In the Renaissance, the son of Francis I shakes up the foundations of Europe. Henry II, the King of France, claims the Scottish crown by marrying queen Mary Stuart to his son, the future Francis II.

In Paris, Catherine de Medici weds her Catholic daughter, Margaret of Valois, to the young Protestant heir of the Bourbon dynasty, Henry of Navarre - the future Henry IV.

Henry III still has no heir. Elizabeth orders the death of her rival. Spain declares war on England. King Philip II sends the Armada to invade the English coast. Whoever wins will reign over Europe.