36 Awesome Historical Series: List of the Best ones by Ratings and Reviews

Historical series provide an opportunity to look into the past, know about the life stories of famous personalities, entire families and even nations, as well as immerse yourself in a whirlpool of exciting events. We offer you an impressive list of historical series, where everyone will find something to their liking.

Table of contents

Les Miserables

Rating IMDB – 7.8;
Genre: Drama, melodrama, history;
Production: UK, USA / 2018;
Director: Tom Shankland;
Cast: Dominic West, David Oyelowo, Lily Collins, Adil Akhtar, Olivia Colman, Erin Kellyman, Ellie Bamber, Josh O’Connor, David Bradley, Emma Fielding.

To feed his family, Jean Valjean stole some bread, but was caught by the police and sent to hard labor. After many years, he goes free, settles in a small town and even achieves some success there.

Having committed an offense, Jean becomes the target of police inspector Javert, who wants to return him to hard labor at any cost and does his job with excessive fanaticism. Also Valjean takes the little girl Cosette under his care.

The series is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by the French classic Victor Hugo.

Empress Ki

Rating IMDB – 8.4;
Genre: History, biography, drama, melodrama;
Production: South Korea / 2013;
Directed by: Han Hee, Lee Sung-jun;
Cast: Ha Ji-won, Joo Jin-mo, Chi Chang-wook, Baek Jin-hee, Kim So-hyun, Jung Guk-hwan, Lee Jae-young, Lee Won-jung, Lee Moon-shik, Han Hye- rin.

The girl Seung Nyang comes from Goryeo on the Korean peninsula, whose prince is Wang Yoo. The country is under the rule of the Mongol Yuan Empire and, as a result of military pressure, is losing its independence.

Seung is sent as a slave to the Yuan court. She becomes the concubine of the influential Mongol emperor Toghon Temur. It will change the girl’s life forever and subject her to many trials. Palace intrigues, jealousy, enemies – Seung Nyang will have to face all this.

The series is based on the life story of a Korean woman named Seung Nyang. However, some storylines are fictional.

The Crown

Rating IMDB – 8.7;
Genre: Drama, history, biography;
Production: UK / 2016;
Budget: $156,000,000;
Directed by: Benjamin Caron, Philip Martin, Jessica Hobbs;
Cast: Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, Imelda Staunton, Matt Smith, Tobias Menzies, Jonathan Pryce, Leslie Manville, Elizabeth Debicki, Dominic West.

The series tells the story of the life and reign of one of the most influential women in the world, the Queen of Great Britain – Elizabeth II. Her wedding to Prince Philip took place in 1947. After the death of her father, she ascended the throne at the age of 25.

At such a young age, a great burden of responsibility regarding the government of the state fell on the shoulders of Elizabeth. She had to face a lot of scandals around the royal family, intrigues and crisis situations, but she always adequately solved any difficulties.

This series is one of the most expensive in the whole history of cinema.

The Great

Rating IMDB – 8.1;
Genre: Comedy, biography, history;
US production / 2020;
Directed by: Colin Baxey, Burt, Kathy Ellwood;
Cast: Elle Fanning, Nicholas Hoult, Phoebe Fox, Gwilym Lee, Louis Hynes, Sasha Dhawan, Adam Godley, Douglas Hodge, Belinda Bromilov, Bayo Gbadamosi.

The young German princess Sophie Auguste Friederike of Anhalt-Zerbst becomes the wife of Peter III, who is the emperor of the Russian Empire. Having converted to Orthodoxy at baptism, she receives the name Catherine II.

Being a foreigner, she falls in love with Russia with all her heart and, unlike her eccentric and cruel husband, tries to do everything for the prosperity of the state. From a modest girl, Catherine turns into a strong woman who will forever leave her mark on world history.

The satirical series uses general historical facts, but many of the events and actions of the characters are exaggerated.

The Hollow Crown

Rating IMDB – 8.2;
Genre: Drama, War, History;
Production: UK / 2012;
Directed by: Dominic Cook, Richard Eyre, Rupert Gould;
Cast: Ben Whishaw, Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sophie Okonedo, Tom Sturridge, Julie Walters, Stanley Townsend, Judi Dench, Michael Gambon.

The plot of the series shows the events that took place in England in the 15th century, and talks about three kings who were blood relatives. Richard II is unloved by the masses, because he never cared about well-being of the people.

He was dethroned by his cousin Bolingbroke, who called himself Henry IV. The reign of the new king was overshadowed by the brewing war and worries about the unlucky son, who would later play an important role in the history of England.

The series is a film adaptation of historical chronicles written by the greatest English writer William Shakespeare.

The Last Kingdom

Rating IMDB – 8.5;
Genre: Action, drama, history;
Production: UK / 2015;
Directed by: John East, Edward Bazalgette, Peter Hoare;
Cast: Alexander Drymon, Eliza Butterworth, Arnas Fedaravichus, Mark Rowley, Emily Cox, James Northcote, Millie Brady, Timothy Innes, Cavan Clerkin, Ian Hart.

Uhtred is the son of a Saxon nobleman, but as a boy, he was kidnapped by the Danes and raised as a true Viking. They have instilled in the guy their traditions and pagan faith, made him a fearless warrior and always treated him as an equal. Jarl Ragnar even considered Uhtred his own son.

He grew up and became a brave man who was always loyal to the Vikings but never forgot his roots. One day, Uhtred will have to make a difficult choice and still decide which side he is on.

The protagonist of the series, Uhtred, is actually an ancestor of the writer Cornwell.

Vikings

Rating IMDB – 8.5;
Genre: History, drama, action, melodrama, adventure, military;
Production: Ireland, Canada / 2013;
Directed by: Ciarán Donnelly, Ken Girotti, Stephen St. Ledger;
Cast: Katheryn Winnick, Gustaf Skarsgård, Alexander Ludwig, Georgia Hearst, Alex Heg Andersen, Jordan Patrick Smith, Marco Ilsø, Peter Franzen, Travis Fimmel, Clive Standen.

The history of Ragnar Lothbrok, one of the most legendary and influential Vikings of his time, who is known for the Scandinavian sagas. On the shore of the strait there is a Viking settlement, headed by Earl Haraldson.

Ragnar suggests him to leave the eastern lands alone and explore the western territories in search of prey. Earl rejects this offer, but Lothbrok disobeys him. This event becomes the beginning of the incredible adventures of the brave Viking and his supporters.

Lothbrok is the protagonist’s nickname, meaning “fur pants”. It was customary for the Vikings to give each other nicknames that characterize habits.

The Pillars of the Earth

Rating IMDB – 8.0;
Genre: Drama, History, Thriller, Romance, War;
Production: Germany, Canada, Great Britain, Hungary / 2010;
Budget: $40,000,000;
Directed by: Sergio Mimica-Gezzan;
Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Hayley Atwell, Ian McShane, Donald Sutherland, Rufus Sewell, Matthew Macfadyen, Sam Claflin, David Oakes, Sarah Parish, Natalia Werner.

Medieval England, 12th century. William Adelin dies in a shipwreck. He was the only legitimate heir to King Henry I. The king also has the youngest daughter Matilda. Only her son will be able to ascend the throne upon reaching the age of majority.

The struggle for the throne between the girl and her father’s nephew flares up. The country plunges into internecine war, choking in rivers of blood. Against the backdrop of these events, the construction of a cathedral in the town of Kingsbridge takes place, in which a simple bricklayer Tom takes part.

The cathedral and the city in which its construction takes place are completely fictional.

Outlander

Rating IMDB – 8.4;
Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Romance;
Production: USA, UK / 2014;
Directed by: Metin Hussein, Jamie Payne, Stephen Wolfenden;
Cast: Caitrina Balfe, Sam Heughan, Sophie Skelton, Richard Rankin, Duncan Lacroix, John Bell, Cesar Domboy, Lauren Lyle, Tobias Menzies.

Claire Randall is a military nurse. At the end of the Second World War, she goes with her husband Frank to Scotland. One day, walking alone, Claire discovers a circle of large stones on a hill.

Leaning against one of them, she inexplicably finds herself in 1743, where the war between the Scots and the British is in full swing. She meets an officer of the British army, who looks very similar to her husband. Also she accidentally meets a young Scot named Jamie Fraser.

The series is based on the novels of the same name by American writer Diana Gabaldon.

Poldark

Rating IMDB – 8.3;
Genre: Drama, melodrama, history;
Production: UK / 2015;
Directed by: Joss Agnew, Sally Aprahamian, Edward Bazalgette;
Cast: Aidan Turner, Eleanor Tomlinson, Jack Farthing, Bety Edney, Tristan Sturrock, Luke Norris, Heida Reid, Gabriella Wilde, Pip Torrens, Caroline Blakiston.

The Great Britain at the end of the 18th century. Ross Poldark returns to his homeland in Cornwall after participating in the war, hoping for a quiet life.

Upon arrival, he receives news about the death of his father, the decline of the family estate and family mines, but the biggest blow for Ross is that his beloved woman is engaged to another man, who, among other things, is his cousin. Trying to build a new life and regain former respect, Poldark will meet many difficulties along the way.

The series is based on the historical novel series of the same name by writer Winston Graham.

Marco Polo

Rating IMDB – 8.0;
Genre: Action, drama, adventure, history;
US production / 2014;
Directed by: Daniel Minahan, David Petrarch, Alik Sakharov;
Cast: Lorenzo Riquelmi, Benedict Wong, Joan Chen, Remy Hai, Zhu Zhu, Mahesh Jadu, Uli Latukefu, Olivia Cheng, Tom Wu, Claudia Kim.

A group of European merchants, which included the Venetian guy Marco Polo and his father Niccolo, went to China in 1273. The whole country is under the rule of the Mongol Empire. The delegation ends up in the palace of Hulibai Khan, trying to negotiate with him on the establishment of trade routes.

Niccolo offers the Mongol khan to leave his son Marco to serve him in exchange for permission to trade on the Great Silk Road. The young man began to study local traditions, imbued with culture and managed to win over the khan. Involuntarily, the guy becomes a participant in political intrigues.

The first season of the series cost Netflix $90 million.

The Tudors

Rating IMDB – 8.1;
Genre: Drama, melodrama, military, history;
Production: Ireland, Canada, USA, UK / 2007;
Directed by: Ciarán Donnelly, Jeremy Podeswa, Dirbla Walsh;
Cast: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Henry Cavill, James Frain, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Natalie Dormer, Sam Neill, Jeremy Northam, Anthony Brophy, Sarah Bolger, Guy Carlton.

The story of the reigns, rises and falls, love relationships and court intrigues of one of the most famous English dynasties that ruled from 1485-1603. The main character in the series is Henry VIII. He is young and vain, loves life in all its manifestations, but one day he has to become the leader of the country.

Like all great monarchs, he dreams of an heir, but fate decides otherwise. Not accustomed to surrender, Henry VIII goes to his goal. In parallel, he is struggling with the spread of the Lutheran movement.

Natalie Dormer, who played Anne Boleyn, is also known for her role as Margaery Tyrell in Game of Thrones.

Downton Abbey

Rating IMDB – 8.7;
Genre: Drama, melodrama;
Production: UK / 2010;
Directed by: Brian Percival, David Evans, Philip John;
Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Michelle Dockery, Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle, Joanne Froggatt, Laura Carmichael, Jessica Brown Findlay, Maggie Smith, Dan Stevens.

This is a story of the Crawley family and their subordinates, living in the estate of Downton Abbey. The owner of the abbey and the head of the family, Earl Robert Grantham, happily lives his life with his wife and three daughters. The only problem that torments him is the lack of an heir.

Since the title cannot be inherited through the female line, by law it passes to Robert’s cousin, and his daughters are left with nothing. It would seem that a solution has been found. The son of the heir proposes to the eldest daughter of the count, but eventually dies. Grantham is forced to find his distant relative in order to give him the title of earl.

The series was filmed at Highclere Castle in Hampshire.

The Borgias

Rating IMDB – 7.9;
Genre: Drama, melodrama, crime, history;
Production: USA, Hungary, Ireland, Canada / 2011;
Director: Neil Jordan, Kari Skogland, John Maybury;
Cast: Jeremy Irons, François Arnaud, Holliday Grainger, Peter Sullivan, Sean Harris, Joanne Whalley, Lotta Verbeck, Colm Feore, Vernon Dobcheff, David Oakes.

Late 15th century, Italy. Pope Innocent VIII has unlimited power and abuses it without remorse, deciding the fate of the empire. After his death in 1492, in a dishonest way, governance passes into the hands of Rodrigo Borgia, who later calls himself Alexander VI.

The Italian Borgia dynasty will forever leave a trace in history as the most immoral, unprincipled and scandalous family that has many enemies, one of which is Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere.

Initially, the first season was supposed to have 10 episodes, but due to lack of funds, they ended up with 9.

Medici: Masters of Florence

Rating IMDB – 7.9;
Genre: Thriller, drama, melodrama, detective story, biography, history;
Production: Italy, UK, France / 2016;
Directed by: Christian Duguet, Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, John Kassar;
Cast: Sarah Parish, Alessandra Mastronardi, Sunnøve Carlsen, Julian Sands, Daniel Sharman, Sebastian de Souza, Pietro Ragusa, Anabel Cholay, David Brandon, Aurora Ruffino.

The story of the Italian Medici family, which managed to become the most influential and powerful dynasty, being at the beginning just ordinary merchants. They’ve achieved absolute power in Florence. Giovanni de Medici was the founder of the dynasty.

Under mysterious circumstances, he was poisoned in a country estate, after which, in 1434, his eldest son Cosimo became the head of the Florentine Republic. In the series, with the help of flashbacks, the life path of family members is shown, as well as the relationship of the father with his sons Lorenzo and Cosimo.

Richard Madden as Cosimo Medici is only a year older than the actor Alessandro Sperduti, who played his son Piero on the show.

War & Peace

Rating IMDB – 8.1;
Genre: Drama, melodrama, military, history;
Production: UK / 2016;
Director: Tom Harper;
Cast: Paul Dano, James Norton, Lily James, Adrian Edmondson, Ashlyn Loftus, Greta Scacchi, Jack Lowden, Tuppence Middleton, Aneurin Barnard, Jessie Buckley.

Screen version of the world-famous work, authored by the great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. The Russian Empire, together with its allies, is participating in the war against the French army, led by the commander Napoleon. On the eve of and against the backdrop of military events, the life of the three main families: the Rostovs, Bezukhovs and Bolkonskys, as well as their relationship with each other, is shown.

According to many viewers, “War and Peace” is one of the best historical series of recent years.

Most of the filming took place in Rundale Castle, located in Latvia.

Black Sails

Rating IMDB – 8.2;
Genre: Action, drama, adventure;
Production: USA, South Africa / 2014;
Directed by: Steve Boyum, Alik Sakharov, Lukas Ettlin;
Cast: Toby Stevens, Hannah New, Luke Arnold, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Sean Michael, Zach McGowan, Clara Paget, Hakim Kae-Kasim, Tom Hopper, Mark Ryan.

In 1715, pirates rule the Caribbean. New Providence is an island in the Bahamas and the territory of a former British colony where chaos and lawlessness reign. This island is controlled by the most dangerous of the pirates in history – Captain Flint.

Since the British fleet aims to regain these lands, in order to save the island, Flint decides to team up with Eleanor Guthrie, who is the daughter of a local official and is engaged in buying up goods stolen by pirates. Together they develop an incredibly dangerous plan and try to make it right.

More than three hundred people worked to create a life-size model of the ship for the filming of the series.

Rome

Rating IMDB – 8.7;
Genre: Drama, History, Action, Romance, War;
Production: UK, USA / 2005;
Budget: $100,000,000;
Directed by: Michael Apted, Mikael Salomon, Allen Coulter;
Cast: Kevin McKidd, Ray Stevenson, Polly Walker, Kerry Condon, James Purefoy, Ian McNeice, Coral Amiga, Lindsey Duncan, Lydia Biondi, Tobias Menzies.

The great commander and politician Gaius Julius Caesar ends the eight-year war with a victory over the Gallic tribes. It is time to return to Rome, but conflict is brewing there. The nobility are afraid and do not want his return, because, in their opinion, he will violate the order that has been established over the years. They convince Pompey the Great, who is a friend of Caesar, to oppose the ruler.

In parallel with this, the legionnaires Lucius and Thet start a business, if successful, they can get rich. Meanwhile, the general is approaching Rome and is ready to face his enemies.

In 2007, a fire broke out at the film studio where the series was filmed, destroying a large part of the scenery.

Napoleon

Rating IMDB – 7.3;
Genre: Drama, melodrama, adventure, military, biography, history;
Production: France, Germany, Italy, Canada, USA, UK, Hungary, Spain, Czech Republic / 2002;
Budget: €41,000,000;
Directed by: Yves Simonot;
Cast: Christian Clavier, Isabella Rossellini, Gerard Depardieu, John Malkovich, Anouk Aimé, Heino Ferch, Ennio Fantasticini, Marie Baumer, Ludivine Sagnier, Alain Doute.

In world history, Napoleon I Bonaparte is rightfully considered the most famous diplomat and commander. He had an excellent memory and high intelligence, which helped him to win.

The story tells about the events when Napoleon was just starting to build a career and covers other periods of his life, up to the last years. Considerable attention is paid to the military victories and defeats of the commander, as well as his love affairs – fleeting intrigues and serious relationships.

The author of the novel, on which the series is based, is Max Gallo.

Nicolas Le Floch

Rating IMDB – 8.1;
Genre: Thriller, Drama, Crime, Detective, Adventure;
Production: France / 2008;
Directed by: Nicholas Picard, Philippe Berenger, Edwin Bailey;
Cast: Jérôme Robard, Matia Mlecuze, François Caron, Mikael Abitboul, Vincent Winteralter, Jean-Marie Vinlin, Sava Lolov, Claire Nebu, Pierre Remund, Maria Verdi.

Second half of the 18th century, the time of Louis XV. From the provinces, a young but talented detective Nicolas le Floch comes to work in Paris. He is full of perseverance and aspiration, devoted to the king, passionate about his work and excellently performs it. He has to solve many complex, and sometimes dangerous cases.

Political intrigues, family feuds, government conspiracies, murders for the sake of money – Nicolas plunges headlong into these cases. He intends, by all means, to find the stirrer-up and achieve justice.

The series is based on the books by French writer Jean-Francois Parot.

Spartacus: Blood and Sand

Rating IMDB – 8.5;
Genre: Action, drama, melodrama, adventure, biography, history;
US production / 2010;
Directed by: Jesse Warne, Michael Hurst, Rick Jacobson;
Cast: Andy Whitfield, Liam McIntyre, Manu Bennett, Dustin Clare, Daniel Furrigal, Nick E. Tarabay, John Hannah, Lucy Lawless, Viva Bianca, Peter Mensah.

The Thracian commander, the talented warrior Spartacus, being betrayed by his allies, was captured and became a slave of the Roman Empire. He was separated from his beloved woman and forced to participate in bloody gladiator fights. He entertained an audience that wants only blood and circuses.

Now he is forced to fight for his life and play by the rules of a cruel world. But his inner strength, patience and courage will help him overcome any difficulties and become the most famous Roman gladiator.

Actor Andy Whitfield, who played the main character, has died at the age of 39, presumably like his character. According to various sources, Spartacus was between 37 and 39 years old at the time of his death.

John Adams

Rating IMDB – 8.5;
Genre: Drama, biography, history;
US production / 2008;
Director: Tom Hooper;
Cast: Paul Giamatti, Laura Linney, John Dossett, Stephen Dillane, Sarah Polley, Samuel Barnett, David Morse, Andrew Scott, Danny Huston, Ebon Moss-Bachrach.

The story of a talented American politician who played an important role in founding of the United States of America. The example of his life shows the first 50 years of the existence of the United States after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

A lawyer, a member of the movement for the abolition of slavery, vice president, and also the second American president – he forever inscribed himself and his family in world history. He became the founder of the politician dynasty, and his eldest son became the sixth president of the United States.

The series was based on the book of the same name by American writer David McCullough.

Dirilis: Ertugrul

Rating IMDB – 7.9;
Genre: Action, Drama, Adventure, War, History;
Production: Turkey / 2014;
Directed by: Metin Gunay, Akif Ozkan, Hakan Arslan;
Cast: Engin Altan, Hyulya Darcan, Cengiz Coskun, Nurettin Senmez, Celal Al, Hakan Serim, Edip Zeidan, Ayberk Pekcan, Esra Bilgich, Osman Soykut.

A foreign historical series that tells about the events preceding the formation of the Ottoman Caliphate, the founder of which considered to be Osman I Gazi, the son of the legendary Ertugrul Bey.

The action takes place in the XIII century. The brave, fearless, patient and stubborn warrior Ertugrul begins the conquest of lands, which will later lead to the founding of one of the most powerful and influential empires in history. For six centuries, his descendants ruled the Great Ottoman Empire.

The series is based on the real story of the Muslim Oghuz Turks.

Sons of Liberty

Rating IMDB – 7.4;
Genre: Drama, history;
US production / 2015;
Directed by: Kari Skogland;
Cast: Ben Barnes, Marton Csokas, Henry Thomas, Ryan Eggold, Michael Raymond-James, Rafe Spall, Jason O’Mara, Dean Norris, Shane Taylor, Emily Berrington.

In 1765, Massachusetts is a British colony that pursues a cruel policy, gradually leading to discontent among various segments of the population. So here a group of dissidents, who intend to fight back the colonialists and try to change the course of history, was founded.

Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and John Adams unite in an alliance and begin a selfless struggle against the British Empire. Trying to achieve equality, they received much more – independence and freedom.

The series was filmed in Romania.

The Kennedys

Rating IMDB – 7.5;
Genre: Drama, melodrama, history;
Production: Canada, USA / 2011;
Directed by: John Kassar;
Cast: Greg Kinnear, Barry Pepper, Katie Holmes, Tom Wilkinson, Diana Hardcastle, Kristin Booth, Rotaford Gray, Janelle Hutchinson, Rachel Wilson, Serge Houde.

The Kennedy family is known and discussed all over the world. Almost all members of the dynasty were well-known and influential political figures. The action in the series revolves around the John Kennedy family and shows the most significant years of their lives, affecting both career and personal life.

In parallel with this, important historical events to which the United States of America is related – the Second World War, the attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro, the Berlin Crisis, the Vietnam War – are shown.

Versailles

Rating IMDB – 7.9;
Genre: Drama, melodrama, military, biography, history;
Production: France, Canada / 2015;
Directed by: Christian Langlois, Thomas Vincent, Richard Clarke;
Cast: George Blagden, Alexander Vlahos, Ty Runyan, Stuart Bowman, Evan Williams, Joe Sheridan, Steve Cumin, Eliza Lasowski, Maddison Jaizani, Anna Brewster.

Louis XIV, being a four-year-old child, ascended the throne in May 1643 after the death of his father. His mother Anna of Austria becomes his regent. Together with Cardinal Mazarin she takes power into her own hands.

Twenty-eight-year-old Louis XIV decides to come out of the shadows, declare himself and force the nobility to obey, but for this he needs to take drastic measures. He decides to transfer the residence from Paris to Versailles, where his subjects are locked in a “golden cage”.

For the main characters, the costume designers created about 100 costumes, and for secondary characters and extras, more than 200.

Victoria

Rating IMDB – 8.2;
Genre: Drama, biography, history;
Production: UK / 2016;
Budget: £10,000,000;
Directed by: Jeffrey Sachs, Oliver Blackburn, Tom Vaughn;
Cast: Jenna Coleman, Adrian Schiller, Tommy Knight, Jordan Waller, Nell Hudson, Tom Hughes, Ferdinand Kingsley, Anna Wilson-Jones, Daniela Holtz, Nigel Lindsay.

In 1837, at the age of eighteen, Victoria becomes Queen of Great Britain. Being a young and inexperienced girl, she faces many difficulties, but in the end she becomes a strong personality who achieves incredible heights.

Victoria makes the British Empire an important player on the international stage and also links the English dynasty to most of the European monarchical houses. Throughout her life, the main support and support for the queen was her beloved husband, Prince Albert.

Brown-eyed actress Jenna Coleman, who played Victoria, had to wear blue contact lenses during filming.

The Virgin Queen

Rating IMDB – 7.4;
Genre: Drama, history;
Production: UK / 2005;
Budget: £6,000,000;
Directed by: Koki Gidroitsch;
Cast: Anne-Mary Duff, Sienna Guillory, Ian Hart, Tom Hardy, Dexter Fletcher, Richard Sims, Tara Fitzgerald, Ulrich Thomsen, Jason Watkins, Ben Daniels.

Camelot

Rating IMDB – 6.5;
Genre: Fantasy, Drama, History;
Production: Ireland, USA, UK, Canada / 2011;
Directed by: Mikael Salomon, Stefan Schwartz, Ciarán Donnelly;
Cast: Joseph Fiennes, Jamie Campbell Bower, Tamsin Egerton, Peter Mooney, Philip Winchester, Eva Green, Diarmed Murtha, Clive Standen, Claire Forlani, Yamal Downey.

King Uther Pendragon dies after being poisoned by his own daughter Morgana. She is a ruthless mighty sorceress who plans to take the throne after her father’s death. A turn of events like this could destroy Britain and lead it into chaos.

To prevent the destruction of the country, the wizard Merlin decides to help the illegitimate son of King Uther Pendragon, which is a simple guy Arthur, to ascend the throne. Merlin is his only true ally. Together they begin the fight for the throne against Morgana and her supporters.

The series is based on the legends about the great King Arthur.

The White Princess

Rating IMDB – 7.5;
Genre: Drama, melodrama, military, history;
Production: UK, USA / 2017;
Directed by: Jamie Payne, Alex Kalymnios;
Cast: Jodie Comer, Rebecca Benson, Jacob Collins-Levi, Richard Dillane, Michelle Fairley, Kenneth Cranham, Nicholas Audsley, Essie Davis, Caroline Goodall, Adrian Rawlins.

After a long war between the Scarlet and the White Rose, the long-awaited peace has finally come to England. The reason for this is the marriage of Princess Elizabeth of York to Henry VII, who is the heir to the house of Lancaster.

Marriage brings Elizabeth a lot of problems. Her husband is a greedy and insecure person, and his mother Margaret in every possible way demonstrates dislike for the young and beautiful queen. In addition, a man appears who claims to be Elizabeth’s brother.

The series is based on the novel of the same name by writer Philippa Gregory.

Gunpowder

Rating IMDB – 6.6;
Genre: Drama, history;
Production: UK / 2017;
Directed by: J. Blakeson;
Cast: Kit Harington, Liv Tyler, Edward Holcroft, Mark Gatiss, Sean Dooley, Peter Mullan, Derek Riddell, Robert Emms, Luke Broughton, Tom Cullen.

In 1605, a team of conspirators, consisting of English provincial Catholics, decides to kill the English King James I, who sympathized for the Protestants.

No longer able to tolerate the oppression and execution of Catholic novices, as well as having personal motives, they begin to make their plan come true and begin careful preparations, since they will have only one chance to realize their plan. This event will become known in history as the Gunpowder Plot.

Kit Harington, also known for the role of Jon Snow on Game of Thrones, is a descendant of Robert Catesby, the leader of a Protestant group.

Gentleman Jack

Rating IMDB – 8.1;
Genre: Biography, comedy, melodrama, history;
Production: UK, USA / 2019;
Directed by: Sally Wainwright, Edward Hall, Fergus O’Brien;
Cast: Suranna Jones, Sophie Rundle, Gemma Whelan, Ben Hunter, Gemma Jones, Timothy West, Tom Lewis, Joe Armstrong, Rosie Cavaliero.

In 1832, disappointed in love, Anne Lister leaves Paris and goes to the English city of Halifax, located in West Yorkshire. There is the estate of Shibden Hall, which she inherited.

Purposeful, wealthy and loving to travel in any situation, she behaved like a man, and started love affairs exclusively with women. All the events that happened in her life, including frank details, Anna wrote down in her diary, which formed the basis of the script for the series.

Anne Lister is one of the first women in the 19th century to come out as lesbian.

The Spanish Princess

Rating IMDB – 6.8;
Genre: Drama, melodrama, history;
Production: UK / 2019;
Directed by: Lisa Clark, Chania Button, Daina Reid;
Cast: Laura Carmichael, Aaron Cobham, Charlotte Hope, Stephanie Levy-John, Rory O’Connor, Philip Kambas, Richard William Pepper, Jordan Renzo, Ollie Ricks, Georgie Henley.

Catherine of Aragon comes to England with her court, to marry King Arthur. His relatives meet the woman rather coldly. Soon after the wedding, the king dies, but Catherine is in no hurry to return home.

She declares that she was not intimate with her late husband, therefore she has the right to marry the crown prince – Harry. Now she needs to attract the attention of the prince, as well as confront women from the Tudor family.

The project is a continuation of the White Queen series, also based on the books by Philippa Gregory.

Knightfall

Rating IMDB – 6.7;
Genre: Action, drama, adventure, history;
US production / 2017;
Directed by: Douglas McKinnon, David Petrarch, Metin Hussein;
Cast: Tom Cullen, Padraic Delaney, Simon Merrells, Julian Ovenden, Ed Stoppard, Nasser Memarzia, Jim High, Jim Carter, Olivia Ross, Sabrina Bartlett.

The Holy Grail, also known as the Cup of Christ, is the most valuable Christian artifact, symbolizing spiritual purity and immortality. It was lost after the fall of the city of Acre. It can help to raise the spirit of the Templars, who were persecuted.

Behind all this are Pope Clement V and French King Philip IV. The brave Sir Landry du Lazon, the leader of the Templars, sets off in search of the Grail. He doesn’t lose hope for the salvation of his order.

Film sets located in Prague were destroyed by a fire caused by an unextinguished cigarette.

Frontier

Rating IMDB – 7.1;
Genre: Drama, adventure, history;
Production: Canada / 2016;
Directed by: John Watcher, Brad Peyton, T.J. Scott;
Cast: Jason Momoa, Landon Liboiron, Zoe Boyle, Greg Bryk, Jessica Matten, Allan Hawko, Laila Porter-Follows, Michael Patrick, Alan Armstrong, Diana Bentley.

End of the 18th century. Fur hunter Declan Harp seeks revenge for the deaths of his wife and son. To get even with the British, he intends to destroy the monopoly on the fur trade in Canada, owned by the Hudson’s Bay Company, and put the arrogant Europeans in their place.

Lord Benton tries with all his might to fight the rebel and sends the thief Michael Smith to Harp, but the thief goes over to Harp’s side. Together they will experience incredible adventures in the fight against the crown.

In the series, the flags of Britain depict the cross of St. Patrick, but it was added to the flag only at the beginning of the 19th century (in the first series it is said that the action takes place at the end of the 18^th).

Tut

Rating IMDB – 7.0;
Genre: Drama, biography, history;
Production: Canada / 2015;
Directed by: David Von Encken;
Cast: Ben Kingsley, Evan Jogia, Cybilla Dean, Alexander Siddig, Kylie Bunbury, Peter Gadiot, Iddo Goldberg, Nonso Anozie, Alistair Toovey, Steve Toussaint.

The life story of Tutankhamun – the greatest pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, from his youth to his death shrouded in mystery. He came to the throne at the age of ten and was always surrounded by insidious envious people. Intrigues were woven around him, ill-wishers plotted him, and at the same time he was feared and respected.

Tutankhamun is the most famous ruler of an ancient civilization, who is still talked about today, although many historians believe that he did nothing outstanding.