Childless English King Edward the Confessor’s death in January 1066 set in place a chain of events which developed into a succession struggle between several claimants to his throne – and that story is told in M-Net’s latest historical epic, King & Conqueror, on air from 12 February.

Who’s who in King & Conqueror

The two titans:

Harold, Earl of Wessex (James Norton)
As the son of Godwin, Earl of Wessex, Harold grew up in the bosom of one of the most powerful dynasties in England. But he is only the middle child, so has never assumed he will become Earl. His aims are clear: to protect his people and lands with his life. He is loved, trusted, and feared in equal measure. His marriage to Edith is a deeply intimate one. Their bond will be tested, as his principles begin to waver.

William, Duke of Normandy (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau)
“William the Bastard” is the illegitimate heir to the Duchy of Normandy. He grew up running for his life, existing in a world of total chaos, as others tried to usurp his birthright. He is cool, controlled, and difficult to read. The only person he trusts is his brilliant wife, Matilda. She is his confidante, and his rock, until her doubt starts to unseat him.

The women who shape empires:

Edith Swan-Neck (Emily Beecham)
Edith is Harold’s common law wife; they were handfasted per Danish wedding traditions but were not married in a church. She is ferociously intelligent and serves as Harold’s most trusted advisor.

Matilda, Duchess of Normandy (Clémence Poésy)
Daughter of the Count of Flanders, Matilda was raised in the cold and brutal world of the royal court. Her marriage to William is completely symbiotic. They are a formidable team in which she is the expert politician and he is the unbeatable warrior.

Sweyn of Wessex (Elliot Cowan)
Sweyn is Harold’s elder brother and heir to the Godwin dynasty. He shares the explosive intensity of his brother, but not his duty to their people. He is a dangerous psychopath with his hands inches from power.

Lady Emma (Juliet Stevenson)
Lady Emma is a survivor. She is devious and vindictive and believes the English throne is the property of her family by right. Born in Normandy as the sister to William’s father, she was widowed by two different English kings. As the series opens, her son Edward (from her first marriage) has just been crowned.

King Edward the Confessor (Eddie Marsan)
Edward is cousin to William of Normandy and the only surviving son of the ambitious Lady Emma. He was not born to be king; his brother was murdered by Godwin and so Edward inherited the crown. But now that he has the crown, and heavily influenced by his puppeteering mother, he is determined to settle every score he ever tallied.

Henry, King of France (Jean-Marc Barr)
Henry is one of the most powerful men in Europe. He was a mentor and surrogate father figure to William in his childhood and has always been his greatest ally. Marriage to Henry’s niece Matilda strengthened his ties to William. But circumstance is about to make him William’s greatest enemy.

King & Conqueror comes to M-Net from Thursday 12 February at 21:00 – and also on DStv Stream and Catch Up. 

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