Monarchy by David Starkey Episode Guide

Episode Guide

Monarchy by David Starkey: Season 3 (2007)

• Season 3 Episode 5: Survival

  The historian examines the impact the French Revolution had on the United Kingdom. The execution of King Louis XVI in 1793 led the royal family to fear the British people would want to cast aside their monarchy too, and they set about reminding the public of the value of history and tradition. The programme concludes with an examination of the institution at the beginning of the 20th century

• Season 3 Episode 4: Empire

  The historian explores how the role of prime minister and the crown's relationship with Parliament progressed during the reign of King George I. He also examines how George III's rift with William Pitt the Elder disturbed this relationship - eventually leading to the War of Independence and the loss of the American colonies

• Season 3 Episode 3: Rule Britannia

  The historian examines the union of England and Scotland in 1707 to create Great Britain, and the defeat of the Jacobite rebellion in 1715. He also reveals how the relationship between Crown and Parliament evolved into a modern constitutional monarchy, and explores the financial reforms of the time, which laid the basis for future prosperity

• Season 3 Episode 2: The Glorious Revolution

  The historian examines the Glorious Revolution of 1688, the Parliament-devised plot to overthrow England's last Roman Catholic King James II and replace him with his Dutch Protestant son-in-law William of Orange. The deposition of the Stuart family ruler heralded the end of the era in which the country's monarch would hold absolute power

• Season 3 Episode 1: Return of the King

  The historian examines the reign of Charles II, a period that saw the restoration of the English crown's authority through a series of well-executed political manoeuvres, and forced the king to overcome the disasters of plague and the Great Fire of London. Charles's 25-year reign avoided the war of past years - allowing the foundation of the world's first modern state to be laid

Monarchy by David Starkey: Season 2 (2006 - 2007)

• Season 2 Episode 5: Oliver Cromwell the King Killer

  The series concludes with an analysis of the English Civil War, revealing how the country was temporarily transformed into a republic with the execution of Charles I. The historian considers the nature of Oliver Cromwell's rule and how this key period of history altered British perceptions of the monarchy for ever

• Season 2 Episode 4: The Stuart Succession

  The historian examines the reign of James I, the first king of both England and Scotland. From the outset, the new monarch had little time for Parliament and did what he could to limit its influence. His son Charles I went further, effectively removing the government and ruling alone - but when he needed their help to enforce religious rule on the Scots, the resulting conflict led to two civil wars and the monarch was eventually executed

• Season 2 Episode 3: The Children of Henry VIII

  The historian examines the reigns of Henry VIII's three children, revealing how the king's advice to pursue moderation in matters of religion fell on deaf ears as his son Edward enforced extreme Protestantism on the country, only for eldest daughter Mary to reimpose Catholicism after his death. Elizabeth I initially embraced her father's words, but when Mary Queen of Scots arrived in England, religious tensions rose again

• Season 2 Episode 2: Henry VIII King and Emperor

  The historian examines the reign of King Henry VIII, who inherited the throne at the age of 17 and became overwhelmed by a desire for fame. In his search for love and the need for an heir, he divorced his wife Catherine of Aragon to marry his mistress Anne Boleyn - severing England's allegiance to the Pope in Rome and giving him powers no English monarch had ever exercised before

• Season 2 Episode 1: Tudors and Stuarts

  The historian continues his examination of the British monarchy, from the beginnings of the Tudor dynasty to the English Civil War. He re-examines the Wars of the Roses, fought between the royal houses of York and Lancaster in the 15th century, exploring the disappearance of the 'Princes in the Tower' during Richard III's reign and the rise of Henry VII - who became one of England's most hated monarchs

Monarchy by David Starkey: Season 1 (2004 - 2007)

• Season 1 Episode 6: Death of a Dynasty

  The historian concludes the series with profiles of the medieval kings immortalised by Shakespeare - Richard II, Henry IV, Henry V and Henry VI. The murder of Richard II threw the country into turmoil for generations to come, leading the English royal house to tear itself apart in the Wars of the Roses

• Season 1 Episode 5: A United Kingdom

  The historian examines the life of Edward I, who brought the whole of England, Scotland and Wales under his rule, forging a single united kingdom. However, after his death he was succeeded by his son, whose weak-willed reign saw the country descend into rebellion and Robert the Bruce declare Scottish independence, before the king was forced to abdicate and eventually murdered. Edward III took over the throne, and set out to rebuild his grandfather's vision - but in the process he began the Hundred Years War

• Season 1 Episode 4: Dynasty

  The historian focuses on the reign of Henry II, one of the most dramatic periods of medieval times. Henry's domain stretched from the moors of Scotland to encompass half of modern-day France, and his tenure as king saw some of the most significant events in British history - the murder of Thomas a Becket, the struggle for civil liberties that led to Magna Carta and the birth of the parliamentary system

• Season 1 Episode 3: Conquest

  The historian examines the Norman conquest and the lasting impact it had on both the English population and the invaders. He discusses the reign of William II, marked by fatal political intrigue, and the civil war that erupted during King Stephen's tenure on the throne. He goes on to reveal how this period in history marked a radical change in the notion of English kingship

• Season 1 Episode 2: Aengland

  The Anglo-Saxon kingdom of England falls to the knights of William the Conqueror.

• Season 1 Episode 1: A Nation State

  The historian examines the tumultuous evolution of the British monarchy, from its Dark Ages origins to the present day, revealing how much of its history was a continual conflict between the heads of state and the people, and posing the question of what makes a good ruler. The journey begins in the years between 400 and 1400AD, with the creation of the first Saxon kings, whose reign shaped a uniquely British approach to monarchy and created a society capable of coping with the constant threat of Viking invasion