SYNOPSIS:

771 A.D. The Saxons under Duke Wittikind prepare to attack a Frankish army that is marching into their lands. Wittikind is surprised to learn that his wife Geva, after having her third miscarriage, has offered herself as a human sacrifice in order for the war effort to be successful. Wittikind and his brother Wulfgar try to convince Geva not to sacrifice herself, but her mind is made up. She and a dozen other Saxon women are hung from the boughs of the gigantic tree Irminsul. King Charles, at his Castle Eresberg, finds that his wife Desiree is attempting to flee with Charles’ bastard son Pippin -- whom she is holding at knifepoint. Charles saves Pippin, but lets Desiree go because he won’t shed royal blood. Desiree disappears into the night, and Pippin reveals that she spoke of putting him on the throne to challenge Charles. Near the front lines, Roland of Brittany charges his squire William and his friend Bregman with the assassination of the Saxon leaders, Wittikind and Wulfgar. William and Bregman set off in secret to perform their mission. Charles holds a pre-dawn mass with his troops, who then set off for battle. The Franks win the battle against the Saxons, during which William and Bregman sneak up unawares upon Wulfgar at his command tent. After the battle Charles beds his mistress Hildegarde -- convincing her that he will annul his marriage to Desiree. Hildegarde promises to provide Charles a male heir. Wittikind finds his brother’s command tent in tatters, and is heartbroken. He holds a funeral for his dead brother, and rallies the remaining Saxons to flee to the forests -- to live to fight another day. There, they receive a strange visitor: Desiree, desiring a military alliance against Charles. An agent of Desiree’s at Charles’ camp, meanwhile, kidnaps Pippin and spirits him away to Italy -- leaving Charles devastated. William and Bregman return to Roland and tell him that they found Wulfgar, but could not find Wittikind. They then pull a bag off a prisoner’s head to reveal that Wulfgar is alive and well -- and held captive.

CHARLEMAGNE