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Fixing Example Indentation issues.
* DeliberateValuesDissonance: Several. Among other things, Julian is OK with some persecution of the Christians, with limiting peasants into family careers, and with the existence of slavery.
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** JesusWasWayCool: Julian admits, grudgingly, that his moral teachings are beyond criticism though he notes that it's fairly simplistic compared to Plato and Aristotle.
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* ShoutOut: Julian starts off his memoir by mimicking ''Marcus Aurelius To Himself'', though he drops it quickly. Aurelius is mentioned from time to time, with Julian looking at him as a model [[ThePhilosopherKing Philosopher King]]. Priscus thinks him overrated.
** He also takes ''[[{{Anabasis}} The March Upcountry]]'' with him during the invasion.
** He also takes ''[[{{Anabasis}} The March Upcountry]]'' with him during the invasion.
to:
* ShoutOut: ShoutOut:
** Julian starts off his memoir by mimicking ''Marcus Aurelius To Himself'', though he drops it quickly. Aurelius is mentioned from time to time, with Julian looking at him as a model [[ThePhilosopherKing Philosopher King]]. Priscus thinks him overrated.
** He also takes''[[{{Anabasis}} ''[[Literature/{{Anabasis}} The March Upcountry]]'' with him during the invasion.
** Julian starts off his memoir by mimicking ''Marcus Aurelius To Himself'', though he drops it quickly. Aurelius is mentioned from time to time, with Julian looking at him as a model [[ThePhilosopherKing Philosopher King]]. Priscus thinks him overrated.
** He also takes
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** DeliberateValuesDissonance: Several. Among other things, Julian is OK with some persecution of the Christians, with limiting peasants into family careers, and with the existence of slavery.
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** JesusWasWayCool: Julian admits, grudgingly, that his moral teachings are beyond criticism.
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** JesusWasWayCool: Julian admits, grudgingly, that his moral teachings are beyond criticism.criticism though he notes that it's fairly simplistic compared to Plato and Aristotle.
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* TheFriendNoOneLikes: Maximus. He deserves it.
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* TheFriendNoOneLikes: TheFriendNobodyLikes: Maximus. He deserves it.
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* DroppedABridgeOnHim: Things look bad for poor Julian. As he spends his time writing letters to every senate he can think of, Constantius has the biggest army on Earth. Two of his legions desert him, and leave a fatal gap in his defense. Julian finds himself in despair, knowing that the gods have left him. And then Constantius dies of a fever. But not before making him his heir. Just like he did in real life.
* TheFriendNoOneLikes: Maximus. He deserves it.
* HeroicBSOD: Julian has one when he thinks he's being set up to die in Gaul, and another when he realizes that the invasion is lost.
* LeeroyJenkins: Julian gives Libino half a legion and orders him to negotiate with a German King. On the way, he meets a German force five times his own. He promptly orders an attack, and he and his Romans are massacred.
* LonelyAtTheTop: Constantius writes Julian a poignant letter to this effect while on his deathbed. Julian had to deal with this even before became Augustus, but more or less reconciled himself with it.
* LonelyAtTheTop: Constantius writes Julian a poignant letter to this effect while on his deathbed. Julian had to deal with this even before became Augustus, but more or less reconciled himself with it.
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* ShoutOut: Julian starts off his memoir by mimicking ''Marcus Aurelius To Himself'', though he drops it quickly. Aurelius is mentioned from time to time, with Julian looking at him as a model [[ThePhilosopherKing Philosopher King]].
to:
* ShoutOut: Julian starts off his memoir by mimicking ''Marcus Aurelius To Himself'', though he drops it quickly. Aurelius is mentioned from time to time, with Julian looking at him as a model [[ThePhilosopherKing Philosopher King]]. Priscus thinks him overrated.
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* TakeOverTheWorld: For all his philosophy, Julian ends his memoir giddy with dreams of Persia and India and China. He recounts all the other emperors who measured themselves against Alexander:
-->''Each of my predecessors longed to equal this dead boy. None did. Now I shall!''
-->''Each of my predecessors longed to equal this dead boy. None did. Now I shall!''
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* [[AGodAmI An Alexander Am I]]: Perhaps the worst thing Maximus does is to convince Julian that Cybele had spoken to him, telling him that she'd send the spirit of AlexanderTheGreat to guide him, and that his victory is assured. [[{{Understatement}} This gets him into quite a bit of trouble.]]
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* MiscarriageOfJustice: The Deacon, killed for the cloak, and Ursulus, killed for badmouthing soldiers.
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* OlderThanYouThink: Apparently, the concept of the Eucharist goes all the way back to Zarathustra, six centuries before Jesus.
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* ValuesResonance: The Historical Julian really was in favor of religious tolerance, and really did say "Can anyone be ever found innocent, if all you must do is accuse him?"
** DeliberateValuesDissonance: Several. Among other things, Julian is OK with some persecution of the Christians, with limiting peasants into family careers, and with the existence of slavery.
** DeliberateValuesDissonance: Several. Among other things, Julian is OK with some persecution of the Christians, with limiting peasants into family careers, and with the existence of slavery.
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* HijackedByJesus: It's noted several times that the key to Christian success is their willingness to assimilate any pagan holiday or custom that invites new blood.
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* JesusWasCrazy: Julian's view is that Jesus was just some guy who thought he was the Messiah. He acted out the prophetic requirements, such as riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, and eventually resorted to violence when nothing else worked.
** JesusWasWayCool: Julian admits, grudgingly, that his moral teachings are beyond criticism.
** JesusWasWayCool: Julian admits, grudgingly, that his moral teachings are beyond criticism.
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* NaughtyNuns: The "Shrine Of Aphrodite", where one can ''enjoy'' a priestess for a price. "They pretend it is religion. Actually, it is mass prostitution."
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* NoSocialSkills: Constantius is actually rather dull and quite shy. He can only interact with others as Emperor.
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** However, it must be remembered Julian is an UnreliableNarrator.
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** However, it must be remembered Julian is an UnreliableNarrator.UnreliableNarrator, with a motive to justify his reliance on prophecy.
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* UnfortunateNames: Hilarius. Unfortunately, Gallus gets him alone and [[HilarityEnsues Hilarity does not Ensue.]]
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* BadDreams: Interestingly happens to Gallus, Julian, and Constantius. Gallus simply has nightmares in the days before his execution. Constantius and Julian, on the other hand, have dreams that could be anything from AnxietyDreams to DreamingTheTruth to DreamingOfThingsToCome. Julian gives great weight to his.
** However, it must be remembered Julian is an UnreliableNarrator.
** However, it must be remembered Julian is an UnreliableNarrator.
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* KingOnHisDeathbed: Constantius and Julian.
* ModestRoyalty: Julian takes up celibacy and asceticism.
* ModestRoyalty: Julian takes up celibacy and asceticism.
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* FatalFlaw: Julian's craving for the supernatural.
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* InsaneTrollLogic: Gallus says the following while talking to― at― Julian:
--> ''Sometimes at night, I walk the streets in disguise. I listen to them. I watch them, knowing I can do anything to them I want and no one can touch me. If I want to rape a woman or kill a man in an alley, I can. Sometimes I do. But it is evil. I know it. I try not to. Yet I feel that when I do these things there is something higher which acts ''through'' me. I am a child of God. Unworthy as I am, he created me and to him I shall return. What I am, he wanted me to be. That is why I am good.''
--> ''Sometimes at night, I walk the streets in disguise. I listen to them. I watch them, knowing I can do anything to them I want and no one can touch me. If I want to rape a woman or kill a man in an alley, I can. Sometimes I do. But it is evil. I know it. I try not to. Yet I feel that when I do these things there is something higher which acts ''through'' me. I am a child of God. Unworthy as I am, he created me and to him I shall return. What I am, he wanted me to be. That is why I am good.''
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* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: What ''was'' the deal with that imperial robe- the one that got a deacon killed?
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* WeAREStrugglingTogether: The Christians oppose Julian, while constantly killing each other such weighty questions as "Is the Son of the ''same'' substance as the Father, or is he merely ''similiar'' to the Father?"
to:
* WeAREStrugglingTogether: The Christians oppose Julian, while constantly killing each other such weighty questions as "Is the Son of the ''same'' substance as the Father, or is he merely ''similiar'' to the Father?" ''similiar''?"
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Seventeen years after Julian the Apostate, so-named for his efforts to revive Hellenistic paganism, was slain on the battlefield, Nicene Christianity has become the state religion. His old teacher Libanius bemoans this and proposes to Julian's old friend Priscus that they write a biography using Julian's [[FictionalDocument unfinished memoir]].
to:
Seventeen years after Julian the Apostate, so-named for his efforts to revive Hellenistic paganism, was slain on the battlefield, Nicene Christianity has become the state religion. His old teacher Libanius bemoans this and proposes to Julian's old friend Priscus that they write a biography using Julian's [[FictionalDocument unfinished memoir]].
memoir]].
The novel is known for its vivid detail in bringing the Ancient World to life, and especially for its portrayal of Roman society without the HollywoodHistory typical of most historical recreations. Indeed Vidal spent years researching the life of Julian and famously published a bibliography of reference material at the end of the text to serve as a guide to critics and scholars.
* DeathOfTheOldGods: Hellenistic Religion, the Greek and Roman Pantheon are on their last legs. Their shrines and temples are used as roadside privies and their rituals have become gaudy exotic spectacles for tourists.
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* EndOfAnAge: The book highlights Julian's brief reign as the end of the Ancient world with Christianity setting a ResetButton and changing civilization forever. Hellenistic religion despite Julian's fervent efforts to revive it are in total decay and in the end [[ForegoneConclusion it will die out.]]
to:
* EndOfAnAge: The book highlights Julian's brief reign as the end of the Ancient world World with Christianity setting a ResetButton and changing civilization forever. Hellenistic religion despite Julian's fervent efforts to revive it are in total decay and in the end [[ForegoneConclusion it will die out.]]
* {{Hypocrite}}: As pointed out numerous times by Julian himself and Libanius and Priscus, many Christian rituals and rites borrow wholesale from the despised "pagan" practices of Hellenistic religion. Julian also criticizes them for their endless schisms and their persecution of Jews.
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* ShortLivedBigImpact: Julian has a short reign but he sets about so many reforms and is such a poignant, modern figure that he set an example for the whole of history in his short life.
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* UnreliableNarrator: Julian's deference to the facts of his own life are spotty. His transcribers step in from time to time to fix any inconsistencies.
to:
* UnreliableNarrator: Julian's deference to the facts of his own life are spotty. His transcribers step in from time to time to fix any inconsistencies.inconsistencies, though they note that Julian is mostly accurate and a fair writer.
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Seventeen years after Julian the Apostate, so-named for his efforts to revive Hellenistic paganism, was slain on the battlefield, Nicene Christianity has become the state religion. His old teacher Libanius bemoans this and proposes to Julian's old friend Priscus that they write a biography using Julian's [[FictionalDocument unfinished memoir]].
to:
Seventeen years after Julian the Apostate, so-named for his efforts to revive Hellenistic paganism, was slain on the battlefield, Nicene Christianity has become the state religion. His old teacher Libanius bemoans this and proposes to Julian's old friend Priscus that they write a biography using Julian's [[FictionalDocument unfinished memoir]].
memoir]].
The novel is known for its vivid detail in bringing the Ancient World to life, and especially for its portrayal of Roman society without the HollywoodHistory typical of most historical recreations. Indeed Vidal spent years researching the life of Julian and famously published a bibliography of reference material at the end of the text to serve as a guide to critics and scholars.
* DeathOfTheOldGods: Hellenistic Religion, the Greek and Roman Pantheon are on their last legs. Their shrines and temples are used as roadside privies and their rituals have become gaudy exotic spectacles for tourists.
Changed line(s) 18 (click to see context) from:
* EndOfAnAge: The book highlights Julian's brief reign as the end of the Ancient world with Christianity setting a ResetButton and changing civilization forever. Hellenistic religion despite Julian's fervent efforts to revive it are in total decay and in the end [[ForegoneConclusion it will die out.]]
to:
* EndOfAnAge: The book highlights Julian's brief reign as the end of the Ancient world World with Christianity setting a ResetButton and changing civilization forever. Hellenistic religion despite Julian's fervent efforts to revive it are in total decay and in the end [[ForegoneConclusion it will die out.]]
* {{Hypocrite}}: As pointed out numerous times by Julian himself and Libanius and Priscus, many Christian rituals and rites borrow wholesale from the despised "pagan" practices of Hellenistic religion. Julian also criticizes them for their endless schisms and their persecution of Jews.
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* ShortLivedBigImpact: Julian has a short reign but he sets about so many reforms and is such a poignant, modern figure that he set an example for the whole of history in his short life.
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* UnreliableNarrator: Julian's deference to the facts of his own life are spotty. His transcribers step in from time to time to fix any inconsistencies.
to:
* UnreliableNarrator: Julian's deference to the facts of his own life are spotty. His transcribers step in from time to time to fix any inconsistencies.inconsistencies, though they note that Julian is mostly accurate and a fair writer.
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* AllFirstPersonNarratorsWriteLikeNovelists
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* EunuchsAreEvil: With the exception of Mardonius, who help raise Julian after his father died, the eunuchs are very much this. Julian is more than happy to purge them.
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* EunuchsAreEvil: With the exception of Mardonius, who help helped raise Julian after his father died, the eunuchs are very much this. Julian is more than happy to purge them.
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* [[spoiler: MakeItLookLikeAnAccident]]: [[spoiler:Julian is killed by one of his own soldiers, who makes it appear as if he was felled by an enemy Persian's spear]].
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* [[spoiler: UnfriendlyFire]]
to:
* [[spoiler: UnfriendlyFire]]UnfriendlyFire: Julian is killed by one of his own soldiers, who makes it appear as if he was felled by an enemy Persian's spear]].
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* EunuchsAreEvil: With the exception of Mardonius, who help raise Julian after his father died, the eunuchs are very much this. Julian is more than happy to purge them.
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* [[spoiler: UnfriendlyFire]]
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* BadassBookworm: Julian. Priscus has his moments.
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* WeAREStugglingTogether: The Christians oppose Julian, while constantly killing each other such weighty questions as "Is the Son of the ''same'' substance as the Father, or is he merely ''similiar'' to the Father?"
to:
* WeAREStugglingTogether: WeAREStrugglingTogether: The Christians oppose Julian, while constantly killing each other such weighty questions as "Is the Son of the ''same'' substance as the Father, or is he merely ''similiar'' to the Father?"
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* WeAreStugglingTogether: The Christians oppose Julian, while constantly killing each other such weighty questions as "Is the Son of the ''same'' substance to the Father, or is he merely ''similiar''?"
to:
* WeAreStugglingTogether: WeAREStugglingTogether: The Christians oppose Julian, while constantly killing each other such weighty questions as "Is the Son of the ''same'' substance to as the Father, or is he merely ''similiar''?" ''similiar'' to the Father?"
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* ShoutOut: Julian starts off his memoir by mimicking ''Marcus Aurelius To Himself'', though he drops it quickly. Aurelius is mentioned from time to time, with Julian looking at him as a model PhilosopherKing.
** He also takes ''[[Anabasis The March Upcountry]]'' with him during the invasion.
** He also takes ''[[Anabasis The March Upcountry]]'' with him during the invasion.
to:
* ShoutOut: Julian starts off his memoir by mimicking ''Marcus Aurelius To Himself'', though he drops it quickly. Aurelius is mentioned from time to time, with Julian looking at him as a model PhilosopherKing.[[ThePhilosopherKing Philosopher King]].
** He also takes''[[Anabasis ''[[{{Anabasis}} The March Upcountry]]'' with him during the invasion.
** He also takes
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* TheSociopath: Gallus hits almost every characteristic, fitting for a person who becomes TheCaligula.
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* WeAreStugglingTogether: The Christians oppose Julian, while constantly killing each other such weighty questions as "Is the Son of the ''same'' substance to the Father, or is he merely ''similiar''?"
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* ApocalypticLog: Julian's diary entries and notations during the invasion of Persia.
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* FictionalDocument: Julian's memoir, supposedly dictated each night while campaigning in Persia.
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* PassiveAggressiveKombat: Libanius and Priscus' constant snarking.
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* ShoutOut: Julian starts off his memoir by mimicking ''Marcus Aurelius To Himself'', though he drops it quickly. Aurelius is mentioned from time to time, with Julian looking at him as a model PhilosopherKing.
** He also takes ''[[Anabasis The March Upcountry]]'' with him during the invasion.
** He also takes ''[[Anabasis The March Upcountry]]'' with him during the invasion.
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* TheCaligula: Gallus, although sociopathic to begin with, loses it completely once he becomes Caesar.
to:
* TheCaligula: Gallus, although sociopathic to begin with, loses it completely once he becomes Caesar. Libanius muses that it was almost as if he and his wife studied the histories of past tyrants just so he could imitate them.
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* MakeItLookLikeAnAccident: [[spoiler:Julian is killed by one of his own soldiers, who makes it appear as if he was felled by an enemy Persian's spear]].
to:
* MakeItLookLikeAnAccident: [[spoiler: MakeItLookLikeAnAccident]]: [[spoiler:Julian is killed by one of his own soldiers, who makes it appear as if he was felled by an enemy Persian's spear]].
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* OffWithHisHead: Gallus' punishment for insulting Constantius.
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* OffWithHisHead: Gallus' punishment for insulting Constantius.punishment.
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** AnachronicOrder
** BadassBeard: Subverted with Julian, who insists on combing his long beard into a point (Everyone tells him it looks ridiculous).
** TheCaligula: Gallus in ''Julian'' is depicted throughout the novel as a sociopath who delights in others' pain.
** TheChainsOfCommanding: Constantius.
** DirtyOldMan: Priscus has an eye for the ladies.
** EndOfAnAge: The book highlights Julian's brief reign as the end of the Ancient world with Christianity setting a ResetButton and changing civilization forever. Hellenistic religion despite Julian's fervent efforts to revive it are in total decay and in the end [[ForegoneConclusion it will die out.]]
** GotVolunteered: Literally in the case of Julian, who is offered a choice between declaring himself Caesar of Gaul, or being murdered by said Gauls. It's unclear whether or not Julian is embellishing events to disguise his ambition.
** IncestIsRelative / UnholyMatrimony: Gallus and Constantina.
** MakeItLookLikeAnAccident: [[spoiler:Julian is killed by one of his own soldiers, who makes it appear as if he was felled by an enemy Persian's spear]].
** NoHeroDiscount: The 'margin notes' repeatedly note Priscus' exorbitant fees in exchange for pages from Julian's memoir.
** OffWithHisHead: Gallus' punishment for insulting Constantius.
** PhonyPsychic: Maximus. Picture BrianBlessed in a toga, waving a staff around and pretending not to be useless. (His bogus fortune-telling is a direct cause of Julian dying on the battlefield, and Maximus is later [[LaserGuidedKarma convicted of heresy by the new regime.]])
** ReligionIsWrong: ''Julian'' focuses on the eponymous Emperor's (failed) attempt to stem the rising tide of Christianity in Rome. (Vidal himself is a lifelong atheist.) While it extends much sympathy to Julian's religious tolerance and his attempt to halt Christianity without persecuting it, both Libanius and Priscus point that his attempt to revive Hellenistic religions only highlighted that it was NotSoDifferent from Catholicism in the end with practice becoming just as rigid and rigorous as Christianity.
** ShortLivedBigImpact: Julian has a short reign but he sets about so many reforms and is such a poignant, modern figure that he set an example for the whole of history in his short life.
** SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: Libanius and Priscus.
** TeethClenchedTeamwork: One of the more entertaining sides of ''Julian'' is a scathing letter exchange between Libanius and his collaborator Priscus, who is busy covering his posterior (and his wallet).
** UnreliableNarrator: Julian's deference to the facts of his own life are spotty. His transcribers step in from time to time to fix any inconsistencies.
** BadassBeard: Subverted with Julian, who insists on combing his long beard into a point (Everyone tells him it looks ridiculous).
** TheCaligula: Gallus in ''Julian'' is depicted throughout the novel as a sociopath who delights in others' pain.
** TheChainsOfCommanding: Constantius.
** DirtyOldMan: Priscus has an eye for the ladies.
** EndOfAnAge: The book highlights Julian's brief reign as the end of the Ancient world with Christianity setting a ResetButton and changing civilization forever. Hellenistic religion despite Julian's fervent efforts to revive it are in total decay and in the end [[ForegoneConclusion it will die out.]]
** GotVolunteered: Literally in the case of Julian, who is offered a choice between declaring himself Caesar of Gaul, or being murdered by said Gauls. It's unclear whether or not Julian is embellishing events to disguise his ambition.
** IncestIsRelative / UnholyMatrimony: Gallus and Constantina.
** MakeItLookLikeAnAccident: [[spoiler:Julian is killed by one of his own soldiers, who makes it appear as if he was felled by an enemy Persian's spear]].
** NoHeroDiscount: The 'margin notes' repeatedly note Priscus' exorbitant fees in exchange for pages from Julian's memoir.
** OffWithHisHead: Gallus' punishment for insulting Constantius.
** PhonyPsychic: Maximus. Picture BrianBlessed in a toga, waving a staff around and pretending not to be useless. (His bogus fortune-telling is a direct cause of Julian dying on the battlefield, and Maximus is later [[LaserGuidedKarma convicted of heresy by the new regime.]])
** ReligionIsWrong: ''Julian'' focuses on the eponymous Emperor's (failed) attempt to stem the rising tide of Christianity in Rome. (Vidal himself is a lifelong atheist.) While it extends much sympathy to Julian's religious tolerance and his attempt to halt Christianity without persecuting it, both Libanius and Priscus point that his attempt to revive Hellenistic religions only highlighted that it was NotSoDifferent from Catholicism in the end with practice becoming just as rigid and rigorous as Christianity.
** ShortLivedBigImpact: Julian has a short reign but he sets about so many reforms and is such a poignant, modern figure that he set an example for the whole of history in his short life.
** SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: Libanius and Priscus.
** TeethClenchedTeamwork: One of the more entertaining sides of ''Julian'' is a scathing letter exchange between Libanius and his collaborator Priscus, who is busy covering his posterior (and his wallet).
** UnreliableNarrator: Julian's deference to the facts of his own life are spotty. His transcribers step in from time to time to fix any inconsistencies.
to:
** TheChainsOfCommanding: Constantius.
* DirtyOldMan: Priscus has an eye for the ladies.
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Added DiffLines:
Seventeen years after Julian the Apostate, so-named for his efforts to revive Hellenistic paganism, was slain on the battlefield, Nicene Christianity has become the state religion. His old teacher Libanius bemoans this and proposes to Julian's old friend Priscus that they write a biography using Julian's [[FictionalDocument unfinished memoir]].
The memoir, with margin notes by Libanius and Priscus, tells Julian's story covering his youth as a royal hostage to his ascension to Caesar and then Emperor. Despite early successes in his reign, Julian's headstrong and superstitious nature begins to affect his decisions, culminating in a disastrous invasion of the Sassanid Empire, and his death.
The memoir, with margin notes by Libanius and Priscus, tells Julian's story covering his youth as a royal hostage to his ascension to Caesar and then Emperor. Despite early successes in his reign, Julian's headstrong and superstitious nature begins to affect his decisions, culminating in a disastrous invasion of the Sassanid Empire, and his death.
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''Literature/{{Julian}}'' is a 1964 HistoricalFiction novel by Gore Vidal.
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''Literature/{{Julian}}'' is a 1964 HistoricalFiction novel by Gore Vidal.
GoreVidal.
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Tropes
to:
----
!!Tropes:
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Tropes
** AnachronicOrder
** BadassBeard: Subverted with Julian, who insists on combing his long beard into a point (Everyone tells him it looks ridiculous).
** TheCaligula: Gallus in ''Julian'' is depicted throughout the novel as a sociopath who delights in others' pain.
** TheChainsOfCommanding: Constantius.
** DirtyOldMan: Priscus has an eye for the ladies.
** EndOfAnAge: The book highlights Julian's brief reign as the end of the Ancient world with Christianity setting a ResetButton and changing civilization forever. Hellenistic religion despite Julian's fervent efforts to revive it are in total decay and in the end [[ForegoneConclusion it will die out.]]
** GotVolunteered: Literally in the case of Julian, who is offered a choice between declaring himself Caesar of Gaul, or being murdered by said Gauls. It's unclear whether or not Julian is embellishing events to disguise his ambition.
** IncestIsRelative / UnholyMatrimony: Gallus and Constantina.
** MakeItLookLikeAnAccident: [[spoiler:Julian is killed by one of his own soldiers, who makes it appear as if he was felled by an enemy Persian's spear]].
** NoHeroDiscount: The 'margin notes' repeatedly note Priscus' exorbitant fees in exchange for pages from Julian's memoir.
** OffWithHisHead: Gallus' punishment for insulting Constantius.
** PhonyPsychic: Maximus. Picture BrianBlessed in a toga, waving a staff around and pretending not to be useless. (His bogus fortune-telling is a direct cause of Julian dying on the battlefield, and Maximus is later [[LaserGuidedKarma convicted of heresy by the new regime.]])
** ReligionIsWrong: ''Julian'' focuses on the eponymous Emperor's (failed) attempt to stem the rising tide of Christianity in Rome. (Vidal himself is a lifelong atheist.) While it extends much sympathy to Julian's religious tolerance and his attempt to halt Christianity without persecuting it, both Libanius and Priscus point that his attempt to revive Hellenistic religions only highlighted that it was NotSoDifferent from Catholicism in the end with practice becoming just as rigid and rigorous as Christianity.
** ShortLivedBigImpact: Julian has a short reign but he sets about so many reforms and is such a poignant, modern figure that he set an example for the whole of history in his short life.
** SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: Libanius and Priscus.
** TeethClenchedTeamwork: One of the more entertaining sides of ''Julian'' is a scathing letter exchange between Libanius and his collaborator Priscus, who is busy covering his posterior (and his wallet).
** UnreliableNarrator: Julian's deference to the facts of his own life are spotty. His transcribers step in from time to time to fix any inconsistencies.
** AnachronicOrder
** BadassBeard: Subverted with Julian, who insists on combing his long beard into a point (Everyone tells him it looks ridiculous).
** TheCaligula: Gallus in ''Julian'' is depicted throughout the novel as a sociopath who delights in others' pain.
** TheChainsOfCommanding: Constantius.
** DirtyOldMan: Priscus has an eye for the ladies.
** EndOfAnAge: The book highlights Julian's brief reign as the end of the Ancient world with Christianity setting a ResetButton and changing civilization forever. Hellenistic religion despite Julian's fervent efforts to revive it are in total decay and in the end [[ForegoneConclusion it will die out.]]
** GotVolunteered: Literally in the case of Julian, who is offered a choice between declaring himself Caesar of Gaul, or being murdered by said Gauls. It's unclear whether or not Julian is embellishing events to disguise his ambition.
** IncestIsRelative / UnholyMatrimony: Gallus and Constantina.
** MakeItLookLikeAnAccident: [[spoiler:Julian is killed by one of his own soldiers, who makes it appear as if he was felled by an enemy Persian's spear]].
** NoHeroDiscount: The 'margin notes' repeatedly note Priscus' exorbitant fees in exchange for pages from Julian's memoir.
** OffWithHisHead: Gallus' punishment for insulting Constantius.
** PhonyPsychic: Maximus. Picture BrianBlessed in a toga, waving a staff around and pretending not to be useless. (His bogus fortune-telling is a direct cause of Julian dying on the battlefield, and Maximus is later [[LaserGuidedKarma convicted of heresy by the new regime.]])
** ReligionIsWrong: ''Julian'' focuses on the eponymous Emperor's (failed) attempt to stem the rising tide of Christianity in Rome. (Vidal himself is a lifelong atheist.) While it extends much sympathy to Julian's religious tolerance and his attempt to halt Christianity without persecuting it, both Libanius and Priscus point that his attempt to revive Hellenistic religions only highlighted that it was NotSoDifferent from Catholicism in the end with practice becoming just as rigid and rigorous as Christianity.
** ShortLivedBigImpact: Julian has a short reign but he sets about so many reforms and is such a poignant, modern figure that he set an example for the whole of history in his short life.
** SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: Libanius and Priscus.
** TeethClenchedTeamwork: One of the more entertaining sides of ''Julian'' is a scathing letter exchange between Libanius and his collaborator Priscus, who is busy covering his posterior (and his wallet).
** UnreliableNarrator: Julian's deference to the facts of his own life are spotty. His transcribers step in from time to time to fix any inconsistencies.
