# Historie

Historie (Japanese: ヒストリエ, Hepburn: Hisutorie) (stylized as HISTORIĒ) is a Japanese historical manga series written and illustrated by Hitoshi Iwaaki. It has been serialized in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Monthly Afternoon since 2003, with its chapters collected in 12 tankōbon volumes as of June 2024. It follows the story of Eumenes, a secretary and general to Alexander the Great.
In 2010, Historie received the Grand Prize at the 14th Japan Media Arts Festival as well as the 16th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2012.

## Plot

Set in the Ancient Greece, in the mid-300s BC, Historie is a fictional account of the life of Eumenes, Alexander the Great's personal secretary and general. The story follows his troublous life, from childhood to adulthood. Growing up in a wealthy family in the city-state of Cardia, Eumenes is framed for the death of his adoptive father and made a slave. Eventually, he is able to escape and survive. Soon afterwards, he begins a long journey, making a name for himself and gaining recognition in the battlefield due to his knowledge, quick wit and strategic prowess.

## Characters

Historie portrays many historical characters who actually existed in ancient Greece and Persia.

### Eumenes

    An intelligent young boy from Cardia who has been troubled with a bad dream of a woman killing soldiers since childhood. Much of his past is revealed during the series: he is, in truth, a Scythian, but is adopted by Hieronymus when his own family was massacred in a Greek slave raid. After a relatively happy childhood in Cardia, the events following Scythian slave Thrax's escape resulted in Hieronymus' death and the revelation of Eumenes' Scythian heritage, making him a slave. He was sold and shipped off Cardia, but soon after the slaves on the ship he is in mutinied before being sunk in a storm. Shipwrecked, Eumenes found himself on the shores of Paphlagonia, near the village of Boa, where he spent the rest of his childhood teaching its villagers in the ways of the Greeks, while becoming accepted as one of their own in the meantime. This quiet life was interrupted when a mercenary army from the nearby Greek city of Tios attacked the village. He repelled the attack and killed the leader. He left the village later then went to Cardia, which was under siege by Philip II. He later became Philip's apprentice when he learnt that the former is learning tactics.

### Charon

    A slave in the Hieronymus household and Eumenes' personal attendant ("pedagogue" in the original sense of the word). He gives Eumenes an amulet that belongs to Eumenes' mother before the latter leaves Cardia. It is revealed in a flashback that he is, despite his denial to Eumenes, actually present in the incident of Eumenes' mother's death, and is in fact responsible for her downfall by holding young Eumenes hostage. He went to Piraeus, making his fortune as a famous man.

### Hieronymus (the Elder)

    At first appears to be Eumenes' father. However, it is later revealed that he actually adopts him after killing all of Eumenes' native family during a slave raid he led. However, Hironymus himself did not commit this affair, but his subordinates. Considered to be killed by Thrax during the latter's attempted escape, though another person actually appears to be responsible for the crime.

### Hieronymus (the Younger)

    Hieronymus's son who is jealous of Eumenes in his childhood due to the Eumenes' superior intelligence and skills and his father's apparent favoritism. However, when Eumenes is sold as a slave, it is revealed that most of the information known about Eumenes' life came from Hieronymus, implying that Hieronymus truly cares about Eumenes, deep down.

### Tolmides

    A childhood friend of Eumenes. Is seen serving in Cardia's militia when Eumenes returns to the city.

### Satura

    Villager of Boa and initially hostile yet curious of Eumenes. As he begins to adapt to life in Boa they grew more and more attached even though it is revealed that she is already betrothed to the next head of the city Tios. After the engagement is broken off due to war she becomes Eumenes lover. However in order to save the village from being destroyed, Eumenes (when found out by the next heir of Tios that he was responsible for the battle) pretends that he was having a personal agenda and did not care about the villagers at all making him an enemy and also giving up Satura to be Telemakos bride to save the lives of the town. She follows along, yet is heartbroken.

### Perialla

    A childhood friend of Eumenes who appears to be attracted to him at first. When Eumenes becomes a slave, she treats him with hostility. Later marries a wheelmaker's son.

### Thrax

    A Scythian slave. Appears to have recognized Eumenes as a fellow Scythian. During the series, he breaks free and attempts to escape Cardia, killing many of the city's militia and citizens in the process. During a fight in the marketplace, he comes in close contact with Eumenes but does not kill the latter, leading the citizens of Cardia to suspect Eumenes. He is eventually mortally wounded, though apparently died only after attempting to follow Eumenes somewhere. And was used as an excuse by naming him suspect in killing Hieronymus the Elder

### Theogeiton

    A loan shark who owns the slave Thrax; known for his brutal treatment of his slaves. When Thrax is released from the shackles that binds his arms and leg, he and his entire family are killed.

### Memnon

    A commander of the Greek mercenaries working for the Persians chasing after Aristotle. First seen in Assus, then a part of the Persian Empire while interrogating Hermias, Aristotle's father-in-law, in an attempt to track down the philosopher.

### Hermias

    Aristotle's father-in law; a Eunuch. First seen chained up in Assus. Even under intense interrogation, he refuses to say anything about the teacher Aristotle.

### Aristotle

    A world-renowned philosopher. At the start of the series, he is being chased by the Persian Empire on suspicion of spying. Along with one of his students, Callisthenes, and the slave Victas, he first meets Eumenes near the ruins of Troy while in need of a boat to cross the Dardanelles. Because Eumenes has not yet finished building his improvised oar, he spend the night camping and conversing with the latter over various subjects, and becomes impressed by the latter's intelligence. The day after that, he, Callisthenes, and Eumenes escapes the Persians in the nick of time, landing in Europe, all headed to Cardia (though Eumenes is left behind).

### Barsine

    The wife of the governor of Troius. Is shown to be very intelligent.

### Philip II of Macedon

    The king of Macedonia. Introduced in the story claiming to be Antigonus, a merchant from Perinthus, coming to Cardia to look for Hieronymus (the Younger). First meets Eumenes outside the gates of Cardia. Impressed by the latter's performance in gaining entrance to the city, he impetuously asks Eumenes to come and work for him.

### Arrhidaeus

    Son of Philip II, shown as an intellectually disabled child. Eumenes gave him a toy chariot, replaced when Alexander the Great accidentally destroyed it.

### Alexander the Great

    Son of Philip II of Macedon and Arrhidaeus half-brother. Shown to be a respectful child. Has a split personality named Hephaeston. Shown with a snake-shaped scar, but Hephaeston has none and loathed snakes. He was shown having a calm attitude and an instinctual leader.

### Olympias

    Alexander the Great's mother. She has a secret agenda for her son. And shown always under the company of men.

### Eurydice

    A relative of Attalus and Eumedes's lover. They broke up when she was engaged to Philip

## Publication

Written and illustrated by Hitoshi Iwaaki, Historie has been serialized in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Monthly Afternoon since 25 January 2003. Kodansha has collected its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was released on 22 October 2004. In the October 2022 issue of Monthly Afternoon (released on 24 August), Iwaki announced that he would take a break to work on the production of the twelfth volume. He also commented: "I must contemplate how to ensure that the entire story undoubtedly reaches a conclusion." The twelfth volume was released on 21 June 2024.
In August 2024, Kodansha began publishing the series in English on its K Manga digital service.

### Volumes

| No. | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN |
| 1 | 22 October 2004 | 978-4-06-314358-4 |
| "The Globe" (地球儀, Chikyūgi)"Cardia, My Home (1)" (故郷カルディア・1, Furusato Karudia 1)"Cardia, My Home (2)" (故郷カルディア・2, Furusato Karudia 2)"Cardia, My Home (3)" (故郷カルディア・3, Furusato Karudia 3)"The Library (1)" (図書室・1, Toshoshitsu 1) "The Library (2)" (図書室・2, Toshoshitsu 2)"The Same Dream" (同じ夢, Onaji Yume)"The Scythian Way" (スキタイ流, Sukitairyū)"Gymnasium Training" (体育教練, Taiiku Kyōren) |||
| 2 | 22 October 2004 | 978-4-06-314359-1 |
| "Envisioning Victory" (斃すイメージ, Taosu Imēji)"Footsteps" (足音, Ashioto)"The Battle of Thrax (1)" (トラクスの戦い・1, Torakusu no Tatakai 1)"The Battle of Thrax (2)" (トラクスの戦い・2, Torakusu no Tatakai 2)"The Battle of Thrax (3)" (トラクスの戦い・3, Torakusu no Tatakai 3) "A Pair of Bodies" (2つの死体, Futatsu no Shitai)"Testimony" (証言, Shōgen)"Another World" (別世界, Bessekai)"The Library (3)" (図書室・3, Toshoshitsu 3)"The Pendant" (ペンダント, Pendanto) |||
| 3 | 22 November 2005 | 978-4-06-314395-9 |
| "A Buyer Appears" (買い手あらわる, Kaite Arawaru)"Departure" (出向, Shukkō)"Antakaios" (アンタカイオス, Antakaiosu)"Argo" (アルゴ号, Arugo-gō)"In Paphlagonia (1)" (パフラゴニアにて・1, Pafuragonia Nite 1) "In Paphlagonia (2)" (パフラゴニアにて・2, Pafuragonia Nite 2)"In Paphlagonia (3)" (パフラゴニアにて・3, Pafuragonia Nite 3)"In Paphlagonia (4)" (パフラゴニアにて・4, Pafuragonia Nite 4)"In Paphlagonia (5)" (パフラゴニアにて・5, Pafuragonia Nite 5)"In Paphlagonia (6)" (パフラゴニアにて・6, Pafuragonia Nite 6) |||
| 4 | 23 July 2007 | 978-4-06-314460-4 |
| "In Palphlagonia (Part 7)" (パフラゴニアにて・7, Pafuragonia Nite 7)"In Palphlagonia (Part 8)" (パフラゴニアにて・8, Pafuragonia Nite 8)"In Palphlagonia (Part 9)" (パフラゴニアにて・9, Pafuragonia Nite 9)"In Palphlagonia (Part 10)" (パフラゴニアにて・10, Pafuragonia Nite 10)"In Palphlagonia (Part 11)" (パフラゴニアにて・11, Pafuragonia Nite 11) "In Palphlagonia (Part 12)" (パフラゴニアにて・12, Pafuragonia Nite 12)"Odysseus" (オデュッセウス, Odyusseusu)"Island of Lesbos – Biological Institute (Part 1)" (レスボス島、生物研究所・1, Resubosu Shima, Seibutsu Kenkyūjo 1)"Island of Lesbos – Biological Institute (Part 2)" (レスボス島、生物研究所・2, Resubosu Shima, Seibutsu Kenkyūjo 2) |||
| 5 | 23 February 2009 | 978-4-06-314549-6 |
| "Hometown Cardia (Part 4)" (故郷カルディア・4, Furusato Karudia 4)"Hometown Cardia (Part 5)" (故郷カルディア・5, Furusato Karudia 5)"Hometown Cardia (Part 6)" (故郷カルディア・6, Furusato Karudia 6)"Hometown Cardia (Part 7)" (故郷カルディア・7, Furusato Karudia 7)"Cyclops" (キュクロプス, Kyukuropusu) "The King of the Lush" (深酒の王, Fukazake no Ō)"Attalo's House" (アッタロスの家, Attarosu no Ie)"The Kings Son" (大将軍の息子, Daishōgun no Musuko)"Employment and Study" (進学と就職, Shingaku to Shūshoku)"Prince (Part 1)" (王子・1, Ōji 1) |||
| 6 | 21 May 2010 | 978-4-06-310662-6 |
| "Prince (Part 2)" (王子・2, Ōji 2)"Prince (Part 3)" (王子・3, Ōji 3)"Horseback Riding Class (Part 1)" (乗馬教育・1, Jōba Kyōiku 1)"Horseback Riding Class (Part 2)" (乗馬教育・2, Jōba Kyōiku 2)"Horseback Riding Class (Part 3)" (乗馬教育・3, Jōba Kyōiku 3) "Schoolmates" (ご学友たち, Gogakuyūtachi)"Waterfalls" (滝, Taki)"Cardiac Arrest" (心拍停止, Shinpaku Teishi)"Hephaestion (Part 1)" (ヘファイスティオン・1, Hefaisution 1) |||
| 7 | 22 November 2011 | 978-4-06-310787-6 ISBN 978-4-06-358374-8 (LE) |
| "Hephaestion (Part 2)" (ヘファイスティオン・2, Hefaisution 2)"Hephaestion (Part 3)" (ヘファイスティオン・3, Hefaisution 3)"Hephaestion (Part 4)" (ヘファイスティオン・4, Hefaisution 4)"Mieza" (ミエザ) "Chess Match (Part 1)" (将棋で勝負・1, Shōgi de Shōbu 1)"Chess Match (Part 2)" (将棋で勝負・2, Shōgi de Shōbu 2)"Alliance State Cardia" (同盟都市カルディア, Dōmei Toshi Karudia)"Siege of Two Cities (Part 1)" (2都市攻略戦・1, Nitoshi Kōryakusen 1) |||
| 8 | 23 August 2013 | 978-4-06-387896-7 |
| "Siege of Two Cities (Part 2)" (2都市攻略戦・2, Nitoshi Kōryakusen 2)"Siege of Two Cities (Part 3)" (2都市攻略戦・3, Nitoshi Kōryakusen 3)"Siege of Two Cities (Part 4)" (2都市攻略戦・4, Nitoshi Kōryakusen 4)"Siege of Two Cities (Part 5)" (2都市攻略戦・5, Nitoshi Kōryakusen 5) "Scythian Campaign (Part 1)" (スキタイ遠征・1, Sukitai Ensei 1)"Scythian Campaign (Part 2)" (スキタイ遠征・2, Sukitai Ensei 2)"Unexpected Battle (Part 1)" (帰途の一戦・1, Kito no Issen 1)"Unexpected Battle (Part 2)" (帰途の一戦・2, Kito no Issen 2) |||
| 9 | 22 May 2015 | 978-4-06-387913-1 |
| "Secret Order (Part 1)" (密命・1, Mitsumei 1)"Secret Order (Part 2)" (密命・2, Mitsumei 2)"Secret Order (Part 3)" (密命・3, Mitsumei 3)"Melanthios (Part 1)" (メランティオス・1, Merantiosu 1) "Melanthios (Part 2)" (メランティオス・2, Merantiosu 2)"Chaeronea (Part 1)" (カイロネイア・1, Kaironeia 1)"Chaeronea (Part 2)" (カイロネイア・2, Kaironeia 2) |||
| 10 | 23 March 2017 | 978-4-06-388210-0 |
| "Chaeronea (Part 3)" (カイロネイア・3, Kaironeia 3)"Chaeronea (Part 4)" (カイロネイア・4, Kaironeia 4)"Chaeronea (Part 5)" (カイロネイア・5, Kaironeia 5)"Chaeronea (Part 6)" (カイロネイア・6, Kaironeia 6) "The King's Left Hand (Part 1)" (王の左腕・1, Ō no Hidariude 1)"The King's Left Hand (Part 2)" (王の左腕・2, Ō no Hidariude 2)"The King's Left Hand (Part 3)" (王の左腕・3, Ō no Hidariude 3) |||
| 11 | 23 July 2019 | 978-4-06-515648-3 |
| "Seat of the Soul (Part 1)" (心の座・1, Kokoro no Za 1)"Seat of the Soul (Part 2)" (心の座・2, Kokoro no Za 2)"Seat of the Soul (Part 3)" (心の座・3, Kokoro no Za 3)"Seat of the Soul (Part 4)" (心の座・4, Kokoro no Za 4)"Seat of the Soul (Part 5)" (心の座・5, Kokoro no Za 5) "Seat of the Soul (Part 6)" (心の座・6, Kokoro no Za 6)"Housewarming Celebration (Part 1)" (引っ越し祝・1, Hikkoshi Iwai 1)"Housewarming Celebration (Part 2)" (引っ越し祝・2, Hikkoshi Iwai 2)"Disposal of Olympias (Part 1)" (オリュンピアス処分・1, Oryunpiasu Shobun 1)"Disposal of Olympias (Part 2)" (オリュンピアス処分・2, Oryunpiasu Shobun 2) |||
| 12 | 21 June 2024 | 978-4-06-535755-2 |
| "Warped" (歪, Hizumi)"Fragments of Memories" (思い出の断片, Omoide no Danpen)"The Night Before" (前夜, Zen'ya)"Cardia (Heart) (Part 1)" (カルディア (心臓)・1, Karudia (Shinzō) 1)"Cardia (Heart) (Part 2)" (カルディア (心臓)・2, Karudia (Shinzō) 2) "Cardia (Heart) (Part 3)" (カルディア (心臓)・3, Karudia (Shinzō) 3)"Cardia (Heart) (Part 4)" (カルディア (心臓)・4, Karudia (Shinzō) 4)"Outside the Royal Palace (Part 1)" (王宮の外・1, Ōkyū no Soto 1)"Outside the Royal Palace (Part 2)" (王宮の外・2, Ōkyū no Soto 2)"Outside the Royal Palace (Part 3)" (王宮の外・3, Ōkyū no Soto 3) |||

## Reception

Historie was a finalist for the tenth installment of Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2006, and won the Grand Prize at its 16th installment in 2012. The manga was also awarded the Grand Prize for the Manga Division in the 14th Japan Media Arts Festival in 2010.
The Mainichi Shimbun newspaper called Iwaaki's vision of Eumenes' past (which, historically, is largely a mystery) "bold and unique". Manga critic and editor Jason Thompson stated that in terms of scale, ambition, and plotting, Historie is the author's masterpiece.