Athenais: Or The First Crusade is a historical novel written by William Stigand and published in 1866. The book is set during the First Crusade in the 11th century and follows the story of Athenais, a beautiful and intelligent woman who becomes embroiled in the politics and warfare of the time. Athenais is the daughter of a wealthy Byzantine nobleman and is betrothed to a powerful lord, but her life takes a dramatic turn when she falls in love with...