Lucy Worsley and Helen Castor tell the real-life stories behind one of the world's grandest buildings as BBC Two premieres a lavish new drama set in the sumptuous surroundings of Versailles. They shed light on the colorful world of sex, drama, and intrigue that Louis XIV and his courtiers lived in. Lucy delves into the archives to untangle Louis's complex world of court etiquette, fashion, and feasting, while Helen delves into the archives to untangle Louis's Machiavellian world of court politics. We meet the people behind the on-screen characters and learn what drove Louis to glorify his reign on a scale unrivaled by any previous monarch. We also look at the conflict between Louis and his brother Philippe, a battle hero and open homosexual, and we meet the coterie of women who vied for Louis' attention. We can see that Louis was ruthless in his pursuit of glory, and he was successful in defeating his adversaries. France became famous for its culture and sophistication during his record-breaking 72-year reign.
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Lucy Worsley and Helen Castor tell the real-life stories behind one of the world's grandest buildings as BBC Two premieres a lavish new drama set in the sumptuous surroundings of Versailles. They shed light on the colorful world of sex, drama, and intrigue that Louis XIV and his courtiers lived in. Lucy delves into the archives to untangle Louis's complex world of court etiquette, fashion, and feasting, while Helen delves into the archives to untangle Louis's Machiavellian world of court politics. We meet the people behind the on-screen characters and learn what drove Louis to glorify his reign on a scale unrivaled by any previous monarch. We also look at the conflict between Louis and his brother Philippe, a battle hero and open homosexual, and we meet the coterie of women who vied for Louis' attention. We can see that Louis was ruthless in his pursuit of glory, and he was successful in defeating his adversaries. France became famous for its culture and sophistication during his record-breaking 72-year reign.
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