Letters from China and Japan (1875)

The Roman Empire in the early eleventh century is poised on the threshold of destiny. It can either move forward with the rest of the world or fall behind and, perhaps, eventually perish. The new Emperor, a young man raised by a warrior-Emperor father, the mighty Basil II Bulgaroctonos, and a wise mother, a Russian princess, is ready to accept the challenge. From his father he learned the art of war and the skills needed in government and rule. From his mother he inherited a desire for knowledge and closer contact with people, especially his own subjects. Central to his plans for his Empire are conquest, or, rather, restoration of Roman lands; alliance with an emerging Russian state; social reform at home; and a policy of cultural, ethnic, and religious toleration and acceptance. The outcome of his enterprises will determine whether the Roman Empire will one day fall or truly become eternal.