In the aftermath of the bloody Wars of the Roses, Henry Tudor has seized the English crown, finally uniting the warring Houses of York and Lancaster through his marriage to Elizabeth of York. But Henry VII is haunted by Elizabeth's missing brothers. Then tragedy strikes at the heart of Henry's family, and it is against his own son.

After less than a year as the wife of the frail Prince Arthur, the question of whether the marriage of The young Spanish widow, Katharine of Aragon was ever consummated will decide both her fate and England's. Henry, Arthur's younger, and the future king of England alone has the power to restore her position, but at what sacrifice?

Whilst the young King Henry VIII basks in the pageants and games of his court, his doting queen's health and fortunes fade. Henry's affections for his older wife soon stray, leaving the lonely Katharine to instead use her marital sway to foreign advantage. With no legitimate heir yet born, Katherine once again begins to fear for her future.

After twelve years of marriage, the once fortuitous union of Henry VIII and Katharine of Aragon has declined into a loveless stalemate. Their only child, Mary, is disregarded as a suitable heir, and Henry's need for a legitimate son to protect the Tudor throne has turned him into a callous and greatly feared ruler.

At the decadent French court of King Francois, the young Anne Boleyn grows into an enigmatic and striking woman, a temptation to many courtiers. But whilst Anne's ambitions are high, she has learned from her sister's unfortunate reputation. Unlike Mary, Anne refuses to become even a King's mistress.

Henry VII once warned his son, the future King of England, not to trust Thomas More. Years later, the same son made More his confidante and advisor. But, the allegiance was dangerously one-sided. A family man, lawyer and writer, More's ambitions were humble, whilst Henry's were endless.

When King Henry VII negotiates peace with Scotland, his daughter's hand in marriage to James IV is the ultimate prize. Margaret Tudor leaves England and accepts her fate unquestioningly. But to her surprise she falls in love with the fearsome Scottish King. But, neither the marriage nor the peace are to last.

News of Thomas a Becket's martyrdom has spread throughout Christendom and the blame is laid at the feet of Henry Plantagenet, King of England. Two years later, with Becket canonised, Henry's position is precarious: punished at the Pope's insistence for his part in Becket's death, he now also has an enemy in his Queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine.

At the age of thirty-two, Richard the Lionheart has finally succeeded Henry II to the English throne. And, against his father's wishes, he intends to make Berengaria, daughter of the King of Navarre, his Queen. But first he must fulfil his vow to his country to win back Jerusalem for the Christian world.

The untimely death of Richard the Lionheart left his nephew Arthur and his younger brother John in contest for the throne of England. Reluctantly the barons chose John, and so began years of rule by a ruthless and greedy tyrant. Yet, despite his reputation, John, still manages to seduce the young and beautiful Isabella of Angeloume.