History documentaries
The Queen Who Would Be King
When her son tried to ascend to her dead husband’s throne, Queen Hatshepsut did the unthinkable and declared herself king. As this illuminating history documentary reveals, she overturned Egyptian tradition and became one of the most powerful and successful pharaohs in history. But then ancient and modern prejudices conspired to withhold the credit due to this unstoppable ruler.
Queens That Changed The World
So much of history is dominated by men. But some queens wielded extraordinary power, and ruled in ways that far surpassed their male counterparts. Back for series two, this illuminating history documentary series looks at queens such as Victoria, Elizabeth I, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Hatshepsut. It investigates what drove these women, how they asserted their authority and what they did to stay in power.
The Forgotten Queen: Anne
Coming to the throne in 1702, Anne modelled herself on Elizabeth I. She was the last monarch of the Stuart dynasty and one of the hardest working rulers that Britain had ever seen. Though less well-known today, she was the first queen of Great Britain, bringing Scotland and England together under one ruler and reigned through a period where Britain became a major player on the world stage.
The Virgin Queen: Elizabeth I
In 1558, Elizabeth took the throne of a deeply divided England after her siblings Edward and Mary died. The Protestant queen allowed Catholics to continue with their faith as long as they were discrete and loyal. Peace and prosperity followed, and English culture flourished. Under Elizabeth, the seeds of Empire were sewn but despite her successes the Virgin Queen had to guard against numerous plots.
The Real Lawrence of Arabia
A British Intelligence Officer known as Thomas Edward Lawrence conducted daring raids during World War I which made him a legend. But how did this man become the renowned ‘Lawrence of Arabia?’ This fascinating history documentary explores the character behind the man and tries to explain how he came to lead a small band of Arab fighters against the fourth largest army in the world.