Aya Radwan
Period dramas are enchanting to watch, but medieval period dramas in particular, radiate a different type of magic. This period of time in history was full of conflict, wars and mighty love stories and the adaptations of many stories of the medieval times on Television has been successful in informing and entertaining audiences for years.
We bring you our top recommendations of medieval period dramas to watch, some have historically correct facts while some took the characters from the history books and weaved entirely new and captivating plots. Since history speaks all languages, our suggested medieval period dramas are in various languages as well.
1. Vikings
Vikings follows the adventures of Ragnar Lodbrok, a farmer who succeeds in gaining the support of his peers and raids England. With the support of his family, Ragnar later becomes a Scandinavian king and is feared by everyone in West Francia and Anglo-Saxon England. The show continues to follow Ragnar’s sons as they rage through England until the last season.
Stars: Travis Fimmel, Katheryn Winnick, Clive Standen, and Jessalyn Gilsig.
Where to watch: Netflix, Hulu.
2. Vikings: Valhalla
A hundred years later, after the time of Ragnar, Valhalla cites the irreconcilable differences between the Vikings and the English until they reach a bloody point. The inner conflicts between the Vikings add fuel to the fire as they clash over pagan and Christian beliefs. Three companions, Leif, Freydis, and Harald, set out on a journey of discovery and glory. Vikings: Valhalla prepares us for the end and fall of the Vikings.
Stars: Sam Corlett, Frida Gustavsson, Leo Suter, and Bradley Freegard.
Where to watch: Netflix.
3. Medici
This Medieval period drama follows the Medici Family; the Pope’s bankers and one of the wealthiest families in Florence. The show begins by the death of the head of the family, Giovanni de’ Medici, and the grooming of his son Cosimo to take his place as the family leader. There’s a gruelling fight over power between Cosimo and his brother, Lorenzo, over the family business. In the following seasons, thirty-five years later, the show follows the story of Lorenzo, Cosimo’s grandson, also known as the Magnificent.
Stars: Richard Madden, Stuart Martin, Daniel Sharman and Bradley James.
Where to watch: Netflix, Just Watch.
4. Dirllis: Ertugrul
“Resurrection: Ertugrul” is a medieval period drama that tells the story of Ertugrul and his tribe fending off the attacks of the Mongols. Ertugrul was a Turkic Muslim who lived with his tribe in Central Asia and found themselves under attack from the Byzantines and Crusaders to the west and the Mongols to the east. The show follows the courageous fighting for land and survival until Ertugrul’s son, Osman I, is able to establish a home for them, later known as the Ottoman Empire.
Stars: Engin Altan Düzyatan, Esra Bilgiç, Kaan Taşaner, and Hülya Darcan.
Where to watch: Netflix.
5. Berserk
Berserk is a dark medieval fantasy Japanese manga series that tells the story of Guts who joins Griffith and his band of mercenaries, the Band of the Hawk. This medieval period drama follows the band and their attempt to rise through the ranks of the Midland court, thus gaining more power in the country. However, events spiral out of control when Griffith seduces the king’s daughter and Guts begins to develop feelings for the only female member of their band. Guts decides to leave the band to pursue his own dreams, Griffith gets arrested, and the events keep hitting.
Stars: Marc Diraison, Nobutoshi Canna, Carrie Keranen, and Kevin T. Collins.
Where to watch: Netflix, Funimation.
6. Marco Polo
Marco Polo was a famous writer, explorer, and merchant from Venice who loved to travel across Europe and Asia until he found himself a prisoner in the court of the Mongol Empire. This medieval period drama follows the time Polo spent with the empire’s Khagan, Kublai Khan, founder of the Yuan Dynasty in China, in the 13th century. The show is filled with adventures, politics, conflicts, love, and betrayal.
Stars: Lorenzo Richelmy, Benedict Wong, Joan Chen, Rick Yune, and Amr Waked.
Where to watch: Netflix.
7. Knightfall
Knightfall is a fictional spin on the story of the Knights Templar. This medieval period drama follows their rise, success, failure, persecution, and later suppression by Philip the Fair of France, or Philip IV. The knights’ leader, Landry du Lauzon, a fictional character, falls into depression after they fail their mission in the Holy Land. Soon after their return, Du Lauzon finds hope again when he hears news that the Holy Grail has surfaced.
Stars: Tom Cullen, Jim Carter, Pádraic Delaney, and Simon Merrells.
Where to watch: Netflix.
8. Da Vinci’s Demons
This period drama delves deep into the life of Leonardo da Vinci, one of the world’s masters of science, invention, art, engineering, and architecture, to name a few. With highly fictionalised events, we see how Leonardo tries to win his father’s favour, gets entangled with a religious cult, works for the Medici family, and falls in love with Lucrezia Donati, who happens to be Lorenzo de Medici’s mistress. The show also features many of Da Vinci’s great scientific and architectural works.
Stars: Tom Riley, Laura Haddock, Blake Ritson, and Elliot Cowan.
Where to watch: JustWatch, TV Guide.
9. Blackadder
Blackadder is a series that extends over several seasons. However, the first season is a period drama that takes place during the Middle Ages. The show follows the attempt by Edmund the Blackadder to seize the throne from his brother and father, which he deems is rightfully his. Edmund exploits his position as the Duke of Edinburgh to gain favour with his father in preparation for his attempt to overthrow him.
Stars: Rowan Atkinson, Brian Blessed, Elspet Gray, and Tim McInnerny.
Where to watch: Hulu.
10. The Hollow Crown
The Hollow Crown is a drama series that’s an adaptation of several historical works by Shakespeare, including Richard II, Henry IV (the first and second parts), and Henry V. From the first episode, there have been several true events depicted in both Shakespeare’s work and the series. The show begins with the last two years of King Richard II’s reign as the British monarch and his deposition by his cousin.
Stars: Ben Whishaw, Jeremy Irons, Tom Hiddleston, and Benedict Cumberbatch.
Where to watch: Prime Video.
11. Borgia: Faith and Fear
An intricate web of corruption, deception, money, and conspiracy surrounds the rise of the House of Borgia to power in Italy during the Renaissance era. The family weaved their way to the Papacy and sought control of the Papal States. This period drama is an international work of cooperation, from the cast to the production and shooting locations, and it presents the House of Borgia in another light than the show The Borgias.
Stars: John Doman, Mark Ryder, Stanley Weber, and Isolda Dychauk.
Where to watch: Prime Video.
12. Camelot
Following the death of King Uther of England, chaos threatens to engulf the country. Merlin, a sorcerer, has a vision of a dark future that looms in the air, so he works on installing Uther’s unknown son, Arthur, as king. Merlin and Arthur work towards a better fate for England, so they station themselves in the mighty Camelot castle. Arthur seeks the support of his entrusted loved ones: his mother, brother, and four of his loyal warriors. Arthur’s main antagonist is his half-sister Morgan, who believes the throne belongs to her.
Stars: Joseph Fiennes, Jamie Campbell Bower, Tamsin Egerton, and Claire Forlani.
Where to watch: Amazon Video.
13. Robin Hood
This medieval period drama is based on the tale of the folk hero Robin Hood, a loveable English tale that has been adapted numerous times in Television and the cinema. The show’s main outline is based on the tale’s events and characters, where Robin Hood returns to Nottingham after fighting with the Crusaders for five years. Robin unites with a group of outlaws, and they take refuge in the Sherwood Forest to plot the demise of the Sheriff of Nottingham.
Stars: Jonas Armstrong, Lucy Griffiths, Richard Armitage, and Keith Allen.
Where to watch: Prime Video.
14. Cathedral of the Sea
Based on the famous novel by Ildefonso Falcones, La Catedral del Mar, this medieval period drama takes place in Spain. The show starts with the wedding of Bernat Estanyol and his love, Francesca Esteve. However, the sudden appearance of the Lord of Bella at the wedding brings everything to a stop, especially after he takes Francesca and rapes her. The drama then shifts to bring us the life of Francesca’s son, Arnau Estanyol, whom she gave birth to after the marriage.
Stars: Michelle Jenner, Aitor Luna, Daniel Grao, and Pablo Derqui.
Where to watch: Netflix.
15. The Legend Of El Cid
“The Legend Of El Cid” is a medieval period drama that tells the story of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, a Castilian hero and knight in medieval Spain. The drama follows Ruy’s story as his father was killed in battle and brought by his grandfather to Ferdinand’s the Count of Castille’s court to become the squire of the count’s son, Sancho. Ferdinand’s wife, Queen Sancha, is plotting a scheme under his nose to reclaim the throne she believes belongs to her and that her husband stole from her after killing her brother. The plot thickens when Ferdinand’s sons and daughter all pursue their own agendas to claim their father’s throne.
Stars: Jaime Lorente, José Luis García Pérez, Elia Galera, and Carlos Bardem.
Where to watch: Prime Video.
The number of medieval period dramas available to watch on various streaming services cannot be summarised. We hope our choices will successfully help transfer you to this historically rich period of time.