With the sudden and unexpected death of King Richard, his younger brother and heir John is thrust onto the throne of England. John is also to inherit the vast lands that the Angevin dynasty rule in France. However, the succession is not likely to be without difficulty when John’s nephew Arthur stakes his claim. With King Philip of France prowling on the edges of the Angevin empire ready to strike at its weakest point and snatch land that he feels belongs to France, John find himself pushed to the limit. He needs lots of luck and money to retain his inheritance and he will do almost anything to get it.