Versailles

Stunningly set tale of power, lust & conflict in 1600s France

Drama

Stunningly set tale of power, lust and conflict. King Louis XIV rules over 1600s France and plans to build a beautiful palace, but few know the dark motivations behind it.

versailles

It is a year since the death of Louis XIV's mother. He is now alone in the seat of power.

Louis XIV is 28 years old. It is a year since the death of his mother. He is now alone in the seat of power. Haunted by the trauma of the nobles’ Fronde revolt, he needs to keep his rebellious aristocrats in check.

Louis launches the Grande Enquête to check the legitimacy of the nobles’ titles.

Louis launches the Grande Enquête to check the legitimacy of the nobles’ titles, the first stage in his strategy to bring rebellious minds to heel. The first victim is the ever-conspiring Montcourt.

Louis welcomes the African Prince Annaba to Versailles.

Louis welcomes the African Prince Annaba to Versailles. To gain access to African territories, Louis plays his trump card, his wife Marie-Therese.

Accounts of Philppe’s prowess on the battlefield trouble Louis.

Accounts of Philppe’s prowess on the battlefield trouble Louis: what can he do with this brother who basks in military glory while risking his life?

Philippe returns to the Court and the soldiers to the construction of Versailles.

The war over, Philippe returns to the Court and the soldiers to the construction of Versailles. Philippe has won glory but returns from the battlefields a changed man.

On the Versailles construction site, Louis is confronted with a soldiers-workers strike.

On the Versailles construction site, Louis is confronted with a soldiers-workers strike. They claim the honours and privileges of a victorious Royal army.

Louis is gravely ill. This offers opportunity for the conspiracy to act.

Louis is gravely ill. This offers opportunity for the conspiracy to act. Cassel, Montcourt, Beatrice and the Chevalier de Lorraine are now united with the aim: to put Philippe on the throne.

Philippe is deeply upset and agitated at the arrest of the Chevalier.

Philippe is deeply upset and agitated at the arrest of the Chevalier. Though poisoned by Beatrice, Fabien manages to escape from the Palace and find refuge with Claudine.

Henriette masterfully leads the negotiations with her brother King Charles II.

Henriette masterfully leads the negotiations with her brother King Charles II. She returns to France in great honour, though gravely weakened by a mysterious illness.

Henriette’s health violently deteriorates.

Henriette’s health violently deteriorates. The poisoning theory is confirmed. The Palace is locked down and Claudine gives he all to save her patient.

Louis  is still haunted by nightmares, and his paranoia grows...

Louis has every reason to be happy - his palace is expanding and is admired the world over; and his troops are preparing to invade Holland and crush Guillaume d’Orange.

The Church rises up against the King, commanding him to end his adultery with Montespan.

Poisonings continue to spread, and Fabien’s investigations have reached a dead end.

Poisonings continue to spread, and Fabien’s investigations have reached a dead end. The King’s decisions are criticised, such as his appointment of Cassel to the position of Minister of Justice.

Madeleine de Foix is thrown into prison for murder by poisoning.

Madeleine de Foix is thrown into prison for murder by poisoning. Before her last breath, she sends Gaston to the only person who may be able to help him win a position in Court: Madame Agathe.

Louis is afflicted by terrible insomnia, which feeds his paranoia.

Louis is afflicted by terrible insomnia, which feeds his paranoia. He dismisses Fabien from his duties, and distances himself more and more from his entourage - with the exception of Montespan.

The King’s army wins several victories on the Dutch front, but it isn’t enough for Louis.

The King’s army wins several victories on the Dutch front, but it isn’t enough for Louis, who wants to crush Holland and bring Guillaume d’Orange to his knees.

Louis and Guillaume d’Orange engage in a merciless face-off.

Louis and Guillaume d’Orange engage in a merciless face-off. In a game of cat and mouse, they size each other up, study, and challenge one another.

Louis is determined to regain control over his palace and his life.

Louis is determined to regain control over his palace and his life. He begins by ending his relationship with Montespan.

Montespan seals a pact with the Devil by taking part in a black mass.

Montespan seals a pact with the Devil by taking part in a black mass orchestrated by the defrocked priest Etienne Guibourg. Fabien and his men interrupt the satanic ritual at its climax, but Montespan manages to escape without being seen.

Agathe's arrest shocks the Palace: Montespan and Gaston keep a low profile as one by one the royal guards arrest every noble person implicated in the poison scandal.

Louis celebrates victory in war by welcoming defeated Emperor Leopold with his niece, Eleanor.

Louis and Leopold begin the battle over the ultimate prize: Spain.

Louis and Leopold begin the battle over the ultimate prize: Spain. The Spanish King Charles is not expected to live long and both men claim its empire.

Fabien arrests townsfolk in reprisal for the attack on Colbert.

Fabien arrests townsfolk in reprisal for the attack on Colbert. Jeanne pleads with Louis for their release, but to no avail. Bastien wants his son back and kidnaps Fabien in response.

Philippe pursues his investigation into the Man in the Iron Mask.

Ignoring his brother’s doubts, Philippe pursues his investigation into the Man in the Iron Mask. Not knowing that the Vatican has sent a spy Di Marco to Versailles to keep an eye on Philippe.

Maintenon returns to the palace with renewed vigour and encourages Louis to step up his plans – and to impose restrictions on the Protestants.

After the tragedy of Marie-Thérèse’s death, Louis changes tactics.

After the tragedy of Marie-Thérèse’s death, Louis changes tactics. He plans to marry Philippe’s daughter to King Charles and plots with the Ottomans to attack Austria.

Louis and Philippe visit the midwife who attended the birth of their secret brother.

Louis and Philippe visit the midwife who attended the birth of their secret brother. Only to discover that their brother died young. So the burning question remains – who is the Man in the Iron Mask?

Louis is plunged into an existential crisis.

Louis is plunged into an existential crisis. He and Philippe are haunted by the burning question – what to do with the prisoner. While Philippe wants to send him to the colonies, Louis knows there is only one option – to kill him.

Louis persuades Philippe to kill their father so they can both have a clean slate.

Louis persuades Philippe to kill their father together so they can both have a clean slate. Fabien knows Louis has killed the prisoner and deduces the truth about the Man in the Iron Mask.

Having crushed the Protestants and thwarted Leto, Louis feels invincible.

Having crushed the Protestants and thwarted Leto, Louis feels invincible. But his family and France are divided and Fabien is on the loose. And what of the future? What will be his legacy?

Versailles

Versailles

Series 1

Episode 1

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 3

Episode 4

Episode 4

Episode 5

Episode 5

Episode 6

Episode 6

Episode 7

Episode 7

Episode 8

Episode 8

Episode 9

Episode 9

Episode 10

Episode 10