BUDA CASTLE THE KINGDOM OF HUNGARY
- At last! - I came as quickly as...
There's no time for that. The King is in a terrible state.
How much time does he have left?
It depends...
With the right treatment,
he could live for years.
Years?
That is terrible...
Who sent you?
His Royal Highness Friedrich personally requested I care for you.
Friedrich?
Good...
That's good.
Now we'll let out the diseased blood.
This may hurt a bit...
TIRGOVISTE PRINCIPALITY OF WALLACHIA
Whatever the job, you can always find someone else to do it.
Time for bed, Radu!
I have something to teach your big brother.
Do you understand what I said, Vladut?
Everyone is replaceable.
Bring him in!
Father, I...
It's better if you get it over with quickly.
Believe me, you're doing him a favor.
Merciful young lord!
Don't do this...
I taught you how to read...
How to use a sword...
I can't do it.
We'll be dining in the courtyard after all...
There are worse things in life than a speedy death, my boy.
Johannes...
Johannes!
Are you there?
I'm here, Your Majesty.
Don't leave me!
Johannes...
I won't leave you, Sire!
You must give Albert a son.
Thank you for the advice, Mother.
Do you know any foolproof way of doing that?
Don't mock me.
You know you're the only one I was blessed with.
Forgive me for not being born a boy.
I didn't mean to hurt you.
I just don't want you to go through
what I went through.
How long must we sit here and watch the poor old man die?
Meet my impatient wife...
I don't know who I feel sorry for:
Sigismund or Hunyadi, who can't even sit down.
Who'd have thought that a little cut on his leg would lead to this?
And he's only just been crowned emperor.
What is his successor like?
Please, the man is still alive.
They say that Albert is weak and easy to manipulate.
Perfect qualities for a king.
Couldn't we have found a cleaner solution to our problem?
The smell is unbearable.
I also would prefer a more discreet solution,
but Sigismund has always loved theatrical gestures.
He only has minutes left.
His fate is in the hands of God now.
All our fates rest in the hands of God.
But God has more patience than I do.
Keep me informed.
Uncle.
I knew it.
I knew it all along.
But no one believed me.
Ilona!
You don't take me seriously.
Of course I do, darling.
You're right. Nobody believes you.
Because no one wants to kill my father.
Except, perhaps, God.
You called, Your Highness?
This thing is driving me mad. I'm not wearing it!
But your father's departure is a special occasion...
You're speaking about the King. Show more respect!
Thank you, Ilona. You may leave.
Yes, Your Highness.
You don't know my uncle!
But I do.
He's just like Ulrich Cillei.
They are our relatives.
Don't you have a drop of Friedrich's blood in you?
I hope not.
What a shame...
Because I have Ulrich's blood in me.
And more than just a drop.
Right now?
This might be my last chance to sleep with you as a prince.
Unbelievable.
When my time comes, don't tie me up in a church.
I want to die lying down,
sitting hurts my back.
What a miserable death!
What's wrong? You look beside yourself.
You should be celebrating.
The king's death is a tragedy,
but the coronation of a new king is reason for joy.
A new dawn brings new hope, don't you agree?
If you say so.
Come with me.
Albert is our new hope.
Mine, yours, and all of the nobles.
Hope? Don't we already have what we want?
Of course not.
Look around, Miklos.
With whose money do you think Sigismund bought his imperial crown?
It was expensive indeed...
And now he's taking that crown to the grave with him.
We may as well have thrown our gold into a pit.
And these endless wars we fight all over Europe...
We're going bankrupt.
We are the nation.
And you are its wealthiest landowner.
You have a lot of influence.
You have to decide...
Are you with us or against us?
Do you want to belong somewhere or be left behind?
We ask that...
No,
we "demand" that the rights of Hungary's noblemen
are not limited by royal tyranny.
Hear! Hear!
We are the nation!
We, the nobility!
That's right!
We are the lifeblood of this land.
And we will not allow our blood to be drained away
and the country to be weakened...
He's right!
Let's calm down. I'm willing to negotiate.
- But I have more important business now. - What could be more important than this?
We won't be forced to take our armies abroad anymore.
We're sick of jumping every time the Hussites
or some imaginary Ottoman invasion occur.
And of what it costs us!
We've had enough!
Is that all?
No.
That's just our first point...
It's not easy being king.
I'm not the king.
It's only a matter of hours now.
Then, as your king, I order you to leave me in peace.
I beg your pardon, but you're not my king yet.
What are you after?
You Hungarians are always after something.
I must speak to my uncle, do you know where he is?
I saw him in the courtyard.
I simply wanted to make a suggestion.
Whatever they said in there, if we don't defend our borders,
this country will be annihilated.
Only one man can protect Hungary...
Janos Hunyadi.
If Hunyadi is given money and men,
you won't see him or the Ottomans.
And for as long as you see neither,
your reign will be a happy one.
I'll bear that in mind.
Are you happy?
It's the day you've been waiting for: Albert will soon be King.
He will. But he has no heir.
And without an heir, someone else will succeed the throne.
Not our bloodline.
Interest is still lacking.
You never sleep together?
Albert is...
too "tense".
- Then help him relax. - Impossible!
He's convinced that you and that awful Friedrich
are trying to kill my father.
It'll happen sooner or later.
Albert wants an heir. More than one in fact...
Time is odd.
You never think about it, but every moment,
it's slipping through your fingers.
You will be the Queen.
But do you know how a queen's worth is measured?
In the number of male children she produces.
Understood?
Yes...
Uncle!
Speak quickly, I'm ready to leave.
I will not be the Hungarian king.
What are you saying?
I can't do it.
Not at this price.
Listen...
I understand that you're nervous.
You have every right to be.
To be a king, to rule...
You'll catch on.
Was it you?
You and Cillei?
Did you kill him?
Shut your mouth!
Don't make me slap the future King.
Anyway, the present King is still alive.
How could we have killed him?
He'll die any minute.
Wonderful.
Then you will finally succeed to the throne.
It doesn't matter how, only when.
Albert, you are a Habsburg.
Start acting like one!
Get dressed.
Our moment has come.
ONE YEAR LATER EDIRNE, THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE
Mehmed is growing smarter every day.
He truly is my son.
What are your plans for him?
One day,
when he's strong enough to hold a weapon,
I'll take him on a campaign.
We'll fight bloody and glorious battles together.
His death will be worthy of a sultan's son.
You know what will happen to him
when Ali takes my throne?
There's something else...
Before you attack, let me speak to my brothers.
What about?
If you take me with you, I can convince them...
There is nothing to convince them of.
If they want to live, they will surrender Smederevo Castle.
Let me keep my promise...
to save my people.
That is why I'm here.
You bought nearly a decade of peace for your people.
But nothing lasts forever.
Please!
You want me to take a woman on a military campaign?
What would my viziers think?
When they see the castle gates open without a fight,
it won't matter.
You won't regret it.
HUNYAD CASTLE THE KINGDOM OF HUNGARY
I never thought I'd see Miho get married!
- Me neither! - Watch it!
To the happy couple!
Now do it like you mean it.
Sorry to interrupt the party...
Sit, Vitez. Help yourself.
I have important news.
The Ottomans are heading for our borders.
And the King has issued new decrees.
I bet he has drastically lightened the nobles' burden.
He has.
But...
he's also appointed the new Lord of Severin...
You!
You'll get the money and soldiers that go with the position.
Your job is to protect our borders.
I'm going to miss you.
You're leaving again.
I'm starting to get used to it.
It's just a battle, not a campaign.
Is this how it'll be from now on?
If I come home alive, it is.
How can you say that?
Of course you'll come home!
HUNGARIAN CAMP AT TITELREV THE KINGDOM OF HUNGARY
Your Majesty.
Welcome to the camp of Titelrev.
Now that you're here, we're sure to defeat the enemy.
When will the battle begin?
Not for a while, Your Majesty.
It's rather unusual to bring a woman to a military camp...
She's not the only woman here.
But they are here for a purpose.
Just like my dear Elizabeth.
Are you calling me your whore?
Of course not.
I simply want you by my side.
Is that asking too much?
Yes, really...
It's not too much to ask, is it?
Come, my King.
Let me show you how the Hungarian nobles are killing time.
before the glorious battle begins.
OTTOMAN CAMP SMEDEREVO, SERBIAN DESPOTATE
Thank you for coming.
Mara!
There's so much to discuss.
I'm here as an envoy now.
I thought I was going to meet the Sultan...
If you surrender the castle, you may leave unharmed.
- I personally guarantee it. - You guarantee it?
The Hungarians will be here soon.
They always come when we call.
The Hungarians have a new King.
Who can't be trusted with a basket of apples, let alone a kingdom.
And his nobles are fed up with fighting.
You speak as if you are one of them.
You know why you are here.
Do your job.
You haven't seen what I've seen - the power of their Empire.
This is a war you can't win.
God will decide what we can or can't win!
I'm trying to save your lives!
We don't need saving.
And for you, it's too late now.
I should get back. I've got a castle to defend...
from you and your friends!
Stefan!
What's that?
A map of the stars.
What do you need a map for?
Afraid you'll get lost on your way to Heaven?
You waste your time on stupid things,
when you could enjoy what you have, like the other lords do.
I always look to the future.
When the other lords' bones have crumbled to dust,
the mark I make on the world will be there for all to see.
I'm pregnant.
It's a sin.
We're sinners in the eyes of God.
Do you know why I take this everywhere I go?
Did you hear what I said?
When I was a boy, I thought that beyond the sky was only Heaven.
That God was watching over us.
Running the world like a kind old king.
But the world is chaos.
There's nothing holding it together.
No supreme being controlling our lives.
Or if there is...
then he's evil.
The sky is just a gateway.
Beyond it lies billions of stars,
and we're no more than a speck of dust among them.
There is no center.
No God.
Only us. All alone.
You and me in a cruel world.
There is no will but our will.
The only sins are the things we fail to do.
This child will be King.
Albert will know it isn't his.
He hasn't touched you since then?
I'll come up with something.
Well, be quick.
Because this cruel world
is going to get a lot more cruel for both of us once my belly starts to swell.
They ought to be here by now.
What if they've surrendered the castle to the Sultan?
Stefan and Grgur aren't like their father.
They'd rather die than surrender.
They're coming.
Janko!
Stefan!
Grgur!
You've grown into a big, ugly brute!
I could say the same about you two.
But we may all stop growing now.
Murad could start the siege any time.
He hasn't yet?
He offered peace.
He brought Mara.
She wants us to surrender.
- You can't. - And we won't!
We're ready for the siege,
but we can't hold out forever.
We'll help.
- What do you think you're doing? - Guarding camp.
Take over the watch.
Second row fall out!
I wouldn't mind a taste of that moonshine they've been drinking...
After the battle, naturally...
They haven't even dug latrines.
What's going on here?
Go look around.
Janos, at last! There's trouble.
I can see that.
Hunyadi! Hunyadi!
Hunyadi!
It's been like this since they pitched camp.
And there's something worse...
What the hell is this?
The enemy is at the gates and you're drunk!
Prepare for battle right away.
We will cross the Danube and drive the Ottomans from Smederevo Castle!
Right, Your Majesty?
Lord Hunyadi!
How nice of you to finally join us.
Smederevo Castle could fall at any time. We've must hurry.
I'm afraid the money and power that came with your new title
made you deaf to His Majesty's decisions.
The nobles' armies have to defend Hungary when it is attacked.
- That's what he said. - You're right: "defend Hungary".
But Smederevo is in Serbia.
Hungary hasn't been attacked.
And it's no longer compulsory for our troops to fight on foreign soil.
But I'm sure the King won't stop you from helping the Serbs.
With your own army...
Of course, when the Ottomans cross the border,
they'll find out how sharp Hungarian swords are.
Damn right!
Is this really what you want?
To hide like cowards?
At least you should help, Ujlaki.
Remember Stefan? He was your friend.
Jesus Christ!
How long has this party been going on?
I'm talking to you!
Don't touch him!
Listen to me!
These men aren't just drunk.
- Am I right? - Yes.
It's dysentery.
What's wrong?
We have no army.
What?
Cillei has convinced Albert not to send soldiers to Serbia.
There's no one to send anyway.
- There's dysentery in the camp. - We've got to get out of here.
We have no army...
but the Ottomans don't know that.
So?
We split into small teams.
We attack at night. From all sides.
If we cross the river to the Serbian side in the dark, we can surprise them.
We break their spirit.
And the King?
We've got to warn him. The others, too.
If I'm right, we'll soon have another coronation.
Lots of little raids...
Do we have the numbers?
We'll need every man,
alive, sick or stone-dead.
Put the bodies in the water.
This is unchristian, Janko!
If the sickness gets into their drinking water, it'll wipe out their whole army.
Tomorrow...
...if you make it, come back and give them a proper burial.
Quicklime.
It keeps the sickness away.
Lord Hunyadi!
Please! Please!
Do you speak Hungarian?
Deliver a message to your sultan.
Tell him...
Hunyadi is coming!
"Hunyadi is coming."
To steal the souls
of all those who don't belong here.
Should we turn back?
Send out the scouts!
Move!
Demons! Demons!
SMEDEREVO CASTLE SERBIAN DESPOTATE
Hunyadi will avenge this!
We've occupied Smederevo Castle and captured the Brankovic brothers.
But we are under attack each night.
Casualties are few, but steady for days now.
The troops get no rest.
The attacks are constant, in several places at once.
Must I fight an army of shadows?
The raids come out of nowhere, Glorious Sultan.
We have a message from Hunyadi.
"Hunyadi"?
The infidels' leader.
He is dressed in gold from head to toe.
Our scimitars cannot pierce it.
The men call him "the Thunderbolt of War".
I met him.
The demon warrior.
He sent a message.
Speak!
Glorious Sultan,
Hunyadi is coming!
He wants our souls.
Everyone's soul.
He buries the dead in the stream.
In the stream?
I saw it with my own eyes,
bodies covered in black vomit and feces.
They've poisoned our water!
Dysentery, Glorious Sultan.
We must leave immediately!
This man is the Devil himself...
We're pulling out.
What about the hostages?
Kill them all.
Glorious Sultan...
The Brankovic brothers as well?
Please, spare my brothers.
Bring them to me.
There...
You did well, not to take Hunyadi's side.
He'll soon be history,
and we'll be the only ones Albert listens to.
Please...
Show them mercy.
Is that what you want?
Mercy?
I beg you...
If I mean anything to you at all, Glorious Sultan...
Be merciful to them.
I promise I will love you more than you've ever been loved before.
I'll worship you more than any woman ever worshiped a man.
Stop it!
You're worse than a whore!
You see what this girl is willing to do for you?
Do you even deserve it?
For you, I will spare their lives...
Only for you.
Thank you!
Forgive me, Bright-eyed Sultan...
But these men are Hunyadi's allies.
- Your brothers tried to poison me? - No!
Was it your idea?
You'll never beat Hunyadi. He'll come for you.
Just like he came to help you?
We don't matter.
You can kill us anytime.
But against him, you're weak and defenseless!
You promised...
You promised to spare their lives.
Castrate
and blind them!
Now!
No... No!
See?
I've spared their lives.
Hunyadi will kill you all!
He'll kill you all!
Don't forget who you belong to.
Your Majesty...
Please...
Elizabeth!
Take me with you!
Elizabeth!
Let me go with you.
I'm not sick...
I swear.
I just want to go home.
Please...
Take me home.
Darling. Listen, darling...
I'm going to have a baby.
Who is the father?
You don't want the child to get sick too, do you?
After all, he's your heir.
No! No! Elizabeth! No!
Please...
Elizabeth!