Jeremy Freeston

William the Conqueror: The First Norman King of England

It was on the bloody battlefield of Hastings in 1066 that William, Duke of Normandy, defeated and killed the gallant but battle-weary Harold II of England. From that day on, England would never be the same: uprisings in the north were mercilessly crushed and a new ruling class of Norman barons was gradually established. This programme paints a unique portrait of a man who was at once a great warrior and a ruthless poliotician and statesman. Architect of the Domesday book and builder of countless beautiful churches and castles, William the Conqueror's reign truly shaped the future of the nation.

The Battle of Flodden

The September of 1513 saw King James IV invade England with the largest and most confident army Scotland has yet seen. But within a few short days, nearly 10,000 of these proud warriors would be laying dead on Flodden Field. Among the hacked corpses would be the body of King James himself. This is the story of the most catastrophic military defeat in Scotland's history. For a turquoise ring and a foolish promise, James IV had risked, and lost, everything. This video includes dramatic and authentic battle re-enactments and the very latest in computer graphics to help tell this chapter in the bloody story of the conflicts between England and Scotland.

Richard the Lionheart - Crusader King

The reign of Richard the Lionheart was one of the most eventful and colourful in England's long history. The third son of Henry II, Richard I devoted his life to defending both his faith and his lands in France - only five months of his ten year rule were spent in England. An outstanding and courageous solider Richard I lead his army on a holy quest, a savage and bloody page in the annals of time known to history as the Crusades. Featuring extensive authentic reconstructions and dramatised "eye-witness" reports, this is the story of a born solider and a mighty king of England.