How James I Survived Multiple Assassination Attempts | The Stuarts: A Bloody Reign

Kings James II succeeded his brother King Charles II in 1685. He was a Catholic monarch of a Protestant nation and attempts had already been made to prevent him from claiming the throne. The last of the Stuart Kings would reign for only three years and it would be his own daughter, Mary who would be his downfall. She, along with her husband William of Orange, would overthrow the House of Stuart.

Oliver Cromwell's Commonwealth comes to an end soon after his death in 1660 an exiled King returns to London with an enormous fanfare. Kings Charles II's reign is a dramatic shift away from the rule of the Puritans that precede him but dual tragedies of the worst outbreak of plague in generations and the Great Fire Of London strike the nation's heart.

Professor Williams studies the reign of Charles I, who succeeded James I in 1625. Hear how religious upheaval and authoritarian rule led to civil war and a beheading. The Stuart dynasty lived through arguably the most eventful, bloodthirsty and trying period in British history, and this series reassesses the royal house's history and legacy in a new and unique way.

Being born as second in line to the throne was always sure to have some effect on Prince Harry's life. Despite this, no one could have predicted the twists and turns that Harry's life took. We take a look at the life of the Royal Family's wild child, from his mother dying while he was only 12 years old to tabloid controversies and serving in Afghanistan.

Discover the real story behind the Ovets family - seven Jewish dwarf entertainers who survived Auschwitz against all odds. Their journey is stranger than any fairy tale. Join Warwick Davis as he unearths the incredible history of the Ovets siblings, the inspiration behind the “real seven dwarves.” This documentary traces their rise from acclaimed entertainers in pre-war Europe to their harrowing experiences during the Holocaust. Facing the horrors of Nazi Germany, the Ovets family’s talent and resilience became their only shield against extermination, catching the twisted interest of Dr. Josef Mengele in Auschwitz. Through rare interviews, archival footage, and firsthand accounts, we explore how their skills as performers both endangered and ultimately helped save their lives. Delve into the dark intersection of fairy tales, show business, and one of history’s greatest atrocities. Learn how the Ovets family’s story challenges our understanding of survival, identity, and the power of art in the face of unimaginable evil. Warwick Davis connects their experiences to his own journey as a performer with dwarfism, shedding light on the complexities of representation and acceptance through history.

From the omen of 1066's long-haired star to Hastings and the Harrowing of the North, this episode charts William the Conqueror's brutal rise. In History Makers, we trace the Norman story from Viking roots to the making of a king. We meet Rolf the Ganger and the birth of Normandy under Charles the Simple, then enter William's perilous childhood: assassination plots, the murder of his guardian Osborne Crepon, and years of anarchy. We see the young duke's iron resolve at Alençon, where taunts of "hides for the tanner" triggered a ruthless reprisal, and his strategic marriage to Matilda of Flanders. With Edward the Confessor's death, rival claims ignite. We examine Harold Godwinson's disputed oath in Normandy, William's papal-backed invasion force, and the contrasting battle doctrines of Norman combined arms of archers, spearmen and cavalry, as shown on the Bayeux Tapestry, versus the Anglo-Saxon shield wall and Dane axes. After Harold's dash north to defeat Harald Hardrada and Tostig at Stamford Bridge, the stage is set at Senlac Hill. At Hastings, arrows, infantry and cavalry grind at the Saxon line. When