Historical fiction: A plausible fictional character is influenced by a real historical figure in a well-documented city, finding their place in History thereby. Or, on occasion, the other way round. (Johnny Tremain, War and Remembrance, Lust for Life)
Alternate history: An obviously fictional character causes a real historical figure to directly contradict history and found a nonexistent city, but they're a time traveler with very thorough knowledge of the original timeline, and it shows. (Lest Darkness Fall, Ruled Britannia, 1632 – honestly the demarcation is so clear you didn't need to be told)
Period piece: An obviously fictional character meets another fictional character in a patently nonexistent village, then they go visit a relatively peripheral historical figure in the city, and it's all mildly contradictory to documented history, but all the major recorded events are mounted in place and heaven forbid you're off by three months on a song or a costume. (The Baroque Cycle, scads of romance novels, any story in which Sherlock Holmes meets Jack the Ripper)
Based on a true story: A halfway plausible fictional(ized) character causes a real historical figure to directly contradict history in a city which is nothing like its well-established documentation. If it catches on, the poor historical figure is going to have to be disentangled from this every time you mention them, so please have the good grace to change the names if you can. (Braveheart, The Sound of Music, and - gauntlet thrown - anything by Philippa Carr)



























