In the Shadow of the Gods: The Rise and Fall of History’s Emperors

For thousands of years, emperors ruled the world, their power unlimited, their authority divine. Some were brilliant visionaries, others ruthless tyrants, and many were both. From the warrior-kings of the steppes to the opulent courts of the Ottoman, Mughal, Habsburg, Russian, and Chinese empires, Dominic Lieven’s In the Shadow of the Gods is a sweeping exploration of the most powerful rulers in history—men who shaped civilizations and, sometimes, destroyed them.

Lieven delves into the contradictions of imperial rule—the same emperors who waged devastating wars also fostered art, culture, and learning. Some built cities of breathtaking beauty; others left behind a legacy of bloodshed and betrayal. As one emperor chillingly declared, "A ruler must be both the lion and the fox—strong enough to strike fear, cunning enough to avoid the blade."

Packed with extraordinary stories and razor-sharp insights, this book is both a celebration and a cautionary tale—revealing the extreme personalities, grand ambitions, and dark obsessions that defined empire for most of human history. A masterpiece of historical storytelling, In the Shadow of the Gods brings to life a lost world of absolute power—and the men who dared to wield it.