Claimants to Royalty

"Claimants to Royalty" by John Henry Ingram is a detailed examination of historical figures who falsely asserted royal status. It's an account that journeys through the lives of impostors from different countries, such as those in Persia, Syria, and England. Ingram looks at the broader issue of just how easily people can be tricked, the strong desire for importance, and the chaotic nature of power at the time. Early on, the book explains that many people pretended to be dead kings, especially when things were already rocky in society. Ingram talks about famous examples such as the fake Smerdis of Persia and a false Nero of Rome. He shows how they tried to take over and what ultimately happened to them. The readers are left wondering about how truth and lies often mixed at the time and pondering the human desire for power and acceptance during uncertain times.