Basic Trope: The in-universe version of a Real Life historical figure is revealed to be involved in the speculative elements of the setting.
- Straight: Ludwig van Beethoven, one of the greatest composers of all time, was really an alien spy for the planet Tropelon.
- Exaggerated:
- Along with nearly every other German/Austrian composer active at around the same time.
- Or: Julius Beethoven da Vinci
- Or, every Real Life historical figure has something to do with something weird. John Lennon was a vampire hunter, Isaac Newton was switched with a copy by aliens, etc.
- Downplayed:
- A character knew a historical figure, but the figure himself didn't have any special powers.
- Their involvement wasn't divergent with their existing role. J. Edgar Hoover's involvement with alien cover ups during his era wasn't really a much of a surprise. If it is a given that aliens were found during his time period and were covered up he would make sense as a culprit.
- A historical figure doesn't have any supernatural traits while alive and only gets them after being raised from the dead.
- It's never stated that Beethoven was an alien spy from planet Tropelon, but is is implied.
- The character isn't a historical figure, but is instead based off them.
- Justified:
- Tropelonians have been observing human history for quite some time, and have access to technology and mental abilities far beyond humans; it is natural that a few of them would stick out.
- "Your majesty, our glorious empire needs to find out about these humans while they are still weak. Lets insert an agent as a famous music composer entertaining rich people; that way he will keep an eye on important human rulers and they will never suspect us."
- This is a universe with Functional Magic, common alien interaction or both. Major historical figures would obviously try to take advantage of it.
- Vampires choose humans with remarkable traits or abilities to turn into vampires. Because of this, they often choose important historical figures to become vampires.
- Inverted:
- Humans land on Tropelon and infiltrate its society to observe them. Some famous figures in Tropelonian history are humans in disguise.
- There is a mythical demonic figure among wizards of Desolator the burner of knowledge, burier of scholars. He turns out to have just been Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China. He and his men didn't even touch a wizard in his lifetime but the myth built up anyway.
- Despite there being historical links to a supernatural element that is real in the setting the commonly associated figures weren't involved - like Vlad Teppes being neither a vampire nor a vampire hunter.
- Subverted:
- Evidence is revealed indicating that Beethoven was a spy for Tropelon but it turns out to be nothing more than stories and rumors to which there is nothing.
- The alien spy from Tropelon thinks he's Beethoven, but he really isn't.
- Double Subverted:
- Evidence is revealed indicating that Beethoven was a spy for Tropelon. It is later discovered that this evidence was fabricated...by a cabal of vampires who invented the idea of "Tropetlnian observers" to cover up their own existence. Beethoven was one of these vampires.
- "Don't be ridiculous, Beethoven wasn't an alien! What a stupid idea. Now Chopin, on the other hand..."
- Parodied:
- If you play the "Ode to Joy" backwards, you can hear the chorus chanting "I am from Tropelon!"
- Colonel Sanders was an alien spy from Tropelan.
- Zig Zagged:
- Evidence proves that Beethoven was a Tropelonian... and then lost historical records are discovered, showing that the setting is Tropelon, not Earth. ...And then it turns out Beethoven was really from Earth all along.
- Beethoven was just a regular great composer. Until he got replaced by aliens. Alice gets the aliens to release him and leave by impersonating their legendary and revered figure Allistondas, the ruler of the first city. However Alice really was her - she ended up going back in time later and filling her role in a stable time loop.
- Averted: Ludwig van Beethoven, one of the greatest composers who ever lived, was an exceptional human being, no more, no less.
- Enforced: The author is a fan of classical music and wants to find a way to work his favorite composer into the story, even if it is just a throw away reference.
- Lampshaded: "Aliens have been living on Earth for hundreds of years? Have they done anything famous?"
- Invoked: Tropelonian agents are under orders to attempt to influence human culture as much as they possibly can.
- Exploited: Alice upon getting stuck in the past decides to seek out historic figures because they are most likely aliens who would either have or help lead to time travel. Space travelers have better technology to work with after all.
- Defied: Tropelonian agents are under strictly enforced standing orders not to directly intervene in human affairs or to do anything that draws attention to themselves.
- Discussed: "Beethoven? A spy? Only spacemen from Venus would be crazy enough to even consider using a deaf composer as a spy!"
- Conversed: "If the aliens needed a competent spy, why'd they choose Beethoven?"
- Deconstructed: The Illuminati have been manipulating history and the media to promote their former members' fame and profile, and thus make people believe that history is decided by a small number of great individuals. They believe this will prevent uprisings and maintain their position as a secretive oligarchy. In reality, there wasn't much special about Beethoven - he's only famous because he was part of The Masquerade.
- Reconstructed: Beethoven was a normal human being which shared a body with a Tropelonian in return for his musical skill, making him appear perfectly human from birth to death.
- Played For Laughs: Beethoven is obviously a seven foot tall lizardman like alien wearing just a powdered wig. When Alice points this out they consider her utterly mad.
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