism: An ancient faith rediscovered. London: T & T Clark International.
2009
- Baker-Brian, N. 2009. Manichaeism in the Later Roman Empire: A study of Augustine's 'Contra Adimantum'. Lampeter: Edwin Mellen Press.
2007
- Baker-Brian, N. 2007. Modern Augustinian biographies: Revisions and counter-memories. Zeitschrift für Antikes Christentum 11(1), pp. 151-167. (10.1515/ZAC.2007.009)
2006
- Baker-Brian, N. 2006. Biblical traditions and their transformation in fourth century Manichaeism. Augustiniana 56(1-2), pp. 63-80.
2003
- Baker-Brian, N. 2003. '.. quaedam disputationes Adimanti' (Retr. I. xxii. 1): Reading the Manichaean Biblical Discordance in Augustine's Contra Adimantum. Augustinian Studies 34(2), pp. 175-196. (10.5840/augstudies200334211)
Articles
- Baker-Brian, N. 2016. “Putrid boils and sores, and burning wounds in the body”: the valorization of health and illness in late antique Manichaeism: Introduction: health and the Manichaean body. Harvard Theological Review 109(3), pp. 422-446. (10.1017/S001781601600016X)
- Baker-Brian, N. 2007. Modern Augustinian biographies: Revisions and counter-memories. Zeitschrift für Antikes Christentum 11(1), pp. 151-167. (10.1515/ZAC.2007.009)
- Baker-Brian, N. 2006. Biblical traditions and their transformation in fourth century Manichaeism. Augustiniana 56(1-2), pp. 63-80.
- Baker-Brian, N. 2003. '.. quaedam disputationes Adimanti' (Retr. I. xxii. 1): Reading the Manichaean Biblical Discordance in Augustine's Contra Adimantum. Augustinian Studies 34(2), pp. 175-196. (10.5840/augstudies200334211)
Book sections
- Baker-Brian, N. 2025. Restoration not revolution: Prophecy and diatribe in Constantine I's Oration to the Saints. In: Quiroga Puertas, A. and Fuentes Gonzalez, P. eds. Diatribe Reconsidered: Pedagogical Strategies in Greco-Roman Literature between Rhetoric and Philosophy. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 1-17.
- Baker-Brian, N. 2024. Writing truth and secrets: Authorship and the legitimising role of apocalyptic in Manichaeism. In: Bonar, C. and Lidenlaub, J. D. eds. Authorial Fictions and Attributions in the Ancient Mediterranean. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, pp. 105-125.
- Baker-Brian, N. J. and Lossl, J. 2021. Introduction. In: Baker-Brian, N. J. and Lossl, J. eds. Studia Patristica CII. Papers presented at the Seventh British Patristics Conference 5-7 September 2018. Studia Patristica Vol. 102. Peeters
- Baker-Brian, N. 2020. Revisiting Proba's Confession: The Proem of the Vergilian Cento and the Reign of Julian the Apostate. In: Baker-Brian, N. J. and Lossl, J. eds. Studia Patristica CII. Papers presented at the Seventh British Patristics Conference, Cardiff, 5-7 September 2018. Peeters
- Baker-Brian, N. 2020. ‘Very great are your words’. In: Flower, R. and Ludlow, M. eds. Rhetoric and Religious Identity in Late Antiquity. Oxford University Press, pp. 114-127., (10.1093/oso/9780198813194.003.0008)
- Baker-Brian, N. J. and Tougher, S. 2020. Introduction: In the shadows of Constantine and Julian: The sons of Constantine, AD 337-361. In: Baker-Brian, N. J. and Tougher, S. eds. The Sons of Constantine, AD 337-361: In the Shadows of Constantine and Julian. New Approaches to Byzantine History and Culture Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan, (10.1007/978-3-030-39898-9)
- Baker-Brian, N. J. 2020. 'I have taken pains to get copies of them': Epistolary relations between the sons of Constantine and the Christian Church. In: Baker-Brian, N. J. and Tougher, S. eds. The Sons of Constantine, AD337-361. In the Shadows of Constantine and Julian. New Approaches to Byzantine History and Culture Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan, pp. 347-388.
- Baker-Brian, N. J. 2018. A new religion? The emergence of Manichaeism in Late Antiquity. In: Lossl, J. and Baker-Brian, N. J. eds. A Companion to Religion in Late Antiquity. Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World Chichester: Wiley, pp. 319-343., (10.1002/9781118968130.ch15)
- Baker-Brian, N. 2018. Introduction. In: Lossl, J. and Baker-Brian, N. eds. A Companion to Religion in Late Antiquity. Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 1-8.
- Baker-Brian, N. 2017. Mass and elite in Late Antique religion: the case of Manichaeism. In: Evans, R. ed. Mass and Elite in the Greek and Roman Worlds: From Sparta to Late Antiquity. London: Routledge, pp. 165-184.
- Baker-Brian, N. 2017. Manicheism. In: Toom, T. ed. Augustine in Context. Cambridge University Press, pp. 137-144.
- Baker-Brian, N. and Galynina, I. 2013. Contra Faustum. In: Pollmann, K. and Otten, W. eds. The Oxford Guide to the Historical Reception of Augustine. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 46-53.
- Baker-Brian, N. 2013. Manichaeism. In: Pollmann, K. and Otten, W. eds. The Oxford Guide to the Historical Reception of Augustine. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 871-877.
- Baker-Brian, N. 2013. Women in Augustine's anti-Manichaean writings: Rumour, rhetoric, and ritual. In: Vinzent, M. ed. Studia Patristica LXX: Papers presented at the sixteenth International Conference on Patristic Studies held in Oxford 2011: Volume 18: St Augustine and his Opponents. Studia Patristica Vol. 70. Leuven: Peeters, pp. 499-520.
- Baker-Brian, N. 2013. Between testimony and rumour: Strategies of invective in Augustine's 'De moribus manichaeorum'. In: Quiroga Puertas, A. J. ed. The Purpose of Rhetoric in Late Antiquity: From Performance to Exegesis. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, pp. 31-53.
- Tougher, S. F. 2012. Reading between the lines: Julian's first panegyric on Constantius II. In: Baker-Brian, N. and Tougher, S. F. eds. Emperor and Author: The Writings of Julian 'the Apostate'. Swansea: The Classical Press of Wales, pp. 19-34.
- Baker-Brian, N. and Tougher, S. F. 2012. Introduction. In: Baker-Brian, N. and Tougher, S. F. eds. Emperor and Author: The Writings of Julian the Apostate. Swansea: The Classical Press of Wales, pp. xiii-xxi.
- Baker-Brian, N. 2012. The politics of virtue in Julian's Misopogon. In: Baker-Brian, N. and Tougher, S. F. eds. Emperor and Author: The Writings of Julian the Apostate. Swansea: Classical Press of Wales, pp. 263-280.
Books
- Baker-Brian, N. 2022. The reign of Constantius II. Routledge.
- Baker-Brian, N. J. and Lossl, J. eds. 2021. Studia Patristica CII. Including papers presented at the Seventh British Patristics Conference, Cardiff, 5-7 September 2018. Peeters.
- Baker-Brian, N. and Tougher, S. eds. 2020. The sons of Constantine, AD 337-361: in the shadows of Constantine and Julian. New Approaches to Byzantine History and Culture. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. (10.1007/978-3-030-39898-9)
- Lossl, J. and Baker-Brian, N. J. eds. 2018. A companion to religion in Late Antiquity. Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World. Chichester: Wiley. (10.1002/9781118968130)
- Baker-Brian, N. and Tougher, S. F. eds. 2012. Emperor and author: The writings of Julian the Apostate. Swansea: Classical Press of Wales.
- Baker-Brian, N. 2011. Manichaeism: An ancient faith rediscovered. London: T & T Clark International.
- Baker-Brian, N. 2009. Manichaeism in the Later Roman Empire: A study of Augustine's 'Contra Adimantum'. Lampeter: Edwin Mellen Press.
- Baker-Brian, N. 2013. Women in Augustine's anti-Manichaean writings: Rumour, rhetoric, and ritual. In: Vinzent, M. ed. Studia Patristica LXX: Papers presented at the sixteenth International Conference on Patristic Studies held in Oxford 2011: Volume 18: St Augustine and his Opponents. Studia Patristica Vol. 70. Leuven: Peeters, pp. 499-520.
- Baker-Brian, N. 2013. Between testimony and rumour: Strategies of invective in Augustine's 'De moribus manichaeorum'. In: Quiroga Puertas, A. J. ed. The Purpose of Rhetoric in Late Antiquity: From Performance to Exegesis. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, pp. 31-53.
- Baker-Brian, N. and Tougher, S. F. eds. 2012. Emperor and author: The writings of Julian the Apostate. Swansea: Classical Press of Wales.
- Baker-Brian, N. and Tougher, S. F. 2012. Introduction. In: Baker-Brian, N. and Tougher, S. F. eds. Emperor and Author: The Writings of Julian the Apostate. Swansea: The Classical Press of Wales, pp. xiii-xxi.
- Baker-Brian, N. 2012. The politics of virtue in Julian's Misopogon. In: Baker-Brian, N. and Tougher, S. F. eds. Emperor and Author: The Writings of Julian the Apostate. Swansea: Classical Press of Wales, pp. 263-280.
- Baker-Brian, N. 2011. Manichaeism: An ancient faith rediscovered. London: T & T Clark International.
- Baker-Brian, N. 2009. Manichaeism in the Later Roman Empire: A study of Augustine's 'Contra Adimantum'. Lampeter: Edwin Mellen Press.
- Baker-Brian, N. 2007. Modern Augustinian biographies: Revisions and counter-memories. Zeitschrift für Antikes Christentum 11(1), pp. 151-167. (10.1515/ZAC.2007.009)
- Baker-Brian, N. 2006. Biblical traditions and their transformation in fourth century Manichaeism. Augustiniana 56(1-2), pp. 63-80.
Research
Projects
Series Editor and Founder, Critical Debates in Global Late Antiquity in partnership with Routledge
*We are recruiting new authors for this series in a range of cutting-edge areas of Global Historical Studies, including
Climate and the Environment in Late Antique Studies
Health, Disease and Death in Late Antique Studies;
Religious Entanglements in Late Antique Studies;
Rulership in Late Antique Studies;
Sexual Violence in Late Antique Studies;
Editor in Chief, Journal for Late Antique Religion and Culture in partnership with Cardiff University Press
The ONLY Diamond Open Access Journal for Late Antiquity
*Latest edition here Journal for Late Antique Religion and Culture
Current projects include:
Constantinian Culture: A History of the Constantinian Dynasty
Imperial Wisdom: Towards a New History of the Third Century CE
New Translation and Commentary of Psalms of Heracleides (Coptic Gospels and Associated Texts series)
Teaching
Teaching profile
- RT0102 Themes and Issues in the Study of Religion
- HS0303 Crossing Boundaries: Interdisciplinary Dissertation
- HS3110 Discovering Ancient Languages
- RT0201 What is Religion?
- RT0328 Empire of Faith: Religion, Politics and Belief in the Rome Empire of the Fourth Century CE
- RT0227 Guided Study in Religion and Theology
- RT0202 Independent Study or Critical Translation
- RT0306 Exploring Gnosticism
Postgraduate students
I am happy to discuss possible MPhil/MRes/PhD projects in my specified research areas, please email me baker-briannj1@cardiff.ac.uk
Biography
Education and qualifications
- PhD Late Antique Latin literature (Wales 2002)
Career overview
- 2024-Present: Professor of Late Antique Studies, Cardiff University
- 2019-2024: Reader in Ancient Religions, SHARE, Cardiff University
Honours and awards
British Academy Doctoral Award-Holder
Professional memberships
- Member: North American Patristics Society
- Member: International Association of Manichaean Studies
Supervisions
Late Antiquity
Early Christianity
Later Roman Empire
Manichaeism and Gnosticism
Coptic Studies
Latin and Greek Patristic Literature
Current supervision
Past projects
Recent PhDs include:
William Lewis, Political Networks, Imperial Relations, and the Division of the Roman Empire, AD 337 to 350
Susanna Towers, Constructions of Gender in Late Antique Manichaean Cosmological Narrative
Ulriika Vihervalli, Deviance and Disaster: Rationalising sexual morality in Western Christian discourses, AD 390 - AD 520
Victoria Leonard, Imperial Authority and the Providence of Monotheism in Orosius' Historiae Adversus Paganos
Thomas Hunt, 'How those things which are invisible are known from the visible' (Hier. Comm. Ad Ephes 1.1.19): The link between phsyical and spiritual knowing in three works of Jerome of Stridon produced during his first three years in Bethlehem (386-393)
Contact Details
Research themes
Specialisms
- Late Period - Roman Egypt
- Dynasty
- Political Culture, Late Roman Empire
