Versailles

Louis celebrates victory in war by welcoming defeated Emperor Leopold along with his niece, Eleanor. Philippe returns a war hero and a new father but finds life in Versailles hollow and he splits with Chevalier. Maintenon now has a special place in the court and in Louis' heart - but she's not sharing everything with him...

Louis and Leopold begin the battle over the ultimate prize: Spain. Meanwhile Philippe continues his investigation into the identity of the Man in the Iron Mask. In the salon, Maintenon's position is suddenly threatened by rumours of a sordid past. Can she ward them off and retain Louis' love?

Fabien arrests townsfolk in reprisal for the attack on Colbert. Maintenon confronts Louis and he's forced to admit that he's hurt her. Palatine seeks revenge when she finds salacious paintings of Maintenon. Philippe traces the Man in the Iron Mask to a hovel in the woods. And in the Vatican, Cardinal Leto hears Louis is threatening stability in Europe and he vows to put him in his place.

Ignoring his brother's doubts, Philippe pursues his investigation into the Man in the Iron Mask. Fabien is released by the people of Paris in exchange for the hostages, but Louis asserts his authority by having one of the hostages executed. Realising that he may be losing control, Louis visits Maintenon at the convent and persuades her to return with him to Versailles.

Maintenon returns to the palace with renewed vigour and encourages Louis to impose restrictions on the Protestants. Louis wants to undermine Leopold and makes a secret deal with Barek, the Ottoman envoy. Philippe learns that the church is behind the Man in the Iron Mask conspiracy and suspects Louis is part of it. Marie-Thérèse falls seriously ill, but only Sophie knows she's been poisoned.

After the tragedy of Marie-Thérèse's death, Louis changes tactics. Meanwhile Philippe and Fabien continue their investigation and come to a terrifying conclusion - Philippe and Louis have a secret illegitimate brother, who could challenge Louis' claim to the throne. He must be the Man in the Iron Mask.

Louis and Philippe visit the midwife who attended the birth of their secret brother, only to discover that their brother died young. So the question remains, who is the Man in the Iron Mask? Meanwhile Fabien tracks down fugitives, Sophie and Eleanor. Louis is finally confronted with the prisoner and the terrifying truth.

Louis and Philippe are haunted by the burning question - what to do with the prisoner? Meanwhile the seeds of discord are growing in the streets of Paris and Jeanne has the idea of producing anti-Louis propaganda. Leto has lost his trump card but is not defeated yet. He persuades Colbert and Palatine to invite the Infanta Isabella of Portugal as a new wife for Louis.

Louis persuades Philippe to kill their father together so they can both have a clean slate. Louis steps up his campaign to expand his empire and persecute the Protestants. The Infanta Isabella arrives at Versailles and Leto persuades Maintenon to support his plan for Louis to marry her - but Louis secretly marries the only woman he truly loves: Maintenon.

Having crushed the Protestants and thwarted Leto, Louis feels invincible. But his family and France are divided and Fabien is on the loose. And what of the future? In an effort to appease the people, Louis decides to go to Paris to give his blessing to the sick, not knowing that Jeanne and the rebels are planning to assassinate him.