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The Devil's Crown
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The Devil's Crown was a BBC limited series which dramatised the reigns of three medieval Kings of England: Henry II and his sons Richard the Lionheart and John. It was broadcast in thirteen 55-minute episodes between 30 April and 23 July 1978.
Henry Plantagenet (latterly Henry II), sees his opportunity to seize the crown of England and create a kingdom of law and order. He cuts a deal with King Stephen in which Stephen will name him his heir, excluding his sons Eustace and William in exchange for a fragile truce. Stephen's sudden death elevates Henry to the throne. He may have been King of England, but the bulk of the Angevin Empire was in France, and it was this that Henry regarded as the Jewel in his Crown, maintained through a series of political marriages and complex allegiances. Henry pays homage to Louis VII, King of the Franks, for these lands, but it is clear that Henry is the shrewder and more ambitious of the two kings, having married Louis' ex-wife Eleanor of Aquitaine.
Episodes by season
Season01
- S01E01If All the World Were MineApril 30, 1978—Legend has it that the Plantagenets were descended from the Devil himself – a curse which does not deter the youthful Henry.
- S01E02The Earth Is Not EnoughMay 7, 1978—Henry, with the Devil's luck, has married Eleanor of Aquitaine. The crown of England is also his – and now begins his fateful friendship wit
- S01E03A Rose, a ThornMay 14, 1978—As the friendship grows between Henry and Becket, so does the Queen's mistrust of them both. And then appears another threat – this time to
- S01E04The Hungry FalconsMay 21, 1978—The quarrel between Henry and Becket has culminated in Becket's murder; and when Eleanor leaves Henry to establish her own court at Poitiers
- S01E05Before the DarkMay 28, 1978—With Eleanor imprisoned at Salisbury and his sons plotting rebellion at Louis' court in Paris, Henry finds comfort in the arms of Alys, unaw
- S01E06Richard Yea and NayJune 4, 1978—King Henry is dead – defeated, deserted. Long live King Richard, the glorious, golden Crusader.
- S01E07Lion of ChristendomJune 11, 1978—Inspired by Richard, his army moves south to the Holy Land for a new crusade. Eleanor has also journeyed south; her concern however, is not
- S01E08When Cage-Birds SingJune 18, 1978—Richard Coeur de Lion has married Berengaria of Navarre... but his Crusade has failed. Embittered and disillusioned, he turns his back on th
- S01E09Bolt from the BlueJune 25, 1978—Released from captivity, Richard Is once more crowned King of England. Imprisonment has sapped both his vigour and his strength but, when wa
- S01E10In Sun's EclipseJuly 2, 1978—A chance arrow has extinguished the glory that was Richard. John, at last, is King of England – but his right to that crown is quickly chall
- S01E11The Flowers Are SilentJuly 9, 1978—John's impulsive marriage to 12-year-old Isabella of Angouleme has brought rebellion in its wake, Arthur, attempting to kidnap Queen Eleanor
- S01E12Tainted KingJuly 16, 1978—The aged Queen Eleanor has died, John's murder of his nephew has caused the barons to desert him, his French lands are lost. Only Isabella r
- S01E13To the Devil They GoJuly 23, 1978—After six years, John has yielded to the Pope. The Interdict is lifted but the English barons remain discontented; they want a charter of ri
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