Alan Cooke
Director
The Devil's Crown (1978)
Season 1
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.
Released April 30, 1978
Episode 55 min
None+
Genres: Biography, Drama, History, War
Keywords: tmdb.richard-the-lionheart, tmdb.medieval, tmdb.king-of-england, tmdb.british-monarchy, tmdb.12th-century, imdb.law, tmdb.historical-fiction, mdblist.has-trailer
Production Companies: BBC, Télévision Française 1, Télécip
Network: TF1
Country: United Kingdom
Languages:
English
S1E1 - If All the World Were Mine
Legend has it that the Plantagenets were descended from the Devil himself – a curse which does not deter the youthful Henry.
April 30, 1978, midnight
S1E2 - The Earth Is Not Enough
Henry, with the Devil's luck, has married Eleanor of Aquitaine. The crown of England is also his – and now begins his fateful friendship with Thomas Becket.
May 7, 1978, midnight
S1E3 - A Rose, a Thorn
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 her marriage.
May 14, 1978, midnight
S1E4 - The Hungry Falcons
The quarrel between Henry and Becket has culminated in Becket's murder; and when Eleanor leaves Henry to establish her own court at Poitiers, the deserted king turns to his sons for love and support.
May 21, 1978, midnight
S1E5 - Before the Dark
With Eleanor imprisoned at Salisbury and his sons plotting rebellion at Louis' court in Paris, Henry finds comfort in the arms of Alys, unaware that Alys is in fact Richard's young bride-to-be.
May 28, 1978, midnight
S1E6 - Richard Yea and Nay
King Henry is dead – defeated, deserted. Long live King Richard, the glorious, golden Crusader.
June 4, 1978, midnight
S1E7 - Lion of Christendom
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 so much for souls, but to find a bride for Richard.
June 11, 1978, midnight
S1E8 - When Cage-Birds Sing
Richard Coeur de Lion has married Berengaria of Navarre... but his Crusade has failed. Embittered and disillusioned, he turns his back on the Holy Land and begins the dangerous journey home.
June 18, 1978, midnight
S1E9 - Bolt from the Blue
Released from captivity, Richard Is once more crowned King of England. Imprisonment has sapped both his vigour and his strength but, when war breaks out again in the Holy Land, he sees this as his long-awaited chance of glory — and so begins his final journey.
June 25, 1978, midnight
S1E10 - In Sun's Eclipse
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 challenged by his nephew, Arthur of Brittany.
July 2, 1978, midnight
S1E11 - The Flowers Are Silent
John's impulsive marriage to 12-year-old Isabella of Angouleme has brought rebellion in its wake, Arthur, attempting to kidnap Queen Eleanor, has been captured by John. His sentence: mutilation.
July 9, 1978, midnight
S1E12 - Tainted King
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 remains and his right to choose the next Archbishop of Canterbury.
July 16, 1978, midnight
S1E13 - To the Devil They Go
After six years, John has yielded to the Pope. The Interdict is lifted but the English barons remain discontented; they want a charter of rights.
July 23, 1978, midnight
Network: TF1
Episode Runtime: 55 min.
Season Runtime: 715 min.
Released: April 30, 1978
Last Air Date: July 23, 1978, midnight
Status: Ended
Certification: NR
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