 King Richard IV is the insane monarch ruling England during the really dark part of the Dark Ages. He has two sons: one, Harry, his elder son and the Prince of Wales. Although highly respected by the court and overly favored by his father, Harry is rather looney, as well... and two, Edmund, Duke of Edinburgh, who is loathed by his family and detested by the court. Despite this, the slimy, cocky, foolish and sarcastic Edmund, donning a costume and the alias of "The Black Adder", is out to inherit the throne, assisted by two sidekicks: Percy, the only nobleman stupid enough to respect him, and Baldrick, a street-wise peasant with inspired "cunning plans".