Byzantium's Crown
Encyclopedia
Byzantium's Crown is a 1987 alternate history novel with fantasy
elements by Susan Shwartz
. It is the first volume in the trilogy Heirs to Byzantium, which also includes Queensblade and The Woman of Flowers.
The novel's plot concerns dynastic power struggles in a history in which Mark Antony
defeated Octavius
(who never became Augustus
) in the Battle of Actium
. The book's assumption is that thereupon Antony and Cleopatra established the centre of their power in the city of Byzantium
, which thus became an Imperial capital several hundred years earlier than in our history.
In practice, the Empire depicted in the book is quite similar to the Byzantine Empire
of our history, except that it is Pagan and Christianity has never appeared, or at least never gained importance.
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
elements by Susan Shwartz
Susan Shwartz
Susan Shwartz is an American author.She received her B.A. in English from Mount Holyoke College in 1972 and a Ph.D. in English from Harvard University.-Novels:* The Woman of Flowers * Byzantium's Crown...
. It is the first volume in the trilogy Heirs to Byzantium, which also includes Queensblade and The Woman of Flowers.
The novel's plot concerns dynastic power struggles in a history in which Mark Antony
Mark Antony
Marcus Antonius , known in English as Mark Antony, was a Roman politician and general. As a military commander and administrator, he was an important supporter and loyal friend of his mother's cousin Julius Caesar...
defeated Octavius
Octavius
Octavius or Eudaf Hen is a figure of Welsh tradition. He is remembered as a King of the Britons and the father of Elen Luyddog and Conan Meriadoc in sources such as the Welsh prose tale The Dream of Macsen and Geoffrey of Monmouth's Latin chronicle Historia Regum Britanniae...
(who never became Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
) in the Battle of Actium
Battle of Actium
The Battle of Actium was the decisive confrontation of the Final War of the Roman Republic. It was fought between the forces of Octavian and the combined forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII. The battle took place on 2 September 31 BC, on the Ionian Sea near the city of Actium, at the Roman...
. The book's assumption is that thereupon Antony and Cleopatra established the centre of their power in the city of Byzantium
Byzantium
Byzantium was an ancient Greek city, founded by Greek colonists from Megara in 667 BC and named after their king Byzas . The name Byzantium is a Latinization of the original name Byzantion...
, which thus became an Imperial capital several hundred years earlier than in our history.
In practice, the Empire depicted in the book is quite similar to the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
of our history, except that it is Pagan and Christianity has never appeared, or at least never gained importance.