For 600 years mystery has surrounded the death of Edward II. Did his childhood friend, Sir Roger Mortimer, order his assassination, or aid his escape?
In 1321, Sir Roger Mortimer leads a rebellion against Edward II and loses everything: his land, his titles, his family and his freedom. A lesser man would have surrendered to his fate, but not Mortimer. Making a daring escape from the Tower of London, he goes into exile and plots revenge.
England continues to suffer under her twin rulers – Edward and his chief counsellor, Hugh Despenser. Amid famine, flood, disease and the threat of war with France, the king struggles to keep order.
When Mortimer arrives at the head of an invading army, and with the king’s estranged wife, Isabella, at his side, it’s immediately clear whose cause the people of England will support. Edward is captured and offered a stark choice: renounce the throne, or face his own son across a battlefield.
The 14-year-old Prince of Wales is duly crowned, but demonstrates his inexperience when a new campaign against the Scots ends in humiliating defeat. Edward resents Mortimer’s continuing affair with his mother and his control of the country.
Mortimer’s wealth and power are restored, but rumours of Edward II’s “unnatural” death begin to circulate. How long before the man who would be king is brought down?