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During war between the English and Danes, Prince Harald captures Alfred’s fiancée Alvina. Alfred plans to enter the Danish camp disguised as a harpist and escapes with Alvina when she flees captivity. She later reaches British soldiers and urges them to join Alfred, but Harald captures her again. Alfred and his army, aided by nobleman Dorset, defeat the Danes. Harald kills himself, and Alfred and Alvina reunite as the English celebrate victory.
Princess Armida is sent to sow discord in the Frankish camp, but falls in love with the crusader Rinald and escapes with him. The sorcerer Ismen attempts to destroy her enchanted palace, while Rinald's companions use a diamond shield to draw him away; later, as the Crusaders advance on Damascus, Rinald kills Armida in battle without recognizing her until after she is mortally wounded.
After Boris Godunov's death, Russia is divided between supporters of the Godunov family and General Basmanov's faction backing Dimitrij, who is believed to be Ivan the Terrible's son. Marfa recognizes him as her son despite knowing the claim is false, hoping to use him against her old enemies. Dimitrij rescues Xenie and defeats a conspiracy led by Shuisky, but Marina exposes his humble origins; Marina has Xenie killed, and Shuisky shoots Dimitrij.
During a hunt, the lost King Matyáš arrives incognito at the charcoal burner Matěj’s hut. Matěj welcomes him, while his daughter Liduška and the young charcoal burner Jeník love each other but are kept apart by their poverty. The disguised king kisses Liduška, prompting Jeník’s jealousy; after the royal party discovers the king, Jeník leaves for the army. Later, at the Prague court, the king stages a mock trial of Matěj’s family and arranges for Jeník to marry Liduška. Jeník accepts when he learns she is his intended bride; the king ultimately blesses their union and that of Jindřich and Eva. The king thanks the charcoal burner’s family for the hospitality and lessons they gave him.
The water nymph Rusalka loves a human prince and asks the witch Ježibaba to make her human. The spell takes away Rusalka’s speech and immortality, and Ježibaba warns that the prince’s rejection will doom her. The prince takes Rusalka to his castle but becomes enamored of a foreign princess and rejects her. Rusalka returns to the lake and refuses Ježibaba’s offer to escape her fate by killing the prince. She becomes a spirit of death. When the prince returns to the lake, Rusalka can speak again; she grants his request for a kiss, knowing it will kill him.
In a village, Bětuška loves the poor Jeník, but her father Martin wants her to marry the wealthy Václav. The Prince offers Jeník a farm in exchange for an assignation with Bětuška; Veruna and the Princess foil the Prince and Jean with disguises and a trap, and the Prince grants the farm so Bětuška and Jeník can marry.
At a village dance, Kate declares she would dance with the devil if necessary. A mysterious hunter, the devil Marbuel, dances with her and carries her to Hell. Jirka follows to rescue her and persuades Lucifer to let Kate return to Earth. Later, Jirka tells the Princess she must free the serfs or be taken to Hell. When Marbuel comes for her, Kate frightens him away. The Princess rewards Jirka and Kate, and the peasants celebrate their freedom.
Bohuš returns to his Bohemian hometown in disguise with his wife Julie. His father, Count Vilém, disowns him, believing rumors that he is a Jacobin, and names his nephew Adolf as heir. Adolf and the Burgrave arrange Bohuš’s arrest, while they also try to force Terinka to marry the Burgrave instead of Jiří. Julie tells the Count that Bohuš was condemned by the Jacobins for supporting the Girondins. The Count pardons Bohuš and Jiří, denounces Adolf’s scheming, and reconciles with his son.
Widow Říhová and widower Vávra plan a marriage between their children, Lenka and Toník, who love each other but stubbornly resist. Their godfather Řeřicha tricks each into thinking the other’s parent intends to marry their beloved. The jealousy and village gossip break their resistance, and the young couple admit their love.
Vanda reluctantly becomes queen of Poland and refuses to marry the German Prince Roderich, while loving the knight Slavoj, who is of humble birth. After Slavoj wins a contest and defeats Roderich in battle, Vanda vows to sacrifice her life for her country; when victory comes, she keeps that vow by jumping into the Vistula.
During war between the English and Danes, Prince Harald captures Alfred’s fiancée Alvina. Alfred plans to enter the Danish camp disguised as a harpist and escapes with Alvina when she flees captivity. She later reaches British soldiers and urges them to join Alfred, but Harald captures her again. Alfred and his army, aided by nobleman Dorset, defeat the Danes. Harald kills himself, and Alfred and Alvina reunite as the English celebrate victory.
Princess Armida is sent to sow discord in the Frankish camp, but falls in love with the crusader Rinald and escapes with him. The sorcerer Ismen attempts to destroy her enchanted palace, while Rinald's companions use a diamond shield to draw him away; later, as the Crusaders advance on Damascus, Rinald kills Armida in battle without recognizing her until after she is mortally wounded.
After Boris Godunov's death, Russia is divided between supporters of the Godunov family and General Basmanov's faction backing Dimitrij, who is believed to be Ivan the Terrible's son. Marfa recognizes him as her son despite knowing the claim is false, hoping to use him against her old enemies. Dimitrij rescues Xenie and defeats a conspiracy led by Shuisky, but Marina exposes his humble origins; Marina has Xenie killed, and Shuisky shoots Dimitrij.
During a hunt, the lost King Matyáš arrives incognito at the charcoal burner Matěj’s hut. Matěj welcomes him, while his daughter Liduška and the young charcoal burner Jeník love each other but are kept apart by their poverty. The disguised king kisses Liduška, prompting Jeník’s jealousy; after the royal party discovers the king, Jeník leaves for the army. Later, at the Prague court, the king stages a mock trial of Matěj’s family and arranges for Jeník to marry Liduška. Jeník accepts when he learns she is his intended bride; the king ultimately blesses their union and that of Jindřich and Eva. The king thanks the charcoal burner’s family for the hospitality and lessons they gave him.
The water nymph Rusalka loves a human prince and asks the witch Ježibaba to make her human. The spell takes away Rusalka’s speech and immortality, and Ježibaba warns that the prince’s rejection will doom her. The prince takes Rusalka to his castle but becomes enamored of a foreign princess and rejects her. Rusalka returns to the lake and refuses Ježibaba’s offer to escape her fate by killing the prince. She becomes a spirit of death. When the prince returns to the lake, Rusalka can speak again; she grants his request for a kiss, knowing it will kill him.
In a village, Bětuška loves the poor Jeník, but her father Martin wants her to marry the wealthy Václav. The Prince offers Jeník a farm in exchange for an assignation with Bětuška; Veruna and the Princess foil the Prince and Jean with disguises and a trap, and the Prince grants the farm so Bětuška and Jeník can marry.
At a village dance, Kate declares she would dance with the devil if necessary. A mysterious hunter, the devil Marbuel, dances with her and carries her to Hell. Jirka follows to rescue her and persuades Lucifer to let Kate return to Earth. Later, Jirka tells the Princess she must free the serfs or be taken to Hell. When Marbuel comes for her, Kate frightens him away. The Princess rewards Jirka and Kate, and the peasants celebrate their freedom.
Bohuš returns to his Bohemian hometown in disguise with his wife Julie. His father, Count Vilém, disowns him, believing rumors that he is a Jacobin, and names his nephew Adolf as heir. Adolf and the Burgrave arrange Bohuš’s arrest, while they also try to force Terinka to marry the Burgrave instead of Jiří. Julie tells the Count that Bohuš was condemned by the Jacobins for supporting the Girondins. The Count pardons Bohuš and Jiří, denounces Adolf’s scheming, and reconciles with his son.
Widow Říhová and widower Vávra plan a marriage between their children, Lenka and Toník, who love each other but stubbornly resist. Their godfather Řeřicha tricks each into thinking the other’s parent intends to marry their beloved. The jealousy and village gossip break their resistance, and the young couple admit their love.
Vanda reluctantly becomes queen of Poland and refuses to marry the German Prince Roderich, while loving the knight Slavoj, who is of humble birth. After Slavoj wins a contest and defeats Roderich in battle, Vanda vows to sacrifice her life for her country; when victory comes, she keeps that vow by jumping into the Vistula.