Another pagan Emperor in 363?

Well, maybe not altering the books themselves, but rather somehow obtaining the message (I believe Julian wasn't in Rome at the time, and got sent the message from Rome) and altering it before sending it on to Julian.

Or even a rumour that was what happened...?

Julian wasnt in Rome indeed... He sent envoys to consult the Sibylline Books... But a christian plot is quite possible... Somehow gain access to the message for Julian so to get him killed with Persians? Oh and frighten pagans so not to claim the throne... Worked in Sallustius case i think...
 
Julian wasnt in Rome indeed... He sent envoys to consult the Sibylline Books... But a christian plot is quite possible... Somehow gain access to the message for Julian so to get him killed with Persians? Oh and frighten pagans so not to claim the throne... Worked in Sallustius case i think...

So, a rumour to that effect starts to spread. Some poor christian soldier gets accused and confesses under torture that he did indeed change the content of the message to lure Julian to his death in the war. Sallustius faith in the gods is restored and he accepts the throne. However, since he now "knows" that the christians conspired against Julian he sees conspiracies everywhere and surrounds himself with guard of fanaticly anti-christian pagan soldiers (I'm sure there must have been, considering the mounting tension and the christians not being very shy about getting the upper hand under earlier emperors). He adopts a suitable pagan as his son and the two of them, as Augustus and Caesar, rule the empire and are fairly harsh towards the christians along the lines of Julian, while gaining the love of the soldiers with money. Sallustius adopted son, who takes the name Julian on honour of Sallustius friend, has three sons that he let co-rule the empire with him, but decrees that the oldest, named Sallustius, shall be his heir upon his death. Sallustius II turns out to be a fierce anti-christian decreeing the eridication of the christian superstision...

I feel this is getting out of hand, but it could be a start?
 
This wont work if Julian is dead or badly wounded... And certainly not under Jovian and Valens... Julian left for Persia while believing that Sibylla was right... If this was proved wrong i higly doubt if Jovian or Valentinian or Valens would have let it leaked...
 
Besides even the Oracle of Delphi issued its last prophecy proclaiming Paganism dead according to Ammianus Marcellinus... (There was a previous prophecy though to Emperor Diocletian predicting the fall of Old Gods which triggered Diocletian's persecution...)
 
Anyway i guess that even if Sallustius or any other Pagan had taken the Purple there would be a renewed persecution of christians as an act of revenge for Julian's death...
 
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