Political historical dramas
Which are your favourite political historical dramas? With rivalries, power struggles, intrigues, stratagems, betrayals & backstabs, social change, clever strategists, political philosophy and so on?
Estelll Dec 12, 2019
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![Nirvana in Fire]()
In sixth-century China, the Emperor of Great Liang orders the unjust execution of his brother-in-law Marshal Lin Xie alongside the Lin family, his 70,000 army soldiers, and Crown Prince Qi. Secretly surviving ...more -
![Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo]()
When a total eclipse of the sun takes place, Go Ha Jin is transported back in time to the start of the Goryeo Dynasty of Korea during King Taejo's rule. She wakes ...more -
![Joy of Life]()
Fan Xian, born in the Southern Qing empire with memories of the 21st century, is the illegitimate son of the Minister of Finance. Raised by his grandmother after his mother, inventor Ye ...more -
![The Story of Ming Lan]()
Set in the Northern Song dynasty, the story follows Sheng Ming Lan, an unfavored concubine-born 6th daughter of an official. After losing her mother at a young age, Ming Lan is raised ...more -
![Six Flying Dragons]()
A fictional, historical drama about the ambition, rise and fall of real and fictional characters based around Yi Bang Won. Yi Bang Won was the third king of the Joseon Dynasty in ...more -
![Empress Ki]()
Genghis Khan built an empire that spanned vast regions in East Asia and East Europe. And there was one woman who held immense power in the Yuan Dynasty, which Genghis Khan founded, ...more -
![Princess Agents]()
The story takes place during the chaotic times of Wei, where innocent citizens are often kidnapped and turned into slaves. Slave girl, Chu Qiao was thrown into a forest along with other ...more -
![Nirvana in Fire Season 2: The Wind Blows in Chang Lin]()
8. Nirvana in Fire Season 2: The Wind Blows in Chang Lin
Chinese Drama - 2017, 50 episodes1,558 points by 16 votersXiao Ping Zhang and Xiao Ping Jing are the talented sons of Xiao Ting Sheng, the Prince of Changlin and general of the Liang dynasty’s most powerful army. Ping Zhang is the ...more -
![My Country: The New Age]()
Set during the transition from the Goryeo to the Joseon period, two friends become enemies due to differing views on "my country." Seo Hwi, a skilled warrior and son of a renowned ...more -
![The Rise of Phoenixes]()
Feng Zhi Wei is the unfavored daughter of the Qiu Family, who has to flee due to unfortunate circumstances. Owing a favour to the 6th prince Ning Yi, Zhi Wei cross-dresses as ...more -
![Scarlet Heart]()
A car accident sends Zhang Xiao back in time into the body of one of her previous reincarnations, a 16-year-old aristocratic Manchu girl, Maertai Ruoxi, who lived during the Qing Dynasty. Despite ...more -
![Tree With Deep Roots]()
Early in his reign, King Se Jong accidentally causes the death of his in-laws and their slaves in an attempt to save them from his brutal father, King Tae Jong. Two young ...more -
![Queen Seon Deok]()
The story of a beautiful queen, who has to give up her love to save the people. A biopic of Queen Seon Deok, who was born a princess and later became the ...more -
![Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People]()
In the Joseon Dynasty, Hong Gil Dong, a hero to the people and enemy to the elite, faces King Yeonsangun, who is despised by his subjects despite his royal lineage. Born a ...more -
![Queen for Seven Days]()
This drama is about the love story between King Jung Jong and his Queen Dan Kyung, who was crowned and deposed within the span of a week due to rival political factions ...more -
![The Longest Day in Chang'an]()
744 A.D., Chang’an, the cosmopolitan heart of the Tang Empire. The remnants of a vanquished Central Asian kingdom have infiltrated the world’s largest city for a planned attack during the Lantern Festival. ...more -
![Love in the Moonlight]()
To protect herself and her family, Hong Ra On disguises herself as a man and counsels men on dating. Due to a love letter she wrote for a client, she meets Crown ...more -
![The Dark Lord]()
Ye Xiao Tian works as a prison guard at the Ministry of Justice in the capital city. During his time of service, he takes on an assignment to deliver a message to ...more -
![The Nokdu Flower]()
Set during the Donghak Peasant Revolution (1894-1895), two half-brothers find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. Baek Yi Kang, the son of a wealthy but notorious local official and a woman ...more -
![The Princess's Man]()
Princess Se Ryung is the headstrong and forward-thinking daughter of Grand Prince Su Yang, who is determined to be King. She falls in love with the son of his mortal enemy, and ...more -
![Haechi]()
Set during the Joseon Dynasty period, four people from different walks of life come together to make Prince Lee Geum the King and reform the Saheonbu. The four people are Lee Geum, ...more -
![The Crowned Clown]()
Amid political chaos and threats against King Lee Hun, a clown named Ha Sun, who closely resembles the king, is brought into the palace as his double. Orphaned during an epidemic and ...more -
![The Princess Wei Young]()
The Northern Wei Dynasty was obliterated one night leaving behind the kindhearted Princess Feng Xin Er as an orphan. Although she escapes death, she accidentally enters her enemy's territory and she assumes ...more -
![Three Kingdoms]()
During the late Eastern Han Dynasty, power, intrigue and military ambition collide as rulers, generals, and court officials vie for dominance. (Source: Netflix) ~~ Adapted from the novel "Romance of the Three ...more -
![The Advisors Alliance]()
The story of Sima Yi, a great politician and strategist who lived during the Three Kingdoms era. By his side, Sima Yi has his politically-astute distaff members of his household, and pitted ...more -
![Secret of Three Kingdoms]()
The last hope of the crumbling Han Dynasty bears an unspeakable secret with the power to destroy the imperial rule it seeks to save during the turbulent Three Kingdoms era, tied to ...more -
![Story of Yanxi Palace]()
In 18th century Beijing, during the 6th year of Qianlong Emperor's reign, Wei Ying Luo enters the Forbidden City as an embroiderer to investigate the truth behind her older sister's rape and ...more -
![Jumong]()
Jumong was the founder of Goguryeo in 37 BC. He was the son of General Hae Mo Su and Lady Yoo Hwa and was raised by King Geum Wa, who took him ...more -
![Novoland: Eagle Flag]()
Lu Gui Chen is the heir of the nomadic Qingyang tribe and is sent to the Eastern Land as a hostage. He meets Ji Ye, an unfavoured illegitimate son who is training ...more -
![The Disguiser]()
Focusing on a story of betrayal, romance, friendship, and familial ties behind the Sino-Japanese war. Ming Tai is a man from a wealthy family who was trained as a spy and then ...more -
![Sound of the Desert]()
Yu Jin was raised within the desert tribes of Xiong Nu, although her foster father is a Han. Under certain circumstances, she was forced to flee to Chang'an, the then capital of ...more -
![Untouchable Lovers]()
Tianji Tower, the dominant force in the martial world, aims to overthrow the tyrant Liu Zi Ye of the Liu Song dynasty. They replace his sister, Liu Chu Yu, with their disciple ...more -
![Arthdal Chronicles Part 1: The Children of Prophecy]()
33. Arthdal Chronicles Part 1: The Children of Prophecy
Korean Drama - 2019, 6 episodes190 points by 2 votersSet in the ancient land of Arthdal, Eun Seom, born with a fate to bring disaster, and his mother endure hardships before fleeing to a new land. Though Eun Seom grows up ...more -
![Moon Embracing the Sun]()
Thirteen-year-old Heo Yeon U, the daughter of a high-ranking official, meets Crown Prince Yi Hwon at her brother's civil service exam celebration, and they fall in love. Yeon U is chosen as ...more -
![Tempest]()
Set in the Ryukyu Kingdom during the latter days of the Tokugawa shogunate, a woman, who wants to complete her studies despite her gender restrictions, takes advantage of the disappearance of her ...more -
![Singing All Along]()
Liu Xiu fell in love with Yin Li Hua the moment he laid eyes on her, commenting that his ideal job would be as a chamberlain of the imperial insignia, and his ...more -
![Who Rules the World]()
Hei Feng Xi is handsome and elegant, while Bai Feng Xi is majestic and unrestrained. Opposites attract as both are unrivaled in skill and intellect. Caught in the warfare and chaos of ...more -
![Story of Kunning Palace]()
Jiang Xue Ning’s obsession with becoming empress strains her friendship with Yan Lin and leads to the arrest of Official Zhang Zhe. After a brief reign, guilt takes hold as rebels, led ...more -
![Tribes and Empires: Storm of Prophecy]()
The story follows the brotherhood of an imprisoned half-human half-spirit prince, an abandoned son of a general, and the heir of a slaughtered tribe as they uncover the secrets of their past ...more -
![Ming Dynasty in 1566]()
Based on the events in the reign of the Jiajing Emperor of the Ming dynasty. -
![The Rebel Princess]()
Wang Xuan and Xiao Qi marry for power but soon fall in love as they fight to protect their homeland. The imperial family is corrupt, and the nobles are indifferent to the ...more -
![Ming Dynasty]()
Sun Ruo Wei entire family is killed on the orders of the Yongle Emperor in 1402, though she escapes death after being secretly adopted by Sun Zhong. Sun Ruo Wei becomes the ...more -
![A Journey to Love]()
Female assassin Ren Ru Yi, the former left envoy of the Scarlet Guards, becomes a member of the Wu's State's escort delegation to save the King of Wu who has been taken ...more -
![Uncle Samsik]()
Set in 1960s South Korea. The series follows two men through their bromance and the obstacles they face during a turbulent time in the country’s history. It depicts the story of Park ...more -
![A League of Nobleman]()
Zhang Ping, an impoverished orphan from a rural area, moves to Beijing to take the civil service exam but ends up selling noodles on the street. Despite his unsophisticated manners, he is ...more -
![War of Faith]()
Set in 1930s Shanghai, Wei Ruo Lai, an ordinary employee at the Kuomintang Central Bank, rises through the ranks due to his exceptional abilities, catching the attention of the senior advisor Shen ...more -
![Towards the Republic]()
The series is based on events that occurred in China between the late 19th century and early 20th century that led to the collapse of the Qing dynasty and the founding of ...more -
![My Sassy Girl]()
A respected scholar inadvertently becomes the protector of a mischievous princess. Gyeon Woo enjoys the fame of “Joseon’s National Treasure” as a renowned scholar of his generation. When the king asks him ...more -
![Dong Lan Xue]()
The maid in charge, Shen Yan, has assisted the Seventh Prince Chu Ning Yuan in seizing the heir since she was a child. The two, who also had tragic experiences, became cold-hearted ...more -
![Yong Zheng Dynasty]()
Yong Zheng was Kang Xi's 4th son, a hard-working and principled man oftentimes misunderstood as heartless and cruel. His succession to the throne was marred and undermined by controversy propagated by some ...more -
![Yae no Sakura]()
“Yae no Sakura” will tell the story of Niijima Yae, also known as Yamamoto Yaeko, who was born into the Aizu Domain during the late Edo period. Skilled in gunnery, she helped ...more -
![Kang Xi Dynasty]()
Kang Xi ascended the throne at age 8 after Shun Zhi abdicated to become a monk following the death of his favorite concubine. With the help of Grand Empress Dowager Xiao Zhuang, ...more -
![The Emperor: Owner of the Mask]()
The story of a crown prince named Lee Sun who fights the Pyeonsuhwe society that holds absolute power over the kingdom and also controls the water supply by privatizing it. The drama ...more -
![The King's Face]()
"The King's Face" tells the story of Prince Gwang Hae, an illegitimate son of King Seon Jo, who suffers since his childhood with the indifference of his father and the constant feeling ...more -
![Dong Yi]()
"Dong Yi" is a historical drama based on the life of Dong Yi later known as Choi Suk Bin. She worked in the royal palace as a lowly water maid. King Sok ...more -
![Secret Door]()
Secret Door follows the conflict between King Yeong Jo and Crown Prince Sa Do in the longest reign in Joseon history, 52 years. King Yeong Jo pursues strong royal authority, while Crown ...more -
![Stand by Me]()
In the 9th Century Tang Dynasty-era China, the Emperor is locked in a deadly power struggle with a group of formidable eunuchs who wield enormous power at court. He strikes back by ...more -
![Young Blood]()
A story that takes place during turbulent times when the Northern Song and Western Xia were at war. Six young individuals undergo training to become spies in order to defend their country. ...more -
![Dae Jo Yeong]()
The drama tells the story of the life of Dae Jo Yeong, also known as the founder of the kingdom of Balhae. -
![Cao Cao]()
Series aimed to portray a more historically accurate image of Cao Cao and covers his life from adolescent years and early career to the period just before the Battle of Red Cliffs. ...more -
![The Great Revival]()
This drama takes place during the turbulent Spring and Autumn Period and tells the well-known story of the downfall and revival of Gou Jian, King of Yue. After his defeat, Gou Jian ...more -
![The Legend of Xiao Chuo]()
In the late 10th century, the Liao dynasty reigns supreme. Prime Minister Xiao Si Wen and Princess Yan’s youngest daughter, Xiao Chao, loves the ambitious Han De Rang, but is married off ...more -
![The Longest Promise]()
From the Kong Sang Continent comes the tumultuous love affair between Princess Zhu Yan of the Chi Yi Tribe and the Royal Prince Shi Ying. The framing of the queen results in ...more
