Autocrat- A Roman History Podcast
Jul 31, 2026 · 5 min · 7 segments
Vince here- I've written a historical fiction book set in Constantinople in 1081! Well, kind of. The first draft of the manuscript is complete at about 59,000 words across 34 chapters. I am planning…
You see, I've actually written up a first draft of a historical fiction novel.
I've been working on it since about 2022, and it's currently sitting at around 59,000 words, I think, split across about 34 chapters.
It's set during the transition of power between Nikephoros III and Alexios I of the Eastern Roman Empire, which is more commonly referred to as the Byzantine Empire.
The working title so far is Gutter Crown, and to give you a flavor for it, here's the blurb I've come up with.
Since the defeat of Emperor Romanos at the hands of the Seljuk Turks a decade ago, the Roman Empire has been plagued by catastrophe.
The economy is in ruins.
A weak-willed old emperor watches on as civil war and intrigue bring the empire to the brink, even as the sharks are beginning to circle.
Alexios Komnenos, the promising young commander of the Western armies, has carried all before him.
When the endless network of schemes at court produces a plot which threatens to bring down his family, he must move against the throne itself.
But if he can grab hold of the reins of power, he must keep them.
In doing so, he faces a choice that could make or break the future of the entire empire.
The story itself relies heavily on the Alexiad by Anna Komnene as a primary source, with a range of other well-known primary and secondary sources.
There are some plot points of my own addition, but I've hopefully allowed the history to speak for itself.
At least, I like to think so.
You see, I've actually written up a first draft of a historical fiction novel.
I've been working on it since about 2022, and it's currently sitting at around 59,000 words, I think, split across about 34 chapters.
It's set during the transition of power between Nikephoros III and Alexios I of the Eastern Roman Empire, which is more commonly referred to as the Byzantine Empire.
The working title so far is Gutter Crown, and to give you a flavor for it, here's the blurb I've come up with.
Since the defeat of Emperor Romanos at the hands of the Seljuk Turks a decade ago, the Roman Empire has been plagued by catastrophe.
The economy is in ruins.
A weak-willed old emperor watches on as civil war and intrigue bring the empire to the brink, even as the sharks are beginning to circle.
Alexios Komnenos, the promising young commander of the Western armies, has carried all before him.
When the endless network of schemes at court produces a plot which threatens to bring down his family, he must move against the throne itself.
But if he can grab hold of the reins of power, he must keep them.
In doing so, he faces a choice that could make or break the future of the entire empire.
The story itself relies heavily on the Alexiad by Anna Komnene as a primary source, with a range of other well-known primary and secondary sources.
There are some plot points of my own addition, but I've hopefully allowed the history to speak for itself.
At least, I like to think so.
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