Few period dramas capture the courtly magic of Netflix’s breakout hit quite like tales of forbidden romance and gilded rivalries. If you are hunting for captivating shows like The Empress, you want lavish costumes and fierce heroines defying ancient traditions. Finding binge-worthy series like The Empress means stepping straight into majestic palaces where love, duty, and ruthless power clash at every turn.
From rebellious monarchs to scandalous royal marriages, these 15 picks deliver the high-stakes intrigue you crave. Your next imperial obsession starts right here.
15 Royal Shows Like The Empress: Similar Series You Can’t Miss
1. Sisi (2021)
Sisi revisits the extraordinary life of Elisabeth of Austria, offering a more intimate look at the young woman behind the imperial title. Through her fiery relationships, personal heartbreaks, and growing political weight, the series explores the suffocating tension between individual freedom and royal expectations. Because it follows the exact same historical icon, it ranks as one of the best shows like The Empress for anyone fascinated by the real Habsburg court.
IMDb: 7.1 | Where to Watch: PBS, Roku channel.
2. Victoria (2016)
Beginning with Victoria’s unexpected accession to the British throne at just 18, this lush drama traces her evolution from an inexperienced teenager into a formidable global sovereign. Her whirlwind courtship and passionate marriage to Prince Albert bring tenderness alongside sharp domestic rivalries. Anyone browsing for romantic series like The Empress will love watching a spirited young woman balance marital friction with the heavy burden of the crown.
IMDb: 8.2 | Where to Watch: Netflix, PBS.
3. The Crown (2016)
Spanning Queen Elizabeth II’s monumental reign, The Crown examines the political decisions, family fractures, and painful sacrifices behind Britain’s modern monarchy. Its grand palaces conceal deeply private wounds as public duty repeatedly crushes individual happiness. Its cinematic storytelling and razor-sharp performances make it a prime choice among shows like The Empress, especially for viewers drawn to the personal price of dynastic survival.
IMDb: 8.6 | Where to Watch: Netflix.
4. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (2023)
Young Charlotte arrives in London on her wedding day to marry King George, an arranged union that gives her little say in her own destiny. As she adjusts to palace life, she faces relentless scrutiny from the dowager princess while realizing that royal matrimony hides tragic secrets. Much like Elisabeth’s journey, this story captures the dizzying isolation of arriving as an outsider at an unforgiving foreign court.
Also Watch: 15 Shows Like Bridgerton
IMDb: 7.6 | Where to Watch: Netflix.
5. Marie Antoinette (2022)
This lavish period drama follows Marie Antoinette as she enters Versailles and becomes trapped in suffocating court etiquette, hostile gossip, and intense public pressure. Behind the towering wigs and glittering balls lies an alienated teenage bride fighting to carve out an identity of her own. If you enjoy series like The Empress, you will appreciate how this story portrays the emotional toll of being scrutinized by an entire kingdom.
IMDb: 7.3 | Where to Watch: Prime video, Apple TV.
6. The White Queen (2013)
Set against England’s bloody Wars of the Roses, The White Queen tracks three relentless women vying for the throne: Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret Beaufort, and Anne Neville. Each must maneuver through dangerous alliances, sudden betrayals, and shifting battle lines. It stands out among ambitious shows like The Empress by proving that survival in royal circles requires unmatched political cunning and quiet resilience.
IMDb: 7.7 | Where to Watch: Prime Video.
7. The Serpent Queen (2022)
Catherine de’ Medici arrives at the 16th-century French court as an unglamorous orphan bride and swiftly realizes she must outsmart everyone around her to stay alive. Surrounded by treacherous courtiers and an indifferent husband, she transforms into one of history’s most ruthless operators. While Catherine is much more cynical than Elisabeth, this remains one of the sharpest series like The Empress for fans of dark palace schemes.
IMDb: 7.7 | Where to Watch: Prime video, Apple TV.
8. The Tudors (2007)
Henry VIII’s tempestuous reign takes center stage in this bold, steamy historical drama packed with illicit affairs, sudden executions, and religious turmoil. Henry’s desperate obsession with producing a male heir reshapes his marriages and alters the fate of Europe forever. The series shares Elisabeth’s world of courtly claustrophobia, highlighting how unpredictable rulers turn marriage into a perilous game of life and death.
IMDb: 8.1 | Where to Watch: Prime video.
9. The White Princess (2017)
Following the fragile union between Elizabeth of York and Henry VII, this drama explores a marriage meant to heal a divided nation after decades of war. Elizabeth must balance her loyalties to her birth family against her duty to a suspicious new husband who fears rebellion at every turn. Viewers searching for intense shows like The Empress will be hooked by the simmering tension between marital loyalty and political self-defense.
IMDb: 7.5 | Where to Watch: Prime Video, Apple TV.
10. Empress Ki (2013)
Born in Goryeo, Ki Seung-nyang overcomes enslavement and tragedy to ascend the throne as a revered empress of the Mongol Yuan dynasty. Her sweeping odyssey features dangerous imperial conspiracies, sweeping battlefield action, and a gut-wrenching romantic triangle. This beloved Korean epic is an essential watch for fans seeking series like The Empress that showcase an indomitable female lead rising to absolute authority.
Also Watch: Best Korean Dramas Of All Time
IMDb: 8.4 | Where to Watch: Rakuten Viki.
11. The Red Sleeve (2021)
Set during Korea’s Joseon dynasty, The Red Sleeve centers on a crown prince weighed down by royal expectations and a fiercely principled court lady determined to protect her personal freedom. Their blossoming bond turns agonizing as genuine love collides with unyielding palace protocol. Its delicate emotional stakes and heartbreak will deeply resonate with anyone moved by Elisabeth and Franz’s complicated partnership.
IMDb: 8.4 | Where to Watch: Rakuten Viki.
12. Becoming Elizabeth (2022)
Following the death of Henry VIII, orphaned teenager Elizabeth Tudor finds herself tangled in a deadly web of family schemes and rival claims to the English crown. Without parents or clear allies, she must tread carefully among scheming regents to protect her life and future claim. It provides a thrilling coming-of-age arc that mirrors Elisabeth’s early, uncertain days inside a cutthroat imperial household.
IMDb: 7.1 | Where to Watch: Prime Video/ Apple TV.
13. The Remarried Empress (2026)
Empress Navier’s orderly life shatters when her imperial husband demands a divorce to elevate his scheming mistress. Instead of fading quietly into disgrace, Navier pulls off a brilliant countermove by securing a proposal from Prince Heinrey of the Western Kingdom. This high-society fantasy drama mirrors Elisabeth’s romantic friction, offering a satisfying story of an aristocrat taking back control of her fate.
IMDb: N/A | Where to Watch: Disney+
14. My Royal Nemesis (2026)
A notorious villain from the Joseon era wakes up reincarnated as a modern-day struggling actress, only to cross paths with a cold corporate heir who happens to be her old historical rival. While its contemporary fantasy spin feels unique, it delivers the exact sort of electrifying enemies-to-lovers tension and status clashes that keep royal romance fans coming back for more.
Also Watch: 15 Shows Like My Royal Nemesis
IMDb: 7.5 | Where to Watch: Netflix.
15. Royal Betrothal (2026)
In an empire plagued by corruption, a brilliant young woman becomes the first female scholar to clear the grueling imperial examinations. Her pursuit of justice soon unites her with a masked emperor running secret vigilante operations in the capital. Filled with double identities and covert alliances, it offers a fast-paced alternative for viewers who love imperial intrigue paired with a slow-burn romance.
IMDb: 6.6 | Where to Watch: Rakuten Viki, IQIYI.
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Which Royal Drama Should You Watch Next?
Start with Sisi for Elisabeth’s true counterpart, dive into Victoria for sweet royal courtship, or cue up The Crown for pristine dynastic drama. When you crave high-stakes rebellion, turn to The White Queen and The Serpent Queen. The most unforgettable shows like The Empress always prove that wearing the crown comes with an irresistible, dangerous price tag. Pick your favorite palace and start streaming today.