Browse - Most popular shows featuring: historical figure^x

The series is set at a time when America was in its vibrant and colorful adolescence - from the 1860s slums of New York to the violent and lawless American West of the 1870s. Yet, despite its historical backdrop, "Billy the Kid" is a story with surprising relevancy, focusing on America's twin obsession with two seemingly timeless subjects: celebrity and guns.

In the Warring States Period of ancient China (475-221 BCE), Shin and Hyou are war-orphans in the kingdom of Qin. They dream of one day proving themselves on the battlefield. One day, however, Hyou is taken to the palace by a minister. Winding up on the losing side of a power-struggle, Hyou manages to return to the village, barely alive. Shin then meets a boy who closely resembles Hyou, Ei Sei. For now he is the king of Qin; later he will become the emperor Shi Huangdi.

A six-hour scripted event series about Tutankhamun, aka King Tut (1333 to 1323 BC), the youngest Pharaoh to rule Ancient Egypt whose famous golden sarcophagus has become one of the symbols of the ancient civilization. Tut's rise to power and his struggle to lead Egypt to glory, while his closest advisers, friends and lovers scheme for their own nefarious interests. "It's a big, epic story with complex characters, remarkable heroes and strong women," Levy said.

El Cid retells from a contemporary perspective the story of the most famous Spaniard in history, a man trapped between two worlds and two cultures. A nobleman, a hero, a mercenary, a vassal, but also a man who could have been king. El Cid was centuries ahead of his time and became transcended by his own legend.

This series will detail the Texas Revolution against Mexico and the rise of the legendary Texas Rangers. Bill Paxton will play Sam Houston, the father of Texas. He is joined by Brendan Fraser as Billy Anderson, a Texas Ranger with Comanche Indian ties; Ray Liotta as Lorca, an Alamo survivor seeking brutal revenge; Jeffrey Dean Morgan as "Deaf" Smith, a deaf and grizzled veteran Texas Ranger with an advanced case of consumption; Thomas Jane as James Wykoff, a homesteader who finds himself living in the middle of hostile Indian territory; Olivier Martinez as President General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, the tyrant dictator of Mexico; Chad Michael Murray as Mirabeau Lamar, a spirited Texas soldier who helps win the battle of San Jacinto; Michael Rapaport as Sgt. Ephraim Knowles, a would-be deserter and coward turned hero; and Max Thieriot as Jack Hays, a volunteer freedom fighter who becomes the youngest Texas Ranger.

The six-parter about the life of William Shakespeare will air as part of the BBC Shakespeare Festival2016. David Mitchell (Peep Show) will play the Bard at the beginning of his career. Also featured are Harry Enfield, Paula Wilcox, Liza Tarbuck and Game Of Thrones' Gemma Whelan.

The documentary-series examines Grant's life story using his perspective and experiences to explore a turbulent time in history: the Civil War and Reconstruction.

Following the success of its original movie Lizzie Borden Took An Ax, Lifetime has picked up a follow-up six-episode limited series, Lizzie Borden: The Fall River Chronicles, with Christina Ricci set to reprise her role as the notorious murderer.

Tutankhamun is based on the compelling story of Howard Carter played by Max Irons (Woman In Gold, The White Queen) and his discovery of the tomb of one of Ancient Egypt's forgotten pharaohs, the boy-king Tutankhamun. Sam Neill (Peaky Blinders, The Tudors) takes the role of the dashing and eccentric Lord Carnarvon who keeps faith with Carter and continues to back his expeditions when no one else will.The story written by leading screenwriter Guy Burt (Jekyll and Hyde, The Bletchley Circle, The Borgias) focuses on the legendary personal story of Carter, a solitary man on the edge of society who became an iconic figure and an unlikely hero.Set against the great sweep of ochre sands, looming cliffs and baking heat of Egypt's Valley of the Kings, the story unfolds in 1905 when Carter, an eminent British archaeologist who we meet in his early 20's, is fervently leading an expedition. Amidst the chaos scattered across the Valley floor, Carter's grim determination to find lost antiquities is only too apparent. He has an easy manner with the Egyptian men who work alongside him, but when tempers fray Carter is hotheaded and puts the dig and his career in jeopardy. With his license to dig revoked by Cairo's Antiquities Service, Carter spends years ostracised, dishevelled and living rough and resorting to selling previously discovered archaeological relics to buy food.A chance meeting with the privileged and fast living British aristocrat, Lord Carnarvon, brings a change of fortunes as the enthusiastic amateur needs an experienced archaeologist to help him with a series of random excavations. Carter and Carnarvon begin the most unlikely friendship, in spite of their differences in background and character. After years of searching for the tomb, Carter and Carnarvon successfully discover the last resting place of the boy-king in 1921 against all odds and at great personal expense.

Atlantic Crossing is based on the incredible, true story of the Norwegian Crown Princess Märtha's efforts to support her country during World War II. After a headlong flight from the Nazis, she was forced to part from her husband and cross the Atlantic Ocean to seek refuge in the United States. There, she soon found herself involved in a close relationship with the President of the United States: Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Look at the 007 creator, Ian Fleming, and his early life set against the permissive society of war-torn WWII London.

A docu-drama about the warring kingdoms of feudal Japan that is described as a real-life Game of Thrones.

"Sisi" follows the extraordinary life of empress Elisabeth of Austria. Modern, honest, and authentic. Told from the perspective of her closest confidants, the series takes a new look at the empress' life and reveals a multi-layered woman.

Since 1988, PBS has broadcast a series that focuses on the history of the United States and what has made it unique. Called American Experience (originally titled The American Experience), the program examines the people, events, technology, and natural resources that have shaped the country.

As Egypt's last pharaoh, Cleopatra fights to protect her throne, family and legacy in this docuseries featuring reenactments and expert interviews.

The eight-part series vividly brings to life the rise and fall of the Roman Empire through the lens of one of the most exhilarating and brutal arenas in the history of humanity-the Colosseum. From the savage truth of a gladiator's life as a slave-warrior to the fascinating ways Rome's Emperors used the vast amphitheater to demonstrate total power, "Colosseum" offers viewers a unique and personal look inside history's most iconic empire. Each episode pinpoints one of eight key and diverse characters-all based on real people from history. Spanning several hundred years, the series unfolds chronologically, from the arena's astonishing opening day to its very last games. "Colosseum" utilizes dramatic live action sequences and special effects to infuse excitement into the personal narrative of each historic character. The premium series features commentary with leading experts, world-renowned scholars and more.

A mini-series that tracks the ascent of master magician Harry Houdini from desperate poverty to worldwide fame.

Story of the birth of the iconic Harley-Davidson brand that launched in 1903 by two friends from Milwaukee: William Harley and Arthur Davidson.

The series featuring exclusive interviews with notable names from classic Western films, chronicles the personal, little-known stories of Western legends such as Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp, Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull.

Top UK comedians relate their favourite historical stories while getting absolutely bladdered on a mixture of beers, wines and spirits. Their slurred versions of history are then acted out, word for word, by a host of well-known actors, celebrities and comedians including Johnny Vegas, Russell Kane, Joe Lycett, Rob Beckett, Alex Horne and James Acaster. Luckily, Jimmy Carr is on voice-over duties to restore some order if the drinking sessions get out of hand.

Witness the stories of history's most notorious kingpins, their terrifying enforcers, and the men and women who've sworn to bring them down.

General of the Three Kingdoms, Kongming had struggled his whole life, facing countless battles that made him into the accomplished strategist he was. So on his deathbed, he wished only to be reborn into a peaceful world... and was sent straight to modern-day party-central, Tokyo! Can even a brilliant strategist like Kongming adapt to the wild beats and even wilder party people?!

The Kennedys is an eight-hour mini-series chronicling the lives of the famous Kennedy family and the tragedies they have suffered.

A new miniseries from History that focuses on the builders, dreamers and believers who built the US, specifically after the Civil War.

War-time contributions from filmmakers John Ford, William Wyler, John Huston, Frank Capra, and George Stevens are revisited by Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola, Guillermo Del Toro, Paul Greengrass and Lawrence Kasdan.