Alexander Ilyich Antonov (1924-2009) was born on the Volga in the city of Rybinsk. He began publishing in 1953. He worked in many newspapers and magazines. Member of the Union of Journalists and the Union of Writers of the Russian Federation. In 1973, his first story, “The Polar Snows Are Calling,” was published. Since the beginning of the 80s. Antonov writes historical prose. He is the author of the novels “The Great Sovereign”, “Princes of Faith”, “The Honor of the Governor”, “The Russian Queen”, “The Empress under the White Veil” and many other historical works; laureate of the All-Russian Literary Prize "Tradition" for 2003. This volume presents the novel "Eupraxia", which tells the story of the fate of the granddaughter of Grand Duke Yaroslav the Wise - Princess Eupraxia, who for seventeen years was the Empress of the Holy Roman Empire. No one has ever made such an impression on European society as the Russian princess left about herself: Pope Urban II, who blessed the empress for a Christian feat, was conquered by her strong personality, and Henry IV, who fell in love with Eupraxia for her intelligence and beauty, was never able to unravel her mysterious soul.