Legend has it that the Plantagenets were descended from the Devil himself - a curse which does not deter the youthful Henry.
EP2 The Earth Is Not EnoughMay 07, 1978
Henry, with the Devil's luck, has married Eleanor of Aquitaine. The crown of England is also his - and now begins his fateful friendship with Thomas Becket.
EP3 A Rose, A ThornMay 14, 1978
As the friendship grows between Henry and Becket, so does the Queen's mistrust of them both. And then appears another threat - this time to her marriage.
EP4 The Hungry FalconsMay 21, 1978
The quarrel between Henry and Becket has culminated in Becket's murder; and when Eleanor leaves Henry to establish her own court at Poitiers, the deserted king turns to his sons for love and support.
EP5 Before The DarkMay 28, 1978
With Eleanor imprisoned at Salisbury and his sons plotting rebellion at Louis' court in Paris, Henry finds comfort in the arms of Alys - but Alys is Richard's young bride-to-be.
EP6 Richard Yea And NayJun 04, 1978
King Henry is dead - defeated, deserted. Long live King Richard, the glorious, golden Crusader.
EP7 Lion Of ChristendomJun 11, 1978
Inspired by Richard, his army moves south to the Holy Land for a new crusade. Eleanor has also journeyed south; her concern however, is not so much for souls, but to find a bride for Richard.
EP8 When Cage-Birds SingJun 18, 1978
Richard Coeur de Lion has married Berengaria of Navarre . . . but his Crusade has failed. Embittered, disillusioned, he turns his back on the Holy Land and begins the dangerous journey home.
EP9 Bolt From The BlueJun 25, 1978
Released from captivity, Richard Is once more crowned King of England. Imprisonment has sapped both his vigour and his strength but, when war breaks out again in the Holy Land, he sees this as his long-awaited chance of glory - and so begins his final journey.
EP10 In Sun's EclipseJul 02, 1978
A chance arrow has extinguished the glory that was Richard. John, at last, is King of England - but his right to that crown is quickly challenged by his nephew, Arthur of Brittany.
EP11 The Flowers Are SilentJul 09, 1978
John's impulsive marriage to the 12-year-old Isabella of Angouleme has brought rebellion in its wake, Arthur, attempting to kidnap Queen Eleanor, has been captured by John. His sentence is mutilation.
EP12 Tainted KingJul 16, 1978
The aged Queen Eleanor has died, John's murder of his nephew has caused the barons to desert him, his French lands are lost. Only Isabella remains and his right to choose the next Archbishop of Canterbury.
EP13 To The Devil They GoJul 23, 1978
After six years, John has yielded to the Pope. The Interdict is lifted but the English barons remain discontented; they want a charter of rights.
The Devil's Crown was a BBC limited series which dramatised the reigns of three medieval Kings of England: Henry II and his sons Richard the Lionheart and John.