An Age of Kings
S01E07: Henry V, Part 1: Signs of War
The final defeat of the northern rebels marked the conclusion of the eight troubled years of Henry IV's reign. With the accession of Henry V, a new age has begun. Falstaff and his riotous companions have been banished from Court. The first public act of the young King has been to summon Parliament and consider ways of distracting his subjects from civil strife. Being advised of his right by succession, Henry now resolves to lay claim to the French throne. (Covers Henry V Acts 1–3)
Overview
A linking together of Shakespeare's history plays — Richard II, 1 Henry IV, 2 Henry IV, Henry V, 1 Henry VI, 2 Henry VI, 3 Henry VI, and Richard III — chronicling the rise and fall of monarchs over the 86 years between Richard II and Richard III.
Episodes
The Duke of Gloucester, the King's uncle and arch-enemy, has been murdered. Most people suspect Thomas Mowbray did it at the King's command. Henry Bolingbroke, the King's cousin, has accused Mowbray to his face. Together...
S01E02 Richard II, Part 2: The Desposing of a King
The downfall and deposition of King Richard II as he fights with Bolingbroke for the crown — and awaits his fate. (Covers Act 3 S3—conclusion)
S01E03 Henry IV, Part 1: Rebellion from the North
Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster, aided by the Earl of Northumberland and his son Harry Percy deposed the rightful King, Richard II, and Bolingbroke ascend the throne as King Henry IV. Richard was imprisoned and...
S01E04 Henry IV, Part 2: The Road to Shrewsbury
The Percy family, Henry Bolingbroke's chief allies in deposing and murdering Richard II, have been cheated of their just rewards and now plot to overthrow the King. Worcester, the architect of their rebellion, arranges a...
S01E05 Henry IV, Part 3: The New Conspiracy
The rebellion promoted by the Percy family against their former ally King Henry IV has been heavily crushed at Shrewsbury. The rebels were weakened by the defection of the armies promised them by Northumberland and...
S01E06 Henry IV, Part 4: Uneasy Lies the Head
The burdens of kingship and of failing health weigh heavily upon Henry IV. After his victory at Shrewsbury, he has to organise a new campaign against the northern rebels. Disappointed in Prince Hal, who returns...
S01E07 Henry V, Part 1: Signs of War
The final defeat of the northern rebels marked the conclusion of the eight troubled years of Henry IV's reign. With the accession of Henry V, a new age has begun. Falstaff and his riotous companions...
S01E08 Henry V, Part 2: The Band of Brothers
Henry V's first public act after his accession was to lay claim to the French throne and to the hand of the French princess. When the Dauphin scornfully rejected these claims, the King and his...
S01E09 Henry VI, Part 1: The Red Rose and the White
The English victory at Agincourt confirmed Henry V as an outstanding military leader and a greatly loved King. The ensuing treaty with France and Henry's marriage to Princess Katherine promised both kingdoms a long period...
S01E10 Henry VI, Part 2: The Fall of a Protector
After Henry V's death his French conquests were soon lost. His brothers, Bedford and Gloucester, were appointed Protectors of the baby Henry VI. The leaderless nobles revived their old quarrels, siding with Lancaster or York,...
S01E12 Henry VI, Part 4: The Morning's War
After the murder of Humphrey of Gloucester, the Duke of Suffolk, banished for his part in the crime, was executed by pirates during his journey into exile. Soon afterwards a murderous rabble from Kent invaded...
S01E13 Henry VI, Part 5: The Sun in Splendour
The Duke of York was killed by Queen Margaret at Wakefield, but the Yorkists, under their dead leader's son Edward, smashed the Lancastrians in the snow at Towton. Queen Margaret and her son have fled...
S01E14 Richard III, Part 1: The Dangerous Brother
The fortunes of the House of Lancaster have now reached their lowest point. The young Prince of Wales, heir to Henry VI, has been brutally murdered before his mother's eyes at Tewkesbury, and in the...
S01E15 Richard III, Part 2: The Boar Hunt
Nothing now can check Gloucester's devious and ruthless struggle to possess himself of the Crown. His brothers are dead, the Queen's party has been destroyed, and Richard, in his new guise as Lord Protector, has...