History

Lucy Worsley's Royal Myths & Secrets

Lucy Worsley travels across Britain and Europe visiting the incredible locations where Royal history was made. In beautiful palaces and castles and on dramatic battlefields she investigates how Royal history is a mixture of facts, exaggeration, manipulation and mythology.

The Romanovs & The Russian Revolution

54m

The October Revolution of 1917 has gone down in history as the only Russian Revolution that really mattered. But Lucy Worsley reveals that the earlier revolution in February that year was downplayed in Bolshevik history books and films despite the fact that it was the truly spontaneous popular uprising that swept the Czar from power.

Episodes

  • The Romanovs & The Russian Revolution: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Romanovs & The Russian Revolution

    S1 E6 - 54m

    The October Revolution of 1917 has gone down in history as the only Russian Revolution that really mattered. But Lucy Worsley reveals that the earlier revolution in February that year was downplayed in Bolshevik history books and films despite the fact that it was the truly spontaneous popular uprising that swept the Czar from power.

  • Kings George III & IV and the Napoleonic War: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Kings George III & IV and the Napoleonic War

    S1 E5 - 54m 55s

    Lucy Worsley reveals how mental health problems forced King George III to relinquish power to his debauched and extravagant son. Was this really an era of elegance and regal splendor or an age of radicalism and revolution? How were myths and secrets used to save the British monarchy?

  • Henry VIII's Reformation: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Henry VIII's Reformation

    S1 E4 - 54m 20s

    Lucy Worsley investigates the inside story of the English Reformation. Was Henry VIII's desire to divorce Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn the real reason for England's split from Catholic Europe? Or was a secret political agenda at work behind the scenes?

  • Marie Antoinette: The Doomed Queen: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Marie Antoinette: The Doomed Queen

    S1 E3 - 54m 35s

    Find out why Marie Antoinette is often blamed for causing the French Revolution by saying “let them eat cake” to her starving subjects. Lucy Worsley uncovers the myths and secrets that led the doomed queen to the guillotine.

  • Queen Anne: The Mother of Great Britain: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Queen Anne: The Mother of Great Britain

    S1 E2 - 54m 31s

    Investigate why Queen Anne’s powerful role in the forging of Great Britain has often been forgotten. Lucy Worsley shares the inside story of the salacious gossip about Anne’s love life that helped destroy her image and legacy.

  • Elizabeth I: The Warrior Queen: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Elizabeth I: The Warrior Queen

    S1 E1 - 54m 4s

    Join Lucy Worsley for an exploration of how Elizabeth I’s image as a warrior queen, created by a series of myths and secrets about her victory over the Spanish Armada, shaped British national identity for centuries.

Extras + Features

  • Episode 6 Preview | The Romanovs & The Russian Revolution: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Episode 6 Preview | The Romanovs & The Russian Revolution

    S1 E6 - 30s

    The October Revolution of 1917 has gone down in history as the only Russian Revolution that really mattered. But Lucy Worsley reveals that the earlier revolution in February that year was downplayed in Bolshevik history books and films despite the fact that it was the truly spontaneous popular uprising that swept the Czar from power.

  • The Execution of the Romanovs: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Execution of the Romanovs

    S1 E6 - 1m 58s

    Inside their prison called the House for Special Purposes, the Romanov family is brought down to the basement where they are met with bullets and bayonets.

  • The Czar's Abdication: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Czar's Abdication

    S1 E6 - 2m 18s

    With the risk of Russia being overrun by Germany and calls for a republic, Nicholas must decide whether he wants to abdicate, ending 300 years of Romanov rule.

  • The Madness of King George III: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Madness of King George III

    S1 E5 - 3m 9s

    Although remembered as "The king who lost America," his subjects were unaware of George's spiral. The public's attention was being diverted to a different political problem.

  • Ep 5 Preview | Kings George III & IV and the Napoleonic War: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Ep 5 Preview | Kings George III & IV and the Napoleonic War

    S1 E5 - 30s

    Lucy Worsley reveals how mental health problems forced King George III to relinquish power to his debauched and extravagant son. Was this really an era of elegance and regal splendor or an age of radicalism and revolution? How were myths and secrets used to save the British monarchy?

  • A Secret Royal Wedding: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    A Secret Royal Wedding

    S1 E5 - 2m 43s

    The Prince of Wales' secret wedding to Maria Fitzherbert was not considered legitimate in the eyes or the law because Maria was a Catholic. This caused a huge constitutional problem for George.

  • The Reformation’s First Myth: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Reformation’s First Myth

    S1 E4 - 2m 58s

    Martin Luther, a monk, nailed a document on a church door attacking the Roman Catholic church, believing it to be corrupt. However, Luther had hundreds of volumes of writing detailing his life, but there was no mention of this famous act.

  • When Henry Met Anne: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    When Henry Met Anne

    S1 E4 - 2m 3s

    As six of Catherine of Aragon’s seven pregnancies ended in tragedy, Henry VIII's eye started to wander, looking for someone who could bear him a son. Then he met Anne Boleyn.

  • Episode 4 Preview | Henry VIII's Reformation: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Episode 4 Preview | Henry VIII's Reformation

    S1 E4 - 30s

    Lucy Worsley investigates the inside story of the English Reformation. Was Henry VIII's desire to divorce Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn the real reason for England's split from Catholic Europe? Or was a secret political agenda at work behind the scenes?

  • Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Preview

    S1 - 30s

    Join Lucy Worsley on a journey across Europe to visit the incredible locations where royal history was made. From the Spanish Armada to the French Revolution, learn how royal history is a mixture of facts, exaggeration, manipulation and mythology.

  • “Let Them Eat Cake”: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    “Let Them Eat Cake”

    S1 E3 - 2m 46s

    Lucy explores the famous myth that Marie Antoinette uttered the phrase “Let them eat cake." As an Austrian royal in the French court she was notorious for her profligacy and her love of fine clothes and parties. And this was partly why she was blamed for being a cause of the French revolution. But just how fair is this?

  • Escape from Paris: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Escape from Paris

    S1 E3 - 4m 9s

    During the French Revolution, fearing for their lives, the royal family made an attempt to escape Paris. Late at night they headed east in disguise towards the relative safety of the Netherlands. But they were stopped close to the border and brought back to Paris in disgrace. Lucy finds out they were caught because someone recognized the face of the king from a bank note.

Schedule

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