The Third Crusade involves two of the most well known figures of any crusade: Richard I, the Lionheart, King of England, and Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub, Sultan of Egypt and Syria. These two men each command an army, and the fate of the Near East hangs in the balance. After the Siege of Acre, the army of the Third Crusade takes the road to Jerusalem. Along the way they will face Saladin, and have an encounter with the Assassins. Their quest to take the city involves epic battles, murder, surprising camaraderie, and scandalous marriage proposals. This is the story which founded legends.

The siege of Acre, from 1189-1191 was one of the most brutal battles of the Third Crusade. The armies of the King of Jerusalem surrounded the city of Acre, but were themselves under attack from the armies of Saladin. Into this mess, the armies of the Third Crusade, led by King Richard the Lionheart of England and Philip Augustus of France, joined the fight. The brutal siege lasted for two years, inflicting damage, disease, and death on both sides. The catapults are in full swing, hurling Greek fire at the crusaders, while sappers tunnel under ground. The Crusader states are divided over who should be king, and the fight ends with one of the most infamous massacres of the Third Crusade.

Richard the Lionheart is one of the most famous English kings and he made his reputation on the Third Crusade. In this episode we take a closer look at the man behind the legend. His mother was the famous Eleanor of Aquitaine, and his father was the easily angered Henry II. Richard's early career as a feudal enforcer made him an expert in siege warfare. The fall of Jerusalem triggers the call for the Third Crusade, but scandal, infighting, and a massive fight with France keep Richard tied up for two years before he can fulfill his Crusader oath. Richard will finally be crowned King of England and take the road to Jerusalem, joining the King of France, and the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.

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Saladin and Richard the Lionheart are two of the most legendary figures in the history of the Crusades. Saladin was both feared and admired by his friends and his enemies. This episode explores the rise of this remarkable character. We also meet the noble knight Balian of Ibelin, Queen Sibylla of Jerusalem, and the bellicose brigand Reynauld of Chatillon. There are Templar knights, a siege during a wedding, and the heroic defense of Jerusalem. The events in this story will launch the Third Crusade.

The Knights Templar are one of the most famous medieval orders. They combined legendary discipline and bravery in battle with the ascetic habits of monks. Then they were publicly disgraced in a show trial and soon after the Pope dissolved the Order. But some Templars survived, and even thrived in other parts of Europe, particularly in Portugal. This episode is a sweeping ride through the Reconquista, the founding of Portugal, and the new identity that saved these knights. It also covers a famous Templar named Gualdim Pais who fought in the Siege of Ascalon, and brought his experience back to Portugal to fight a legendary battle years later.

The story of Portugal during the 100 Years War is a story of lust, treachery and murder. It is also a story of survival and resistance. This episode covers Portugal's most notorious queen: a beautiful woman who imprisoned and killed her political enemies. The history of the royal court includes tragic love story of Ines de Castro and the military genius of Nun Alvarez. We also cover Portugal's role in the conflict between England and France, and the involvement of the neighboring kingdom of Castile, culminating in the epic Battle of Aljubarotta which secures Portugal's survival as an independent nation. This episode is a wild ride!

The volcanic eruption that buried Pompeii was a catastrophe of epic proportions. But the mass burial site it created also preserved details of daily life in a first century Roman city that we might otherwise never know. From flying phalluses and gladiators to condiments made from decaying fish, dive into the life and death of Pompeii.

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Santa Claus is a very strange figure when you think about it. Where does he come from and why does he fly through the sky handing out presents at night? This episode traces the connection with an old Norse god and an Anatolian bishop from the 3rd century, and explores the gritty reality of life in the Roman empire for ordinary people. You will never look at old Saint Nick the same way again.