[Medieval] The Macedonian Lion

Completed Western historical novels: "The Bastard Dynasty," "The Model Plantagenet Family," "King Arthur," and "Queen Matilda." See my profile for details~

In 1025, on the eve of his planned conquest of Sicily, Basil II, the eleventh emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire's Macedonian dynasty, known as the "Bulgar Slayer," passed away. He had never married and had no wife or children. Instead of being buried in the imperial mausoleum, he chose the Hippodrome as his final resting place. He led the ancient empire through its second revival, but with no heir to succeed him, it quickly declined after his death. His great ambitions came to nothing, and his policies died with him.

In 1199, Richard I, the second king of England's Plantagenet dynasty, known as the "Lionheart," died of gangrene in his mother's arms. His fame had spread across Europe during his lifetime, and through his own efforts he extended the Kingdom of Jerusalem's existence by a hundred years. Yet he could not protect his homeland after his death. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself reborn as Basil II's nephew, Alexander Macedon. As the only surviving male member of the Macedonian family besides Basil and his brother, he was considered the empire's future heir…

Alexander IV: "My uncle restored Eastern Europe's borders, and I will become a world-restorer like Aurelian… I came, I saw, I conquered!"

A pure plot-driven power fantasy. The lonely Lionheart has closed his heart to love. No romance. Not too long, and I'll try to wrap it up in under 200,000 words.

Coming soon:

In 1184, on an utterly ordinary Christmas, while the Plantagenet family, full of filial children, brotherly affection, and loving spouses, basked in the festive spirit of "family joy," a water mirror rose without warning. It was a divine miracle, and a warning of what lay ahead:

[The blessings fate bestowed on Henry II in the first half of his life would all be taken back in the second. In the end, everyone would turn against him, even his beloved youngest son John. He would die miserably in a monastery, and after his death, servants would strip the jewels from his body…]

Henry II: "Divorce! I want a divorce! No marriage, no children, a happy life forever!"

[The legendary Richard I would not meet his end in a duel with Saladin, in a war against his mortal enemy Philip II, or even through his brother John’s schemes. Instead, it would be an utterly ordinary little rebellion, and a cook who impulsively shot an arrow at him.]

Richard I: "Got it. I'd do it again."

[Frederick II did not yet know that, although he had successfully reconquered Jerusalem, the Pope would support an invasion of Sicily and have him excommunicated. Yes, you reclaimed the Holy City, but you've been excommunicated.]

Frederick II: "????? What kind of nonsense is this??????"

[Alexios I never imagined that asking the West for help would turn into inviting wolves into the house. The Crusaders would ultimately accomplish what the Persians, Arabs, Bulgarians, and all his other old enemies had failed to do: sack Constantinople.]

Alexios I: "Quick, take back that invitation to the Crusaders."

[On an utterly ordinary horseback hunt, Mary of Burgundy was thrown into a ditch and died a few weeks later. Her husband was swiftly pushed out of the centers of power, and her two children were about to face a turbulent fate.]

Mary of Burgundy: "Never riding a horse again."

[Isabella of Aragon would ultimately die in childbirth, and her son Miguel would pass away in his grandmother's arms not long afterward. Queen Isabella, mourning her beloved daughter, did not yet know that compared to her three sisters, who would be imprisoned, driven mad, and divorced, Princess Isabella was the luckiest one.]

Isabella I: "…Starting today, I'll get fit and outlive my husband."

"1184: The Plantagenets in The Lion in Winter"

"1226: The Fall of the Hohenstaufens"

"1095: The Komnenian Dynasty"

"1482: The Rise of the Habsburgs"

(To be continued)

A sky screen livestream, a collection of medieval gallows humor, starting with the familiar Plantagenet family. I'll add more as inspiration and reading notes strike, and there may be bonus chapters watching other stories.

Theme: Outstanding individuals lead the currents of history