From Alexander to Cleopatra: 3 top Period Drama Storytelling Models from Greco-Roman Political Sagas

1. To become a legend, you have to...

Julius Caesar was Governor (working under Roman Senate) of province near to Gaul. But he has ambitions to become a ruler, even a dictator. But what must he do to prove to Roman people and Senate that he is worthy of being their leader? He must do something that no leadership in Rome has ever done before! A project that can deliver three things: i) He has capability to outdo everyone currently in leadership (Senate) ii) His story reaches the masses without dilution. iii) His success is not just his success but fruitful to every citizen (they should gain rewards for his success). And so Caesar leads campaign against Gaul, a province run by multiple tribes and thought almost impossible to capture and wins. All the gains from his victory including the food is distributed to his people back at Rome. And of course all his triumphant campaigns are shared with common people via his authentic writings called Commentaries. And thus he becomes a legend worthy of leadership in the eyes of common public. A common theme we see in Alexander's story too. To prove that Alexander is a rightful emperor, Alexander takes on a battle with Persia - an empire which has more than twice his army and land and resources. If Alexander wouldn't have been able to beat Persia, he would have never been a legend. We see the same pattern in Cleopatra's story. If she hadn't been able to use the right strategy to defeat her brother/ husband to become the Pharoh Egyptian queen, she wouldn't have been the legend. It is truly said, to become a legend, you have to do the impossible. Heroes in period dramas have to go through a story arc which is clearly impossible, even lunatic to a sane mind but yet the hero choses to accomplish it and against all odds comes out victorious. Only then the hero turns into a legend. It could be conquering a foreign land, defeating an empire, a crown or solving a crucial civil problem.

2) The legends are built in mind before they are built in reality.

Alexander's mother wants Alexander to become this great ruler. She calls upon him and tells him that he is not the son of King Philip. "Whose son am I then?" Alexander asks confused. "Of the God. Of Zeus. I had a dream before your birth and God told me that you are his child, his son. You are the son of God, the son of Zeus himself. And you are born to build a vast empire." she replies. As days pass and she reiterates it at every occassion, his young mind is already convinced that he truly is born to build a great empire. Later before his biggest war with Persia, Alexander visits Egypt and pays a visit to the Oracle at Siva. While no one else is present and no one knows or has documented what conversation happens there, Alexander comes out and tells everyone in Egypt that Oracle has told that he is the Son of God. Cleopatra is told by her father that she is a Pharaoh, a demigod of Egypt and can learn anything effortlessly. She grows believing it to be true. By the time she is young, she learns 9 languages and knows so much about culture, that she is probably the most inspiring woman for generations. When writing plots, a writer can build legends in his reader's minds; teasing possibilities, getting his characters to comment, acknowledge, predict or foreshadow a legend. Create the legend first in mind so the mind roots for it to happen and gets its dopamine hit when it does.

3) Checkmate the reader and ruler alike

Every respected leader makes exceptionally well thought schemes and strategies that a reader can never guess. In politics this becomes even more possible due to limited arena, a reader can plan about. Let's take few examples:

i) When Julius Caeser was just a soldier, he sees a cold war happening between two most powerful men in Rome - Crassus and Pompey and he knows it must be stopped or else the two sides might have a civil war and Roman empire will collapse. Crassus and Pompey hate each other and are part of Senate (Rome is republic and each bill is passed through senate) and they keep rejecting every bill that the other party brings forth. He calls for a secret meeting with the two and convinces them both on how they should elect him as Senate Counsel so he can get both their legislatures passed. A hard convincing but the brilliant strategic mind wins and the world witnesses the First Triumvirate.

ii) Alexander has defeated Persia on two battles and it makes sense for a lot of his army to go and have a final battle with Persia. But he instead choses to visit Egypt. Why? Because he knows that Persia's army is way bigger and a final battle could mean that his army might lose. But instead an alliance with Egypt (a country not in conversation until that point of the story) is a masterstroke. Egypt has strained relations with Persia as it has to pay taxes and grains to Persia for no reason as such, other than Persia not invading. Alexander promises Egypt that if they join hands, he will defeat Persia and make Egypt free for tax burdens. Result? Alexander is named Pharoah at Egypt and Alexander builds a city in the country in Alexandria and begins to dress like Egyptians to really win their minds and hearts and stays there for months before he goes for his final battle with Persia.

iii) Cleopatra is a master strategist. She knows Julius Caeser needs an heir. (He is serving as dictator for ten years). They both had an affair an year back and he is currently ruling Rome. And thus Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt visits Rome and brings her child to Caesar and has named him Caesarion in his honor. She knows that naming him Caesarian, Caesar might consider putting him in his will and if he does Caesarion can potentially become ruler of both Rome and Egypt - two of the biggest kingdoms of its time. (That doesn't happen but was still was a great strategy). In the later story, when Caear is stabbed and killed by his Senate (Senate believes a) he is killing the republic and b) he is under Cleopatra's influence), she starts an affair with Mark Antony (who was next in line to Caesar. Cleopatra believes Antony could be the next power center of Rome and her alliance with Antony can be a mega Rome-Egyptian alliance. (That doesn't happen either but again an interesting strategy).

Master characters outsmart the readers. They think of ways to solve a problem which even the readers can't think of - either by a) an out-of-the-box solution or b) using the challenge as one's power or c) bringing in new variables to the equation.

Through the lens of period drama storytelling, we can explore the complexities of their lives and legacies, delving into the intricate political landscapes and personal relationships that defined their eras. Whether it's the conquests of Alexander, the rise and fall of Caesar, or the romance and rivalry of Cleopatra and Mark Antony, these sagas offer timeless lessons and enduring themes that resonate across generations. By immersing ourselves in these historical narratives, we not only gain insight into the past but also find inspiration to navigate the challenges of our own times. As we journey from Alexander to Cleopatra and beyond, we discover that the human drama of the ancient world still has the power to enthrall and enlighten us today.