Invasion: The Normans

The first edition opens in the turmoil of 12th-century Ireland, where provincial kings compete for supremacy. When two of these power players drive a rival into exile, he seeks help from Henry II, the Anglo-Norman king of England. Henry's vassal Strongbow and other Norman allies then invade Ireland.

The second of the two-part documentary follows the course of the invasion, as Strongbow wins victory after victory. In 1171 Henry II arrived to takes control of Ireland, and he granted land there to settlers from Britain. Now archaeology and cutting-edge science reveal their fascinating lives. The episode also shows how the conquest of Ireland enabled centuries of war between England and France.