The fascinatingly brutal stories of history’s real “Game of Thrones”. Where family dynasties fought for control of the empires created by great warrior kings – only to lose it all will be revealed next week.
Historian David Adams crosses Europe and Asia as he investigates the warrior kings who created vast empires only for their families to later dismember the empire as they fight over the spoils. In a real “Game of Thrones” the dysfunctional families of Attila the Hun; Timur (Tamerlane the Great); Edgar, King of the English and Charlemagne manage to lose it all.
In End of Empire: The Rise and Fall of Dynasties, David investigates the mystery of who murdered Edgar’s eldest son, the rightful King of England. He also looks into how a brilliant strategist like Tamerlane destroy cities, building towers of skulls of slain enemies, but not leave behind a proper succession plan?
Episode 1 – Timur – The Sword of Islam
Timur (Tamerlane the Great) is the clan leader who will conquer Central Asia, create architectural wonders – and leave behind a quarrelling, violent family who lose it all.
Episode 2 – Edgar – King of the English
In the 10th century Edgar is crowned the first King of the English. But after his death murder, incompetence and a scheming stepmother result in the End of Empire.
Episode 3 – Attila – The Barbarian Invader
Through political guile, masterful deal-making and war Attila the Hun built an empire that spanned Europe – only for his sons to lose it all within fifteen years.
Episode 4 – Charlemagne – The Father of Europe
At a time of political chaos Charlemagne creates a united Europe – only for his family to rip it apart as sons turn on their father and brother fights brother.
In telling the course of his travels through Europe and Asia David takes the audience from the magnificent mosques of legendary Samarkand to archaeological digs at medieval English castles, colourful picnics in Georgia, the ancient walls of Constantinople and joins in a traditional horseback buzkashi tournament in Uzbekistan.
End of Empire: The Rise and Fall of Dynasties is a Foxtel and Radiance Entertainment production and will be available to stream every week or watch on HISTORY from Monday, May 27 at 7.30pm AEST.
