a novel in which the story is set among historical events, or further generally, where the time the action takes place in predates the time of the first publication -- distinguish and contrast the genre of alternate history
Using historical events as the basis for fiction.
A novel where fictional characters take part in actual historical events and interact with real people from the past. Examples: Sir Walter Scott, Ivanhoe Sir Walter Scott, Waverly James Fenimore Cooper, Last of the Mohicans Lloyd C. Douglas, The Robe
A historical novel is a novel in which the story is set among historical events, or more generally, in which the time of the action predates the lifetime of the author. As such, the historical novel is distinguished from the alternate-history genre.