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Despite the abundance of historical series that are filmed annually both abroad and in our country, the interest in them among the audience is only growing. In fact, films about history have always been popular with viewers of various categories. That is why the creators of such series will continue to embody their versions of famous historical events on television screens for a very long time, delighting fans with quality content.
Here are the top 10 best historical TV series for 2020.
10 Borgia (2011)
In Rome, almost no one likes a family Borgia. This Italian clan is of Spanish origin. They have many enemies, however, after the death of Pope Innocent VIII, with the help of intrigues and illegal manipulations, the Holy See is occupied by Rodrigo Borgia, under the name Alexander VI.
The irreconcilable enemy of the newly made Pope – Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere is doing everything to find allies in the fight against this powerful Borgia clan. He manages to persuade the French king, Charles VIII, to overthrow the Pope. Now the French army is about to invade Rome…
9. Peaky Blinders (2013)
“Peaky Blinders” – a television saga that tells about a group of gypsy bandits from Birmingham. The series is partly based on real historical events. “Peaky Blinders” people nicknamed the youth gang, which operated at the end of the 19th century in England. There is a version that these desperate guys got such a name for their gang because they allegedly sewed sharpened blades into the visors of their caps.
The members of the group tried by all means to protect the interests of their family clan. The leader of the gang was chosen by the one who, in the opinion of all family members, would bring the greatest benefit to all members of the criminal community. According to a number of historians, the Peaky Blinders differed from ordinary gangsters in that they had a special style of clothing and their own code of honor.
8. The Tudors (2007)
At the center of the historical series “The Tudors” the life of the legendary English monarch Henry 8. However, the picture tells not only about his contribution to the political life of the country, but also aspects of his turbulent personal life.
Young Henry Tudor was very proud and cruel. He passionately wanted to achieve absolute power, not only in England, but throughout the European continent. He is trying to conduct his domestic and foreign policy in such a way that state affairs are successful. At the same time, he manages to take an active part in the entertainment of the nobility and cruelly suppress the spread of the Lutheran faith that is objectionable to him.
However, one serious problem torments his mind and heart – this is the issue related to the succession to the throne. His wife Catherine of Aragon cannot give her husband a male heir. All children born in this marriage, except for Princess Mary (later the queen, nicknamed Bloody Mary), died in infancy.
Henry is ready to give birth to a legitimate son at any cost, so he did not think of anything else but to divorce Catherine and marry the charming Anne Boleyn, the future mother of Queen Elizabeth I …
7. Spartacus: Blood and Sand (2010)
The protagonist of the series «Spartacus: Blood and Sand” – a legendary historical figure. It was Spartacus who, despite terrible circumstances, managed to organize the largest uprising of slaves in the Roman Empire in the entire history of the existence of this state.
Spartacus was betrayed by his own country. Given into slavery. His beloved woman also became a slave. Spartacus, on the other hand, was forced to enter the arena and fight opponents not for life, but for death, just in order to amuse the crowd. A courageous warrior is not ready to submit to a cruel fate.
Every minute he fights for survival, in the hope of ever meeting his beloved. To implement his daring plans, he will have to find a common language with enemies, learn the rules of the game of the world of cruelty, orgies and vanity. However, the desire to gain lost freedom will give him the strength to break everything in his path, glad to achieve his cherished goal …
6. Empty Crown (2012)
The plot of the series “Empty Crown” based on the most famous works of the classic of English drama – William Shakespeare. We are talking, of course, about his famous creations such as “Richard II”, “Henry IV”, “Henry V”. The series shows in detail how events took place that influenced not only the history of the English state, but also the life of the European continent as a whole.
5. Romanovs (2013)
“Romanovs” is a series of documentaries that tells about all the rulers of the Romanov family. This dynasty lasted on the Russian throne for more than three hundred years. Incredible achievements, high-profile conquests, diplomatic victories and crushing defeats are associated with their names.
The history of the Romanov dynasty began in the Time of Troubles. When the country was torn apart by civil strife, foreign intervention and the intrigues of the boyars, 16-year-old Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov ascended the Moscow throne. He had to save the country from complete destruction and drive the enemy from the Russian lands. Thus began the history of this dynasty on the Russian throne, which was destined to end in 1917…
4. Magnificent Age (2011)
Turkish production series “Magnificent century” tells about the period of the reign of the famous Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. This time has remained in the memory of historians not only with great state achievements, but also with the incredible love story of the formidable Turkish ruler for the Slavic captive Roxalana, who was able to achieve unprecedented power and greatness.
According to the rules of Islam, the Sultan could have no more than four legal wives. However, the law of the Prophet Muhammad did not regulate the number of concubines, so the harem was constantly replenished with new slaves. At the same time, children born from the first wife became heirs to the throne.
Roksolana, while still very young, was captured and easier into slavery, after which the vizier Ibrahim Pasha presented her to Suleiman. A beautiful, smart and temperamental girl could not only become a lover for the Sultan for one night, but also captivate his heart for many years. After the adoption of Islam, Alexandra (the name of the main character) received the name Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska. The Sultan elevated her to the rank of chief wife and, at her insistence, refused close contact with other wives and concubines. Through skillful manipulation and intrigue, Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska was able to make her son the heir to the throne and forever go down in history as the most powerful woman in the history of the Ottoman Empire.
3. Rome (2005)
Many full-length and serial films have been created, telling about one of the greatest states that have existed in the history of mankind – Ancient Rome. It was a period of great achievement and incredible cruelty, the development of sophisticated arts and barbaric pagan customs.
The great commander and ruler Julius Caesar had recently completed an eight-year war against Gaul, hoping to triumphantly enter Rome. But the Senate is already plotting against him. Schemers incite against Caesar Pompey the Great. A full-scale civil war begins in the state. Legionnaires Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullon inevitably find themselves in the very whirlpool of civil strife of the powerful.
2. Vikings (2013)
Сериал “Vikings” difficult to call strictly historical. It’s more of a reflection on the legends of the Vikings. The plot of the series is based on Scandinavian tales about the raids and life of the Vikings in Anglo-Saxon Britain and the West Frankish kingdom. The main character of the series is known only from the Old Norse legends, the Viking leader Ragnar Lodbrok, who, according to local legends, descended from the god Odin.
1. Chernobyl (2019)
This series became a sensation long before its release. Chernobyl tells about the events that took place in the USSR in April 1986.
The accident at a nuclear power plant has become one of the worst disasters in human history. It caused thousands of victims. To this day, the consequences of this terrible event have not been fully neutralized.
Then, people who found themselves in the epicenter of the disaster, hardly suspected the true extent of the disaster. Withholding information about the true state of affairs by the government has led to an increase in the number of victims. All this is happening against the backdrop of the heroism of individuals who spared neither life nor health, for the sake of saving their neighbors…