This is a list of biographical novels based on rulers of Ancient History (ending with the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 AD) sorted first alphabetically by region/empire and then chronologically. It includes out of print and self published novels, I do not distinguish by quality so read at your own risk but I do try to note different sub-genres, publishing types, and availability. The intent is to provide a complete reference list of every novel ever written on each monarch/consort.

This is forever a work in progress so if you see any errors or missing books, please let me know with this form or you can contact me at Goodreads.

Last Update: Feb 2020

Other lists:

British Royalty Historical Fiction

European Royalty Historical Fiction

Asian Royalty Historical Fiction

For non-fiction, see Royalty.nu (no association).

Table of Contents

Babylonian Empire

Hammurabi (ruled 1792-1750 BC)

Egypt

Narmer aka Menes (ruled 31st century BC, 1st Dynasty)

Djet (ruled c. 2980 BC) and Merneith (ruled c. 2970 BC)

Khufu (ruled 2589-2566 BC)

Merenre Nemtyemsaf I (ruled c. 2283-2278 BC)

Senusret III (ruled 1878-1839 BC)

Senakhtenre Ahmose and Tetisheri (Teti the Small)

Seqenenre Tao (ruled c. 1560 BC) and Ahhotep I

Kamose (ruled c. 1555 BC)

Ahmose I (ruled c. 1539-1514 BC)

Thutmose I (ruled c. 1506–1493 BC) and Queen Ahmose

Hatshepsut (ruled c. 1479–1458 BC)

Thutmose III (ruled 1479-1425 BC - co-ruled with Hatshepsut until her death)

Amenhotep III (ruled 1391-1353 or 1388-1351 BC)

Akhenaten (ruled c. 1351–1334 BC) and Nefertiti (and other wives)

Smenkhkare (ruled c. 1334)

Tutankhamun (ruled c. 1332–1323 BC) and Ankhesenamun

Ay (ruled c. 1323-1319 BC)

Horemheb (ruled c. 1306-1292 BC)

Seti I (ruled 1290-1279 BC) and Tuya

Ramesses II (“Rameses the Great”, ruled 1279–1213 BC) and Nefertari

Ramesses III (ruled 1186-1155)

Ramesses XI (ruled 1107-1078 BC)

Cambyses II of Persia (ruled Egypt 525-522 BC, King of Kings of Persia 530-522 BC)

Ptolemy I Soter (ruled 323-283 BC)

Ptolemy II Philadelphus (ruled 283-246 BC)

Ptolemy III Euergetes (ruled 246-222 BC)

Ptolemy IV Philopator (ruled 221-205 BC)

Cleopatra VII (ruled 51-30 BC)

Judea

Alexander Jannaeus and Salome Alexandra

Macedon

Alexander III (Alexander the Great)

Mauretania

Juba II and Cleopatra Selene II

Palmyrene Empire

Zenobia

Parthian Empire

Pacorus I

Roman Empire

Julius Caesar (not an emperor but for the purpose of this list, close enough)

Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD) and Livia

Tiberius (14 - 37 AD)

Caligula (37 - 41 AD)

Nero (54 - 68 AD)

Galba (68 - 69 AD)

Vespasian (69 - 79 AD)

Titus (79 - 81 AD)

Domitian (81 - 96 AD)

Trajan (98 - 117 AD)

Hadrian (117 - 138 AD)

Syria

Antiochus II Theos and Berenice

Babylonian Empire

Hammurabi (ruled 1792-1750 BC)

• Babylon - The Concubine's Son (Babylon #1) by H.A. Culley

• ebook exclusive

• Babylon: Dawn of Empire (Babylon #2) by H.A. Culley

• ebook exclusive

Egypt

Narmer aka Menes (ruled 31st century BC, 1st Dynasty)

• The First Pharaoh (The First Dynasty #1) by Lester Picker

• Self Published, ebook exclusive

Djet (ruled c. 2980 BC) and Merneith (ruled c. 2970 BC)

• The Dagger of Isis (The First Dynasty #2) by Lester Picker

• Self Published

• In the Court of Kemet (Ancient Egyptian Romances #1) by Danielle S. LeBlanc

• Self published

• In the Temple of Mehyt (Ancient Egyptian Romances #2) by Danielle S. LeBlanc

• Self published

Khufu (ruled 2589-2566 BC)

• Khufu’s Wisdom by Naguib Mahfouz

Merenre Nemtyemsaf I (ruled c. 2283-2278 BC)

• Rhadopis of Nubia by Naguib Mahfouz

Senusret III (ruled 1878-1839 BC)

• The Tree of Life (Mysteries of Osiris #1) by Christian Jacq

• Out of print

• The Conspiracy of Evil (Mysteries of Osiris #2) by Christian Jacq

• Out of print

• The Way of Fire (Mysteries of Osiris #3) by Christian Jacq

• Out of print

• The Great Secret (Mysteries of Osiris #4) by Christian Jacq

• Out of print

Senakhtenre Ahmose and Tetisheri (Teti the Small)

• The Empire of Darkness (Queen of Freedom Trilogy #1) by Christian Jacq

Seqenenre Tao (ruled c. 1560 BC) and Ahhotep I

• The Hippopotamus Marsh (Lords of the Two Lands #1) by Pauline Gedge
• The War of the Crowns (Queen of Freedom Trilogy #2) by Christian Jacq
• The Flaming Sword (Queen of Freedom Trilogy #3) by Christian Jacq

Kamose (ruled c. 1555 BC)

• The Oasis (Lords of the Two Lands #2) by Pauline Gedge

Ahmose I (ruled c. 1539-1514 BC)

• The Horus Road (Lords of the Two Lands #3) by Pauline Gedge
• Thebes at War by Naguib Mahfouz

Thutmose I (ruled c. 1506–1493 BC) and Queen Ahmose

• The Sekhmet Bed (The She-King #1) by L.M. Ironside

• Self published, ebook/audio exclusive

Hatshepsut (ruled c. 1479–1458 BC)

• Child of the Morning by Pauline Gedge
• Daughter of the Gods: A Novel of Ancient Egypt by Stephanie Thornton
• Hatshepsut: Daughter of Amun (Egyptian Sequence #1) by Moyra Caldecott
• Child of the Morning by Pauline Gedge
• King and Goddess by Judith Tarr

• Out of print

• Pharaoh by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

• Out of print

• The Crook and Flail (The She-King #2) by L.M. Ironside

• Self published

• Sovereign of the Stars (The She-King #3) by L.M. Ironside

• Self published, ebook exclusive

• Re Ascending (Lords Of The Two Lands #1) by Chaz Desowl

• Self published

Thutmose III (ruled 1479-1425 BC - co-ruled with Hatshepsut until her death)

• Re Ascending (Lords Of The Two Lands #1) by Chaz Desowl

• Self published

• The Bull of Min (The She-King #4) by L.M. Ironside

• Self published
• ebook exclusive

Amenhotep III (ruled 1391-1353 or 1388-1351 BC)

• The Twice Born (The King’s Man Trilogy #1) by Pauline Gedge
• Seer of Egypt (The King’s Man Trilogy #2) by Pauline Gedge
• The King’s Man (The King’s Man Trilogy #3) by Pauline Gedge
• Amenhotep, Son of Hapu: Scribe’s Ascent (A Tale of Egypt #1) by Blake A. Willey

• Self published

• Amenhotep, Son of Hapu: Scribe’s Duty (A Tale of Egypt #2) by Blake A. Willey

• Self published

• Re Dazzling (Lords Of The Two Lands #2) by Chaz Desowl

• Self published

Akhenaten (ruled c. 1351–1334 BC) and Nefertiti (and other wives)

• Nefertiti by Michelle Moran
• Akhenaten: Dweller in Truth by Naguib Mahfouz
• Akhenaten: Son of the Sun (Egyptian Sequence #2) by Moyra Caldecott
• The Egyptian by Mika Waltari
• KIYA: Hope of the Pharaoh (Kiya Trilogy #1) by Katie Hamstead
• KIYA: Mother of a King (Kiya Trilogy #2) by Katie Hamstead
• Out of the Black Land by Kerry Greenwood

• Mystery

• Nefertiti, Immortal Queen by Cheryl Fluty

• Self Published

• Sphinx’s Princes (Princesses of Myth #1) by Esther Friesner

• Young Adult

• Sphinx’s Queen (Princesses of Myth #2) by Esther Friesner

• Young Adult

• A God Against the Gods by Allen Drury

• Out of print

• Return to Thebes by Allen Drury

• Out of print

• The Twelfth Transforming by Pauline Gedge

• Out of print

• Scarab - Akhenaten (The Amarnan Kings #1) by Max Overton

• Self published

• The City of Refuge (Memphis Cycle #1) by Diana M. Wilder

• Self published

• Re Dazzling (Lords Of The Two Lands #2) by Chaz Desowl

• Self published

• Salvation in the Sun (The Lost Pharaoh Chronicles #1) by Lauren Lee Merewether

• Self published

• Secrets in the Sand (The Lost Pharaoh Chronicles #2) by Lauren Lee Merewether

• Self published

• House of Rejoicing: A Novel of Amarna Egypt (The Book of Coming Forth by Day 1) by Libbie Hawker

• Self published

• Storm in the Sky: A Novel of Amarna Egypt (The Book of Coming Forth by Day 2) by Libbie Hawker

• Self published

• Eater of Hearts: A Novel of Amarna Egypt (The Book of Coming Forth by Day 3) by Libbie Hawker

• Self published

• The Tale of Nefret (The Desert Queen #1) by M L Bullock

• Self published

• The Falcon Rises (The Desert Queen #2) by M.L. Bullock

• Self published

• The Kingdom of Nefertiti (The Desert Queen #3) by M.L. Bullock

• Self published

• The Song of the Bee-Eater (The Desert Queen #4) by M.L. Bullock

• Self published

Smenkhkare (ruled c. 1334)

• Scarab - Smenkhkare (The Amarnan Kings #2) by Max Overton

• Self published

Tutankhamun (ruled c. 1332–1323 BC) and Ankhesenamun

• Tutankhamun and the Daughter of Ra (The Egyptian Sequence #3) by Moyra Caldecott
• The Shadows Move: The Death of King Tut by Natalie McCoy Hughes
• The Lost Queen: Ankhsenamun, Widow of King Tutankhamun by Cheryl Fluty

• Self Published

• The Last Heiress: A Novel of Tutankhamun’s Queen by Stephanie Liaci

• Self Published

• The Forgotten: Aten’s Last Queen by J. Lynn Else

• Self published, ebook exclusive

• Return to Thebes by Allen Drury

• Out of print

• The Woman Who Would Be Pharaoh: A Novel of Ancient Egypt by William Klein

• Out of print

• Scarab - Tutankhamen (The Amarnan Kings #3) by Max Overton

• Self published

• Sun Child, Prince of Egypt (Tales of King Tut) by Rene O’Deay

• Self published

• Queen of Egypt (The Amarna Age #1) by Kylie Quillinan

• Self published

• Son of the Hittites (The Amarna Age #2) by Kylie Quillinan

• Self published

• Eye of Horus (The Amarna Age #3) by Kylie Quillinan

• Self published, ebook exclusive

Ay (ruled c. 1323-1319 BC)

• Scarab - Ay (The Amarnan Kings #4) by Max Overton

• Self published

Horemheb (ruled c. 1306-1292 BC)

• Scarab - Horemheb (The Amarnan Kings #5) by Max Overton

• Self published

Seti I (ruled 1290-1279 BC) and Tuya

• Mourningtide (Memphis Cycle #2) by Diana M. Wilder

• Self published

• Queen of the Heavens by Kingsley Guy

• Self published

Ramesses II (“Rameses the Great”, ruled 1279–1213 BC) and Nefertari

• The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran
• The Son of Light (Ramses #1) by Christian Jacq
• The Eternal Temple (Ramses #2) by Christian Jacq
• The Battle of Kadesh (Ramses #3) by Christian Jacq
• The Lady of Abu (Ramses #4) by Christian Jacq
• Under the Western Acacia (Ramses #5) by Christian Jacq
• Uarda: A Romance of Ancient Egypt by Georg Ebers

• Copyright expired, public domain, free as an ebook

• Pharaoh’s Son (Memphis Cycle #3) by Diana M. Wilder

• Self published

Ramesses III (ruled 1186-1155)

• House of Dreams (Lady of the Reeds #1) (originally titled Lady of the Reeds) by Pauline Gedge
• House of Illusions (Lady of the Reeds #2) by Pauline Gedge

Ramesses XI (ruled 1107-1078 BC)

• A Killing Among the Dead (Memphis Cycle #4) by Diana M. Wilder

• Self published

Cambyses II of Persia (ruled Egypt 525-522 BC, King of Kings of Persia 530-522 BC)

• An Egyptian Princess by Georg Ebers

• Copyright expired, public domain, free as an ebook

Ptolemy I Soter (ruled 323-283 BC)

• The Ptolemies by Duncan Sprott
• The House of the Eagle (Ptolemies Quartet #1) by Duncan Sprott

• Out of print

• God of War by Christian Cameron
• Alexandria: The Stones of Macedonia by M P Soldo

• Self published

Ptolemy II Philadelphus (ruled 283-246 BC)

• The House of the Eagle (Ptolemies Quartet #1) by Duncan Sprott

• Out of print

• Daughter of the Crocodiles (Ptolemies Quartet #2) by Duncan Sprott

• Out of print

• The Feather of Ma’at (The Pearl of Egypt #1) by MJ Mauborgne

• Self published
• Based on daughter Berenice (also see Syria)

Ptolemy III Euergetes (ruled 246-222 BC)

• The House of the Eagle (Ptolemies Quartet #1) by Duncan Sprott

• Out of print

• Daughter of the Crocodiles (Ptolemies Quartet #2) by Duncan Sprott

• Out of print

Ptolemy IV Philopator (ruled 221-205 BC)

• Daughter of the Crocodiles (Ptolemies Quartet #2) by Duncan Sprott

• Out of print

Cleopatra VII (ruled 51-30 BC)

• The Memoirs of Cleopatra by Margaret George
• The October Horse (Masters of Rome #6) by Colleen McCullough
• Antony and Cleopatra (Masters of Rome #7) by Colleen McMullough
• Cleopatra’s Heir by Gillian Bradshaw
• Cleopatra: Daughter of the Nile (originally published as When We Were Gods) by Colin Falconer
• Hand of Isis by Jo Graham
• Kleopatra by Karen Essex
• Pharaoh: Volume II of Kleopatra by Karen Essex
• Cleopatra’s Shadows by Emily Holleman
• Cleopatra Confesses by Carolyn Meyer

• Young Adult

• The Alexandrian by Martha Rofheart

• Out of print

• Antony and Cleopatra Part I (Marching With Caesar #3) by R.W. Peake

• Self published

• Antony and Cleopatra Part II (Marching With Caesar #4) by R.W. Peake

• Self published

Judea

Alexander Jannaeus and Salome Alexandra

• Queen of the Jews by Judy Petsonk

• Self published

Macedon

Alexander III (Alexander the Great)

• Fire From Heaven (Alexander the Great #1) by Mary Renault
• The Persian Boy (Alexander the Great #2) by Mary Renault
• Funeral Games (Alexander the Great #3) by Mary Renault
• The Virtues of War: A Novel of Alexander the Great by Steven Pressfield
• God of War by Christian Cameron
• The Golden Mean: A Novel of Aristotle and Alexander the Great by Annabel Lyon
• Child of a Dream (Alexandros #1) by Valerio Massimo Manfredi
• The Sands of Ammon (Alexandros #2) by Valerio Massimo Manfredi
• The Ends of the Earth (Alexandros #3) by Valerio Massimo Manfredi
• The House of Death (Alexander the Great Mystery #1) by Paul Doherty

• Out of print but available as ebook

• The Godless Man (Alexander the Great Mystery #2) by Paul Doherty

• Out of print but available as ebook

• The Gates of Hell (Alexander the Great Mystery #3) by Paul Doherty

• Out of print but available as ebook

• A Murder in Macedon (A Mystery of Alexander the Great #1) by Anna Apostolou

• Out of print

• A Murder in Thebes (A Mystery of Alexander the Great #2) by Anna Apostolou

• Out of print

• Alexandria: The Stones of Macedonia by M P Soldo

• Self published

• A Wind From the West (The Alexander Chronicles Book 1) by Brent Smith

• Self published, ebook exclusive

• The Son of Ammon (The Alexander Chronicles Book 2) by Brent Smith

• Self published, ebook exclusive

Mauretania

Juba II and Cleopatra Selene II

• Lily of the Nile (Cleopatra’s Daughter #1) by Stephanie Dray
• Song of the Nile (Cleopatra’s Daughter #2) by Stephanie Dray
• Daughters of the Nile (Cleopatra’s Daughter #3) by Stephanie Dray
• Cleopatra’s Daughter by Michelle Moran
• Cleopatra’s Moon by Vicky Alvear Shecter
• The Daughters of Palatine Hill: A Novel by Phyllis T. Smith

Palmyrene Empire

Zenobia

• Zenobia (Warrior Queen) by Haley Elizabeth Garwood

• Out of print

• Queen of the East by Alexander Baron

• Out of print

• Zenobia or the Fall of Palmyra by William Ware

• Out of copyright, public domain, free as an ebook

• Zenobia - Birth of a Legend by Russ Wallace

• Self published
• Young Adult

• Zenobia: Empress of the East by Glenn Barnett

• Out of print

Parthian Empire

Pacorus I

• The Parthian (The Parthian Chronicles #1) by Peter Darman

• Self published

• Parthian Dawn (The Parthian Chronicles #2) by Peter Darman

• Self published

• Parthian Vengeance (Parthian Chronicles #3) by Peter Darman

• Self published

• Carrhae (Parthian Chronicles #4) by Peter Darman

• Self published

Roman Empire

Julius Caesar (not an emperor but for the purpose of this list, close enough)

• The Gates of Rome: A Novel of Julius Caesar (Emperor #1) by Conn Iggulden
• The Death of Kings: A Novel of Julius Caesar (Emperor #2) by Conn Iggulden
• The Field of Swords: A Novel of Julius Caesar (Emperor #3) by Conn Iggulden
• The Gods of War: A Novel of Julius Caesar (Emperor #4) by Conn Iggulden
• The Blood of Gods: A Novel of Julius Caesar (Emperor #5) by Conn Iggulden
• Fortune’s Favorites (Masters of Rome #3) by Colleen McCullough
• Caesar’s Women (Masters of Rome #4) by Colleen McCullough
• Caesar (Masters of Rome #5) by Colleen McCullough
• The October Horse (Masters of Rome #6) by Colleen McCullough
• The Ides of March by Thornton Wilder
• The Ides of March by Valerio Massimo Manfredi
• Imperium: A Novel of Ancient Rome (Cicero #1) by Robert Harris
• Conspirata: A Novel of Ancient Rome (Cicero #2) by Robert Harris
• Cutter’s Island: Caesar in Captivity by Vincent Panella
• Caesar (Emperors #1) by Allan Massie

• Out of print

• Augustus: Son of Rome by Richard Foreman

• ebook exclusive

• Standard Bearer (Sword of Rome #1) by Richard Foreman

• ebook exclusive

• Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

• Copyright expired, public domain

• The Invasion of Gaul (Marius’ Mules I) by S.J.A. Turney

• Self published

• The Belgae (Marius’ Males II) by S.J.A. Turney

• Self published

• Gallia Invicta (Marius’ Mules III) by S.J.A. Turney

• Self published

• Conspiracy of Eagles (Marius’ Mules IV) by S.J.A. Turney

• Self published

• Conquest of Gaul (Marching With Caesar #1) by R.W. Peake

• Self published

• Civil War (Marching With Caesar #2) by R.W. Peake

• Self published

• Imperial Caesar by Rex Warner

• Out of print

Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD) and Livia

• The Blood of Gods: A Novel of Julius Caesar (Emperor #5) by Conn Iggulden
• The October Horse (Masters of Rome #6) by Colleen McCullough
• Antony and Cleopatra (Masters of Rome #7) by Colleen McCullough
• Empire: The Novel of Imperial Rome (Roma #2) by Steven Saylor
• Augustus: A Novel by John Edward Williams
• I Am Livia by Phyllis T. Smith
• Augustus (Emperors #2) by Allan Massie

• Out of print

• Augustus: Son of Rome by Richard Foreman

• ebook exclusive

• Rise of Augustus (Marching With Caesar #5) by R.W. Peake

• Self published

• Final Campaign (Marching With Caesar #6) by R.W. Peake

• Self published

Tiberius (14 - 37 AD)

• Tiberius (Emperors #3) by Allan Massie

• Out of print

Caligula (37 - 41 AD)

• Caligula (Emperors #4) by Allan Massie

• Out of print

Nero (54 - 68 AD)

• The Confessions of Young Nero by Margaret George
• The Splendor Before the Dark: A Novel of the Emperor Nero by Margaret George
• Nero’s Heirs by Allan Massie

• Out of print

• Nero by David Wishart

• Out of print but available as ebook

• Nero: A Play in Four Acts by Stephen Phillips

• Out of copyright, public domain

• The Emperor's Assassin by Autumn Bardot

• Self published

Galba (68 - 69 AD)

• 68 AD by D. Gail Bellenger

• Self published, out of print

Vespasian (69 - 79 AD)

• Nero’s Heirs by Allan Massie

• Out of print

• Soldier of Rome: Rebellion in Judea (The Great Jewish Revolt #1) by James Mace

• Self published

• Soldier of Rome: Vespasian’s Fury (The Great Jewish Revolt #2) by James Mace

• Self published

Titus (79 - 81 AD)

• Agrippa’s Daughter by Howard Fast

Domitian (81 - 96 AD)

• Mistress of Rome (The Empress of Rome #1) by Kate Quinn

Trajan (98 - 117 AD)

• Empress of the Seven Hills (The Empress of Rome #3) by Kate Quinn

Hadrian (117 - 138 AD)

• Lady of the Eternal City (The Empress of Rome #4) by Kate Quinn

Syria

Antiochus II Theos and Berenice

• The Feather of Ma’at (The Pearl of Egypt #1) by MJ Mauborgne

• Self published

• The Crown of Isis (The Pearl of Egypt #2) by MJ Mauborgne

• Self published