Brankovics György
In the first half of the 15th century, Serbian despot Brankovics is asked by Hunyadi to fight the invading Ottomans. His daughter Mara is secretly meeting the Ottoman grand vizier Murat. Brankovics first agrees to reject Ottoman envoys and fight, then accepts their peace offer, giving his two sons as hostages. Murat, secretly the sultan’s son, signs the treaty. After Hunyadi wins without him, Brankovics’s court urges him to break the pact, but he cannot risk his sons’ lives. Mara asks Murat to return her brothers, offering herself as guarantor; instead, the brothers are blinded. Mara leaves with Murat, and Brankovics vows revenge. He rejoins Hunyadi and attacks the Ottomans. Murat’s father dies, making him sultan, and he goes to battle. The Serbian forces win, but Brankovics is fatally wounded. He entrusts his children to Hunyadi and dies, realizing too late that Mara is present.