Lucius Octavius Cornelius Publius Salvius Iulianus Aemilianus (c. 110 – c. 170), generally referred to as Salvius Iulianus, or Julian the Jurist, or simply Iulianus, was a well known and respected jurist, public official, and politician who served in the Roman imperial state. Of north African origin, he was active during the long reigns of the emperors Hadrian (r.117–138), Antoninus Pius (r.138–161), and Marcus Aurelius (r.161–180).
In the Roman government, Iulianus gradually rose in rank through a traditional series of offices. He was successively quaestor to the Emperor Hadrian (with double the usual salary), tribune of the plebs, praetor, praefectus aerarium Saturnii, and praefectus aerarium militarii, before assuming the high annual office of Roman consul in 148. Iulianus also served in the emperor's inner circle, the consilium principis, which functioned something like a modern cabinet, directing new legislation, but also sometimes like a court of law. "Hadrian organized it as a permanent council composed of members (jurists, high imperial functionaries of equestrian rank, and senators) appointed for life (consiliarii)." In the 4th-century Historia Augusta, the Emperor Hadrian's consilium principis included Iulianus.
"When [Hadrian] sat in judgment, he had on his council not only his friends and comites, but also jurists too, and in particular Iuventius Celsus, Salvius Iulianus, Neratius Priscus, and others, all of whom, however, the Senate had recommended."Cum iudicaret, in consilio habuit non amicos suos aut comites solum sed iuris consultos et praecipue Iuventium Celsum, Salvum Iulianum, Neratium Priscum aliosque, quos tamen senatus omnia probasset.
In his, quae contra rationem iuris constituta sunt, non possumus sequi regulam iuris.