Versailles

Louis XIV is 28 years old. It is a year since his mother's death and the start of his reign as King of France. He leaves Paris to transform his father's hunting lodge into the Palace of Versailles.

Louis launches the Grande Enquête to verify the legitimacy of the nobility's titles; the first stage in his plan to quell any possible rebellious activity.

Louis welcomes the African Prince Annaba to Versailles in order to gain strategic access to African territories. The Duke of Cassel is determined to sabotage the building of Versailles.

Accounts of Philppe's prowess on the battlefield trouble Louis, while within the gilded walls of the Palace a dangerous conspiracy contaminates the King's inner circle.

The war over, Philippe returns to Court a changed man. Louis organizes a spectacular Royal Show to celebrate the French victory on the battlefield.

On the Versailles construction site, Louis is confronted with a strike. Henriette once again stokes the sibling rivalry between Louis and Philippe.

Louis is gravely ill. This provides the king's conspirators with the opportunity to advance their cause and place Philippe on the throne.

Philippe is deeply upset over the arrest of Chevalier.  Louis plans to invade Holland, while the conspirators seize the opportunity to plan Henriette's assassination.

Henriette leads negotiations with her brother King Charles II, but is weakened by a mysterious illness. The snare tightens around the conspirators as Louis' son visits his father.

Henriette's health quickly deteriorates and the poisoning theory is confirmed. The Palace is locked down as Claudine valiantly attempts to save her patient.