History's Ultimate Spies

The wily characters from history who pulled strings in the shadows. Thomas Cromwell's cloak-and-dagger work helped steer Henry VIII through his troubles with Rome and several wives.

History's scheming spymasters in profile. The six-part series focuses on the remarkable cunning of Francis Walsingham, whose spy network foiled many plots against Queen Elizabeth I.

Robert Cecil was a formidable political operator, whose extraordinary web of informers helped to foil the infamous Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

Profiles of the super snoopers who blazed a trail in espionage. As Louis XIII's diabolical chief minister, Cardinal Richelieu was feared and hated thanks to his complex spy network.

History's most notorious covert operatives. The astonishing tale of Zofia Potocka, the beautiful lover of Grigory Potemkin who ran a successful spy network in the Russo-Turkish War.

The early innovators of intelligence. The American Civil War was notable for its female spymasters. Elizabeth van Lew's effective network even smuggled out messages in hollow eggs.