Legend has it that the Plantagenets were descended from the Devil himself - a curse which does not deter the youthful Henry.

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.

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.

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.

With Eleanor imprisoned at Salisbury and his sons plotting rebellion at Louis' court in Paris, Henry finds comfort in the arms of Alys - but Alys is Richard's young bride-to-be.

King Henry is dead - defeated, deserted. Long live King Richard, the glorious, golden Crusader.

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.

Richard Coeur de Lion has married Berengaria of Navarre . . . but his Crusade has failed. Embittered, disillusioned, he turns his back on the Holy Land and begins the dangerous journey home.

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.

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.

John's impulsive marriage to the 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 is mutilation.

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.

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.