THEOPHANO (Large Print): A Romantic Monograph - Royal Scandals in Byzantium

In the genre of "Julian" by Gore Vidal, Frederic Harrison's "Theophano" is compelling history telling. Less indiscriminate than Messalina, more promiscuous than Theodora, Empress Theophano left her indelible stamp on Byzantine history as the mother of Basil the Bulgar-Slayer, one of the most important rulers of the East Roman Empire. Perhaps his mother's deeds was the reason the future king never trusted a woman enough to marry her. Frederic Harrison's historic novel is a masterful epic that details a pivotal era scholars misunderstood for centuries. Harrison has taken the time to research his subject thoroughly and develop legendary figures into real people we can understand. For example, in a subplot to the story, this is how he portrayed the legendary "bi racial" hero "Digenes" Akritas's motives: "That can never be," replied Basil Digenes, with an air of deep conviction and thought, "my birth has made it impossible, inconceivable, almost a sacrilege to contemplate. My very name reminds the Romans that I am but half a Roman, and bear in my blood and skin the color of the Prophet. My noble father, Mousur, Emir of Edessa as he was, born a Syed of the sacred stock of Islam, and from early youth a hostage at the court of the Governor of Cappadocia, the illustrious Ducas, forsook his people and his faith for the love of my mother… My father made me a soldier of Christ and of Rome, and such I will live and die. But the blood of the Emirs of Edessa stirs in my veins today, even when I am leading the charge upon their ranks. And I have seen in the armies of the Prophet courage as high and hearts as pure as any who worship the Cross. Never will I stoop to join in the insults that your craven mobs in the city delight to cast at the children of Hagar. I trust in Christ: but I will not revile the Prophet or his servants. And now tell me, most illustrious and most politic Lord of the Purple Chamber, do you think the Patriarch and his priests and acolytes will ever consecrate under the dome of the Holy Wisdom me, Digenes the Half-Breed, the son of the Saracen, with the blood of the Prophet of Mecca darkening my very cheek? …No! my Lord Theodore, tempt me not with these Palace intrigues. I am proud to serve our Basileus as the Warden of the Marches. I will fight—I will sweat and die for Rome and for Christ. But I am not of the mould in which your Cubicular conspirators are cast." Frederic Harrison (1831-1923) was a British historian, jurist, author and philosopher. He became a dominant force in positivism. As a radical and fiercely independent scholar with a polemic penmanship, he was the perfect candidate to turn the story of Empress Theophano into a compelling novel. NOTE: This ebook is a new version of the original paper print. It differs from any public domain versions. It is protected under copyright and intellectual property law because it contains edits and enhancements. It is also different from versions that may be found on Amazon and other on-line book sellers. For example: 1. To accommodate the reader, all the important footnotes of the original book are incorporated in the text and repeated reference to the same sources of information have been eliminated. 2. Antiquated versions of words have been replaced with their modern equivalents. 3. Characters that are not ordinarily used, like the diphthong "ae," have been replaced. 4. Punctuation has been corrected. 5. Hyphenation of the original text has been eliminated. 6. A functioning TABLE OF CONTENTS is included. In addition, illustrations and certain peripheral information not essential to the book have been reserved. Finally, this version has been spellchecked. Some spelling mistakes found in the original have been corrected, although some errors and typos may still appear in this ebook. This version is far from perfect, yet it flows effortlessly as it should on modern e-readers. For additional information you may email sinaxari@gmail.com. Enjoy your book.