Synopsis
It was a time of great bitterness and hatred in Britain - a war that set father against son and brother against brother. The breakdown in relations between a Parliament with a strong purpose and a King who believed in his divine right to rule, set the scene for a series of brutal battles that were truly a struggle for the soul of a nation. The outcome of the English Civil War shaped the course of the nation's history, and laid the foundations of the country as it is today.
Episodes
Season 11E1A People DividedThis first episode takes an in-depth look at the years between the accession of King Charles I in 1625 and the opening conflict of the war at the battle of Edgehill in 1642.
The programme explores the complex web of of political, social, religious and military issues that were the root causes of the war.50m2E2A Nation at WarThis second episode unravels the story of the early and middle phases of the conflict.
This period saw fortunes fluctuate at the battles and sieges of Gloucester, Bristol, Newbury and Marston Moor.50m3E3To Kill a KingThis third episode recounts the events that eventually led to the King's execution.
The King's cause was dealt a fatal blow by the calamitous defeat of his forces at the battle of Naseby in1645, and the increasing influence of Oliver Cromwell.50m4E4The Shadow Of The ScaffoldThis final episode examines the slaughters at Drogheda and Wexford, the defeat of the Scottish army at Worcester, the role of Cromwell as Lord Protector, and England as a Commonwealth.
It concludes with the restoration of the monarchy after Cromwell's death in 1658.50m5E5NULL
Cast
