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While King Endre is away, Bánk’s wife Melinda is pursued by Queen Gertrude’s brother Otto. Bánk initially refuses to join the nobles’ conspiracy, but agrees after learning of Otto’s advances. Otto drugs and rapes Melinda; Bánk confronts Gertrude and kills her in a struggle. Melinda later drowns herself and their son in the Tisza. When Endre returns, Bánk admits killing the queen and collapses beside the bodies of his wife and child.
In 12th-century Hungary, Prince István returns from battle. His father, King Kálmán, urges him to remarry, and two royal advisors reveal that he has a lover, Bátori Mária, and two sons with her. István goes to Mária’s estate and marries her. When he and Mária’s brother leave to hunt, the advisors persuade the king that Mária and her sons threaten the royal succession. The king questions her at her estate, but Mária exposes the advisors’ motives and her children plead for her. The king excuses her and leaves. The advisors and executioner then enter her chamber and stab her. István returns in time to say goodbye to her as she dies and vows revenge.
After the death of military leader János Hunyadi, his son László and brother Mátyás face hostility from the weak king László V and regent Ulrik Cillei. Cillei plots against them but is killed by László’s followers. The king pardons the brothers, then falls in love with Mária, László’s fiancée. Mária’s father Gara falsely accuses László of plotting to kill the king. Though Mária urges him to escape prison, László trusts the king’s promise. Gara orders the executioner’s fourth strike, and László is beheaded.
While King Endre is away, Bánk’s wife Melinda is pursued by Queen Gertrude’s brother Otto. Bánk initially refuses to join the nobles’ conspiracy, but agrees after learning of Otto’s advances. Otto drugs and rapes Melinda; Bánk confronts Gertrude and kills her in a struggle. Melinda later drowns herself and their son in the Tisza. When Endre returns, Bánk admits killing the queen and collapses beside the bodies of his wife and child.
In 12th-century Hungary, Prince István returns from battle. His father, King Kálmán, urges him to remarry, and two royal advisors reveal that he has a lover, Bátori Mária, and two sons with her. István goes to Mária’s estate and marries her. When he and Mária’s brother leave to hunt, the advisors persuade the king that Mária and her sons threaten the royal succession. The king questions her at her estate, but Mária exposes the advisors’ motives and her children plead for her. The king excuses her and leaves. The advisors and executioner then enter her chamber and stab her. István returns in time to say goodbye to her as she dies and vows revenge.
After the death of military leader János Hunyadi, his son László and brother Mátyás face hostility from the weak king László V and regent Ulrik Cillei. Cillei plots against them but is killed by László’s followers. The king pardons the brothers, then falls in love with Mária, László’s fiancée. Mária’s father Gara falsely accuses László of plotting to kill the king. Though Mária urges him to escape prison, László trusts the king’s promise. Gara orders the executioner’s fourth strike, and László is beheaded.