FAQ

Additional note: If you want to know more detail on my theories of the historical basis of christ, see this blog post: The 3 parts of christ

If you read the 'Author's Note' at the back of The Coming of the King, you'll find that all of the key, non-leading characters are based in history, only Pantera, Hypatia, Iksahra and Kleopatra are fictional (plus the more minor characters like Mergus and Estaph, but I assume that's obvious).

One minor character who will become more major is Yusaf ben Matthias who will grow into Titus Flavius Jospepus, author of the books that tell us most of the history of this time. Likewise, the cavalry officer Jucundus is mentioned in Josephus' books.

The events of AD 66 are broadly speaking as accurate as I can make them.  The Governor of Judaea was an idiot who, if he wasn't trying to spark a revolt, was heading in just that direction.  Added to that was the fact that Yacov, known as James the Just, brother of Judas the Galilean, (the man whose death Saulos usurped as his blueprint for Christ) was slaughtered by the Sadducees of the Sanhedrin in AD62.  Yacov was a peacemaker, a pacifist, vegetarian celibate given at birth to worship of his god.  If any one person had been holding the peace in Judaea, Yacov/James was that man. 

With him gone, the way was clear for the zealots of the War Party to press their cause that the only way to get rid of Rome and install the true Hebrew theocracy was to wage war.  And they had Menachem as the perfect commander to lead them to victory.