Saltier than Carthage (if it had been salted)

Explanation: Julian the Apostate was the last pagan Roman Emperor who attempted to embark on an empire-wide reform of religion to favor non-Christian faiths. A pagan Emperor at that point was quite the surprise, however - he himself had been brought up as a Christian (hence 'the Apostate', one who has turned away from their faith) and was the latest member of a dynasty of Christian Emperors who had tightened Christianity's grip on the Empire. Julian's policies, therefore, were an unexpected and sudden reversal of fortunes!

Unfortunately, as he died after two years as Emperor, killed by a javelin because he was too foolhardy and went to rally his troops against an ambush before putting his armor on, we'll never know where his efforts could have led. STTL! (SIT TIBI TERRA LEVIS - 'May the earth lay lightly upon you', a traditional Roman epitaph equivalent of RIP)