Monarchy

A Nation State: Dr David Starkey begins his history of the British monarchy in the violence and chaos of the Dark Ages. From a legendary world peopled by dragons and monsters a uniquely English idea of monarchy emerged, which was able to stand firm in the face of the Viking invasions. Dr Starkey tells the dramatic story of the creation of England and the triumph of an English hero, Alfred the Great.

Aengla Land: Dr Starkey chronicles the stormy path of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of England, the world's first nation state.

Conquest: Dr Starkey follows the fortunes of the English and Normans alike as the direction of English kingship takes a radical new turn with the invasion and imposition of Norman history.

Dynasty: Dr Starkey profiles the mediaeval superstar, King Henry II of England, whose dominion stretched from the moors of Scotland to the foothills of the Pyrenees.

A United Kingdom: Dr. Starkey looks at a century that saw the reigns of three Edwards: father, son and grandson. Edward I took the image and might of the English monarchy to new heights.

In this final episode, Dr. Starkey takes up the story of Shakespeare's kings: Richard II, Henry IV, Henry V and Henry VI. It starts with the usurpation and murder of Richard II and ends in a bloody civil war in which the English royal house tears itself apart. The last medieval kings see the institution of the monarchy reach a crisis point in which its future seems far from certain.