In the turbulent formative centuries of early Europe, power-hungry family dynasties fought for domination of the continent. The conflicting ambitions of the Plantagenet king of England, Edward III, and the Valois king of France, Philip VI, brought intrigue, war, kidnapping and mayhem to France.

In 15th Century France confusion reigns with a king who goes mad, dauphines who die as teenagers, a queen who switches allegiances between rival dukes and multiple assassinations. And then, of course, there was the English king, Henry V, who also claimed the throne of France.

Louis XI of France faced a formidable range of enemies when he ascended the throne. English kings and Burgundian dukes had eyes for the monarchy of France. This is the story of how Louis battled, schemed, bribed and even arranged marriages, all in a quest to keep his kingdom.

Child hostages, marriages, battles, and betrayals -- this is the story of Francis I, King of France and Charles V, King of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor, and the rivalry that engulfed Europe in war. But in the end, did either of them win?

In the turbulent formative centuries of early Europe, power-hungry family dynasties fought for domination of the continent. They clashed with blood and iron on the battlefields - but the real wars were complex, personal power struggles played out in private. Behind stony castle walls was a world of strategic alliance, adultery, plot, treason and murder.

In the turbulent formative centuries of early Europe, power-hungry family dynasties fought for domination of the continent. They clashed with blood and iron on the battlefields - but the real wars were complex, personal power struggles played out in private. Behind stony castle walls was a world of strategic alliance, adultery, plot, treason and murder.