Some writers prefer not to mention famous people. They write about the unknown people. That way, the characters are formed purely by imagination… and knowledge about how people were and how they behaved at that time and in that place.
Others purposely write about famous people. They leave themselves more open to criticism, because they can’t always stick to the truth, but we’d be poorer without their stories.
Miriam Drori, Author 
4 replies on “2015 A to Z Challenge: K is for KINGS, QUEENS AND OTHER FAMOUS PEOPLE”
It must be fascinating to imagine the lives of famous people, but I can see the draw of focusing on unknown people – there would definitely be more scope and leeway.
Annalisa, writing A-Z vignettes, at Wake Up, Eat, Write, Sleep
I agree that writing about unknowns can allow for more stretch of the imagination.
Sometimes it’s hard to work on my alternative history, one of my WIPs, knowing almost all of these people were murdered in real life and didn’t have these miraculous last-minute rescues, a return to power, long lives, and happy endings.
Apart from this WIP, the premise of which compelled me to create it, I only write about fictional people. If real-life historical figures do show up, they’re not as main characters, but just players in a real-life historical scene in which my fictional characters are also taking part.
While fascinating this avenue has both risks and rewards to consider.