Julian’s Elevation
Julian’s Elevation
Tradition and Innovation in Speech and Narrative
This chapter provides an analysis of Julian’s elevation to the Caesarship in 355 as presented by Ammianus in Book 15. It argues that Ammianus draws on a well-established historiographical model of a speech scene in order to provide a subtle critique of Julian’s relationship with his cousin and promoter, Constantius II, and also of Julian’s future legitimacy as Augustus. By constructing an episode that is similar to other scenes of ‘failed adoptions’ found in Sallust and Tacitus, Ammianus can present Julian as initially unprepared for his new position, but nonetheless as divinely endorsed. Constantius, on the other hand, acts on negative motivations and a limited interpretation of the situation.
Keywords: Constantius II, Julian, imperial elevations, Tacitus, Galba, Piso, Sallust, Jugurtha, speeches in historiography, narratology
Oxford Scholarship Online requires a subscription or purchase to access the full text of books within the service. Public users can however freely search the site and view the abstracts and keywords for each book and chapter.
Please, subscribe or login to access full text content.
If you think you should have access to this title, please contact your librarian.
To troubleshoot, please check our FAQs , and if you can't find the answer there, please contact us .