1
00:00:06,126 --> 00:00:08,668
[ominous music playing]
2
00:00:30,626 --> 00:00:34,543
[Dimitrie] It looks like two units
of Janissaries. Maybe three.
3
00:00:37,376 --> 00:00:38,459
Hamza Bey!
4
00:00:39,918 --> 00:00:42,251
How many Ottoman soldiers at Giurgiu?
5
00:00:44,293 --> 00:00:47,001
The sultan should have
killed you years ago.
6
00:00:48,251 --> 00:00:49,084
[chuckles]
7
00:00:49,168 --> 00:00:50,501
Traitorous dog!
8
00:00:51,876 --> 00:00:54,418
Our Ottoman friend isn't happy with me,
9
00:00:55,209 --> 00:01:00,668
but at least his men were kind enough
to give us their nice, warm uniforms.
10
00:01:01,668 --> 00:01:02,959
[indistinct shout]
11
00:01:03,043 --> 00:01:06,876
[brooding music playing]
12
00:01:08,751 --> 00:01:09,834
[Dimitrie] My prince,
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00:01:10,376 --> 00:01:12,418
I will be with you until the end…
14
00:01:14,918 --> 00:01:18,001
but once we cross the Danube,
there is no turning back.
15
00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:21,668
Are you sure you want to do this?
16
00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:30,168
[Vlad] With our new uniforms,
the Turks will welcome us with open arms!
17
00:01:39,001 --> 00:01:41,459
{\an8}[narrator] In the winter of 1462,
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00:01:41,543 --> 00:01:44,209
{\an8}along a remote stretch of the Danube,
19
00:01:45,251 --> 00:01:46,959
{\an8}death comes calling.
20
00:01:47,584 --> 00:01:49,001
[in Turkish] Who goes there?
21
00:01:49,709 --> 00:01:50,918
[Vlad] Open the gates.
22
00:01:52,043 --> 00:01:55,376
We are being pursued
by a unit of Wallachian mercenaries!
23
00:02:00,293 --> 00:02:02,543
Open the gates. That's an order.
24
00:02:05,501 --> 00:02:06,709
Open the gates.
25
00:02:33,418 --> 00:02:38,418
[epic choral music playing]
26
00:02:50,334 --> 00:02:51,668
[in English] Kill them all!
27
00:02:51,751 --> 00:02:53,751
{\an8}- [swords unsheathing]
- [screams battle cry]
28
00:03:00,709 --> 00:03:01,959
[men screaming]
29
00:03:05,084 --> 00:03:07,334
[theme music playing]
30
00:03:20,959 --> 00:03:24,668
{\an8}[narrator] As the long-simmering
blood feud between Mehmed the Conqueror
31
00:03:24,751 --> 00:03:26,959
and Vlad Dracula intensifies,
32
00:03:27,709 --> 00:03:29,876
the tentacles of the coming war
33
00:03:29,959 --> 00:03:34,209
reach all the way to the inner sanctum
of the sultan's harem.
34
00:03:35,459 --> 00:03:40,251
[woman singing]
35
00:03:45,876 --> 00:03:49,501
- [Mara] We have an artist in our midst.
- Princess Mara.
36
00:03:52,001 --> 00:03:55,668
Mehmed has promised to bring artists
from Florence to teach me.
37
00:03:56,376 --> 00:03:59,709
Perhaps you will teach
the Florentines something. [laughs]
38
00:04:08,084 --> 00:04:09,584
I've come to say goodbye.
39
00:04:10,543 --> 00:04:13,334
I leave for the court
of Matthias Corvinus tomorrow.
40
00:04:14,626 --> 00:04:16,168
[Gulabahar sighs]
41
00:04:16,251 --> 00:04:19,793
I heard the Hungarian king
is as slippery as his late father,
42
00:04:20,543 --> 00:04:23,126
but lacks the old man's valor
on the battlefield.
43
00:04:23,209 --> 00:04:26,501
We'll soon see if he has the stomach
for a war with Mehmed.
44
00:04:28,668 --> 00:04:31,709
But there's another matter.
45
00:04:32,751 --> 00:04:34,209
[door closes]
46
00:04:41,418 --> 00:04:45,168
While I'm away, I want you to sleep
with this under a pillow.
47
00:04:46,543 --> 00:04:47,918
I don't understand.
48
00:04:48,001 --> 00:04:51,418
Vlad Dracula lived
in the imperial palace for years.
49
00:04:52,209 --> 00:04:54,959
He may have friends here
who are a threat to you.
50
00:04:55,834 --> 00:04:59,793
- But I--
- One day, you will be queen mother,
51
00:05:01,084 --> 00:05:03,543
the most powerful woman in the empire.
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00:05:06,418 --> 00:05:09,793
I'll wager our enemies
have not seen the likes of you before.
53
00:05:20,584 --> 00:05:22,251
Stand strong, dear Gulbahar,
54
00:05:23,459 --> 00:05:24,918
and remain vigilant.
55
00:05:46,251 --> 00:05:48,626
{\an8}[narrator] Some 340 miles north,
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00:05:48,709 --> 00:05:53,834
Sultan Mehmed II's massive army
continues its march to Wallachia,
57
00:05:54,418 --> 00:05:57,293
where they find themselves
surrounded by the carnage
58
00:05:57,376 --> 00:06:01,293
of Vlad Dracula's earlier rampage
across the Danube,
59
00:06:01,376 --> 00:06:05,043
but see no sign
of their missing general, Hamza Bey.
60
00:06:05,834 --> 00:06:09,543
The Impaler Lord's message
to his childhood friend
61
00:06:09,626 --> 00:06:13,709
is written in the blood of thousands,
"Come and get me."
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00:06:15,584 --> 00:06:18,418
[Safa Gürkan] Mind you,
that kind of disrespect was something
63
00:06:18,501 --> 00:06:22,626
that a ruler like Mehmed II
could never forgive
64
00:06:22,709 --> 00:06:25,293
{\an8}because in this kind of world,
reputation is everything.
65
00:06:26,251 --> 00:06:31,584
So from that point onward, it became
quite personal between Mehmed and Vlad.
66
00:06:32,834 --> 00:06:38,251
{\an8}What Vlad Dracula should have done
with Mehmed was seek a limited peace.
67
00:06:38,334 --> 00:06:40,126
{\an8}Maybe a reduction in tribute.
68
00:06:41,001 --> 00:06:46,918
But the problem with Vlad Dracula is
that everything to him is about a duel.
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00:06:47,001 --> 00:06:49,334
Perhaps, again,
this does come from his youth,
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00:06:49,418 --> 00:06:53,001
this very hard upbringing,
this idea that he would never give way.
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00:06:53,668 --> 00:06:55,918
That it was down to me-versus-him,
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00:06:56,001 --> 00:06:57,084
black and white.
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00:07:13,793 --> 00:07:15,918
Vlad massacred these poor souls
74
00:07:16,001 --> 00:07:19,084
to impress his masters
in Buda and the Vatican,
75
00:07:19,168 --> 00:07:20,709
and to draw me out.
76
00:07:22,793 --> 00:07:24,126
I could never do this.
77
00:07:25,959 --> 00:07:28,959
[Mehmed] Which is why
you will be a better ruler than Vlad.
78
00:07:31,668 --> 00:07:34,376
Yet, Mahmud Pasha doesn't trust me.
79
00:07:35,793 --> 00:07:38,126
Trust is hard-earned with Mahmud Pasha.
80
00:07:39,168 --> 00:07:41,709
One of the reasons
I chose him as my grand vizier.
81
00:07:42,876 --> 00:07:46,043
But have I not been
a loyal friend and adviser?
82
00:07:48,376 --> 00:07:52,459
Yes, but you have the misfortune
of sharing the last name
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00:07:52,543 --> 00:07:55,459
of the man every soldier
in this army is here to kill.
84
00:08:08,251 --> 00:08:12,959
The Danube was supposed to be a bridge
between our kingdoms, not a wall.
85
00:08:18,334 --> 00:08:20,126
{\an8}[young Vlad grunts]
86
00:08:20,209 --> 00:08:22,626
There's no shame in second place, Vlad.
87
00:08:24,001 --> 00:08:24,876
I win!
88
00:08:24,959 --> 00:08:26,501
You cheated, Mehmed!
89
00:08:26,584 --> 00:08:28,418
No, I won.
90
00:08:38,543 --> 00:08:40,001
[young Mehmed] Do you miss Wallachia?
91
00:08:40,543 --> 00:08:42,459
[young Vlad] More than anything.
92
00:08:44,793 --> 00:08:46,376
But you have a life here now.
93
00:08:47,918 --> 00:08:50,334
This isn't my life. It's yours.
94
00:08:51,418 --> 00:08:55,126
[tense music playing]
95
00:09:04,168 --> 00:09:06,959
One day, the world will be ours,
brother Vlad.
96
00:09:12,084 --> 00:09:14,959
Your battles, they will be my battles.
97
00:09:26,668 --> 00:09:27,834
[laughs]
98
00:09:36,834 --> 00:09:40,793
[young Vlad speaking in Romanian]
99
00:09:41,501 --> 00:09:47,209
[in English] "Fire is the test of gold,
adversity of friendship."
100
00:09:56,293 --> 00:09:58,876
[Hasan, in Romanian] Vlad,
growing up at this court,
101
00:09:58,959 --> 00:10:01,376
met young Mehmed, the future Mehmed II,
102
00:10:02,501 --> 00:10:06,418
{\an8}because the princes present
at the Ottoman court grew up
103
00:10:06,501 --> 00:10:11,293
{\an8}along the heirs to the Ottoman throne.
104
00:10:11,376 --> 00:10:14,126
[in English] And they grew
like a band of brothers.
105
00:10:17,876 --> 00:10:20,418
[Talbot] One wonders
if during this invasion
106
00:10:20,501 --> 00:10:24,584
that the two might not have reflected
on their childhood and thought of this.
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00:10:24,668 --> 00:10:29,709
{\an8}You know, maybe they'd joked or fought
with each other in that palace in Edirne.
108
00:10:31,293 --> 00:10:34,251
"One day when I'm the sultan,
I'm going to come after you."
109
00:10:34,751 --> 00:10:38,084
"One day when I'm the prince,
I'm going to come after you."
110
00:10:43,084 --> 00:10:45,334
[Dimitrie] Prince, the troops are ready.
111
00:10:46,418 --> 00:10:48,834
{\an8}We'll meet General Gales' company
outside the city.
112
00:10:48,918 --> 00:10:51,376
{\an8}[Vlad] Good, and the sultan's army?
113
00:10:52,709 --> 00:10:54,251
Have we eyes on them yet?
114
00:10:55,459 --> 00:10:58,001
[Dimitrie] Still south of the Danube,
marching north.
115
00:10:58,876 --> 00:11:00,418
At least 100,000 men
116
00:11:01,876 --> 00:11:02,959
and 100 cannons.
117
00:11:03,043 --> 00:11:04,459
[dramatic sting]
118
00:11:08,126 --> 00:11:10,668
He has brought the entire might
of his empire.
119
00:11:12,168 --> 00:11:13,043
[chuckles]
120
00:11:13,626 --> 00:11:15,459
Now he takes me seriously.
121
00:11:16,793 --> 00:11:18,793
Have our spies send hourly reports.
122
00:11:18,876 --> 00:11:23,501
We must find their crossing point
and strike while they are exposed.
123
00:11:24,668 --> 00:11:25,543
Yes, Prince.
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00:11:27,709 --> 00:11:30,459
[narrator] After years
of threats and provocations,
125
00:11:31,043 --> 00:11:34,501
the allies-turned-enemies
will finally face each other
126
00:11:34,584 --> 00:11:37,709
in a battle
on the banks of the Danube River.
127
00:11:38,834 --> 00:11:42,668
{\an8}Each man is hell-bent
on the other's destruction.
128
00:11:56,626 --> 00:11:58,543
Mehmed is finally coming for me.
129
00:12:00,209 --> 00:12:02,209
- He underestimates you.
- [chuckles] No.
130
00:12:04,209 --> 00:12:06,376
He still sees me as his prisoner…
131
00:12:09,126 --> 00:12:11,126
but once the Hungarians join us,
132
00:12:12,959 --> 00:12:15,209
it is Mehmed who will be on his knees,
133
00:12:16,584 --> 00:12:17,959
begging for mercy.
134
00:12:27,001 --> 00:12:29,501
If I fall in battle-- Listen to me.
135
00:12:31,459 --> 00:12:34,834
If I fall in battle,
the Turks will come for you.
136
00:12:38,459 --> 00:12:39,376
No.
137
00:12:41,043 --> 00:12:46,293
I will throw myself in the Argeş
and let the fish pick my bones clean
138
00:12:47,293 --> 00:12:49,418
before I become the sultan's slave.
139
00:12:57,251 --> 00:13:01,084
The only bodies in the river
will be those of Mehmed and his army.
140
00:13:21,376 --> 00:13:23,709
[ominous music playing]
141
00:13:36,043 --> 00:13:38,584
{\an8}[narrator] Vlad Dracula sets out
for the Danube River,
142
00:13:38,668 --> 00:13:41,251
{\an8}110 miles to the south,
143
00:13:41,334 --> 00:13:43,668
{\an8}where he'll mount
his defense of Wallachia.
144
00:13:44,376 --> 00:13:47,209
His army is made up of
his personal bodyguards,
145
00:13:47,293 --> 00:13:49,543
loyal boyars, and mercenaries.
146
00:13:49,626 --> 00:13:52,126
They number less than 30,000,
147
00:13:52,209 --> 00:13:55,876
but Vlad has the advantage
of fighting on his home terrain
148
00:13:55,959 --> 00:14:00,001
against an enemy he knows
almost as well as he knows himself.
149
00:14:00,084 --> 00:14:02,751
[Pogăciaş] When he was a kid
at the Ottoman court,
150
00:14:02,834 --> 00:14:06,126
{\an8}he learned a lot about the Ottomans.
He knew everything about them.
151
00:14:06,793 --> 00:14:10,043
He knew how they were thinking,
he knew how their armies would gather,
152
00:14:10,126 --> 00:14:15,293
how they were fighting, and maybe
this drove him to wage war against them,
153
00:14:15,376 --> 00:14:19,209
but he knew what was coming,
and he knew that that army would be huge.
154
00:14:26,543 --> 00:14:29,043
[narrator] As the invasion
of Wallachia nears,
155
00:14:29,126 --> 00:14:35,501
{\an8}Mehmed II now faces the challenge
of transporting 100,000 men, 100 cannons,
156
00:14:35,584 --> 00:14:39,834
and thousands of horses
across the perilous waters of the Danube,
157
00:14:39,918 --> 00:14:45,501
where Vlad Dracula has destroyed
most of the ports and his army is waiting.
158
00:14:48,043 --> 00:14:51,793
Vlad knew when the main core of the army
would cross the Danube
159
00:14:51,876 --> 00:14:55,418
and be in his country
because, as military commander,
160
00:14:55,501 --> 00:14:56,793
he was very good.
161
00:14:57,376 --> 00:14:58,709
He knew how to wage war.
162
00:15:01,209 --> 00:15:03,626
[Safa Gürkan] It proves
to be a logistical nightmare.
163
00:15:03,709 --> 00:15:06,376
When you are crossing a river
like the Danube,
164
00:15:06,459 --> 00:15:11,543
it proves so hard to carry
all these troops to the other side.
165
00:15:12,126 --> 00:15:16,376
And also, most importantly,
it reduces your maneuverability.
166
00:15:18,209 --> 00:15:20,043
[Talbot] How do you get across the Danube?
167
00:15:20,126 --> 00:15:23,251
I mean, the river is getting wider
and more impassable,
168
00:15:23,334 --> 00:15:25,376
particularly at this part.
169
00:15:25,459 --> 00:15:28,001
We also have the issue
that on the northern banks,
170
00:15:28,084 --> 00:15:29,418
there are fortifications.
171
00:15:31,543 --> 00:15:35,376
So what we have to do is, the Ottoman army
is to plan a naval mission
172
00:15:35,459 --> 00:15:39,709
to ensure that the soldiers can be ferried
across the river by boats.
173
00:15:40,376 --> 00:15:43,459
And so it's now down
to Mehmed and his commanders
174
00:15:43,543 --> 00:15:46,084
to find the right place along the river,
175
00:15:46,168 --> 00:15:50,209
all the while plotting their route
towards the Wallachian capital.
176
00:15:51,709 --> 00:15:53,709
{\an8}[suspenseful music playing]
177
00:16:01,793 --> 00:16:03,751
So, Bogdan Bey,
178
00:16:04,251 --> 00:16:07,543
Mahmud Pasha tells me
you can help us in that
179
00:16:07,626 --> 00:16:11,876
you can guarantee me 70 boats
and safe passage to the other side. Hmm?
180
00:16:11,959 --> 00:16:15,209
Yes, Sultan, I will gladly help.
181
00:16:16,501 --> 00:16:18,251
Provided you pay me…
182
00:16:21,084 --> 00:16:22,376
One thousand ducats.
183
00:16:23,334 --> 00:16:24,168
Upfront.
184
00:16:24,959 --> 00:16:25,918
[Mahmud sighs]
185
00:16:27,834 --> 00:16:29,293
Are you a fisherman or a robber?
186
00:16:29,376 --> 00:16:33,709
[Bogdan] Mahmud Pasha, my family has lived
on these waters for 200 years.
187
00:16:34,293 --> 00:16:36,168
Nobody knows them better than me.
188
00:16:37,334 --> 00:16:40,834
[tense music rising]
189
00:16:40,918 --> 00:16:43,543
Five-hundred now, 500 when we cross.
190
00:16:46,001 --> 00:16:48,001
[nervous patting]
191
00:16:48,084 --> 00:16:49,001
We have a deal.
192
00:16:54,751 --> 00:17:00,293
If you betray me, Bogdan Bey,
I will have your head.
193
00:17:10,043 --> 00:17:11,793
Sultan… [laughs nervously]
194
00:17:11,876 --> 00:17:14,584
…if I don't come home with 1,000 ducats,
195
00:17:14,668 --> 00:17:16,668
my wife will have my head.
196
00:17:16,751 --> 00:17:17,751
[both laugh]
197
00:17:27,668 --> 00:17:30,209
{\an8}[narrator] As Mehmed prepares
to cross into Wallachia,
198
00:17:30,293 --> 00:17:34,418
{\an8}he sends his stepmother to Buda
to ferret out the true intentions
199
00:17:34,501 --> 00:17:37,334
of Hungarian king, Matthias Corvinus,
200
00:17:37,418 --> 00:17:41,918
who has allegedly allied himself
with Vlad Dracula in the coming war.
201
00:17:43,959 --> 00:17:48,751
[Matthias] It's not often I meet
with a princess on a diplomatic mission,
202
00:17:49,668 --> 00:17:53,793
let alone the stepmother
of the great Turk.
203
00:17:54,751 --> 00:17:55,876
I prefer "mother."
204
00:17:57,376 --> 00:18:00,543
Mehmed has many different weapons
in his arsenal.
205
00:18:01,501 --> 00:18:02,334
Well,
206
00:18:03,334 --> 00:18:06,209
I pray we're not on war footing just yet.
207
00:18:07,293 --> 00:18:11,126
While my father was victorious
over the sultan at Belgrade,
208
00:18:12,376 --> 00:18:15,918
no one is eager for another conflict.
209
00:18:20,043 --> 00:18:22,751
There are whispers
that the Pope has paid you
210
00:18:22,834 --> 00:18:25,043
to lead a crusade against the sultan,
211
00:18:26,001 --> 00:18:29,501
and that Vlad Dracula
will lead that fight.
212
00:18:31,668 --> 00:18:32,668
If true,
213
00:18:33,251 --> 00:18:35,834
that would be very distressing to Mehmed.
214
00:18:36,418 --> 00:18:39,459
That would be an act of war.
215
00:18:40,876 --> 00:18:46,501
Any rumors that we are encouraging
Vlad Dracula's adventures are just that.
216
00:18:47,834 --> 00:18:49,126
Rumors.
217
00:18:51,376 --> 00:18:56,709
Mehmed considers this a family affair
to be settled between the two of them.
218
00:18:56,793 --> 00:19:01,501
I have no desire to intrude
in a brotherly spat.
219
00:19:01,584 --> 00:19:02,584
[chuckles]
220
00:19:04,876 --> 00:19:07,251
Still, that must hurt the sultan.
221
00:19:08,418 --> 00:19:11,668
They were so close as boys,
and now they are…
222
00:19:13,126 --> 00:19:14,126
rivals.
223
00:19:17,543 --> 00:19:18,501
"Rivals"?
224
00:19:21,834 --> 00:19:26,126
Vlad is a desperate prince,
225
00:19:26,209 --> 00:19:29,168
struggling to rule a vassal state.
226
00:19:30,126 --> 00:19:33,209
Mehmed will one day rule the world.
227
00:19:37,668 --> 00:19:41,126
{\an8}Mehmed respected his stepmother very much
228
00:19:41,209 --> 00:19:46,084
{\an8}and used her, uh, as a diplomat,
because we should always remember,
229
00:19:46,168 --> 00:19:51,126
Mara Branković was coming from
a true imperial royal background.
230
00:19:51,626 --> 00:19:57,793
She never turned, uh, into, uh,
a secondary woman in the court.
231
00:19:57,876 --> 00:20:01,168
On the contrary,
she was a political power broker.
232
00:20:04,584 --> 00:20:07,459
Do you want to hear something curious
about the conquest?
233
00:20:11,626 --> 00:20:16,168
After all the fighting,
when the city had fallen,
234
00:20:18,209 --> 00:20:20,918
they never found
Emperor Constantine's body.
235
00:20:23,084 --> 00:20:25,001
Just his purple slippers.
236
00:20:26,251 --> 00:20:29,084
A 2,000-year-old empire gone.
237
00:20:30,584 --> 00:20:31,626
[clicks fingers]
238
00:20:32,209 --> 00:20:33,334
Just like that.
239
00:20:35,293 --> 00:20:37,293
[suspenseful music playing]
240
00:20:39,251 --> 00:20:40,418
God be with you.
241
00:20:42,293 --> 00:20:44,668
[music intensifies, fades]
242
00:20:50,459 --> 00:20:53,501
[narrator] With the clock ticking
on his invasion of Wallachia,
243
00:20:53,584 --> 00:20:59,709
Mehmed and his army reached the legendary
port of Nicopolis in early June of 1462.
244
00:21:03,334 --> 00:21:05,418
{\an8}Prince Radu, what are you doing?
245
00:21:06,751 --> 00:21:10,084
There's a clearing
that might be perfect for our landing.
246
00:21:10,168 --> 00:21:11,001
Just over there.
247
00:21:11,584 --> 00:21:14,376
Prince. Prince, please.
Let me come with you.
248
00:21:14,459 --> 00:21:18,168
No. Stay out of sight
until I return tonight.
249
00:21:34,459 --> 00:21:36,793
{\an8}[narrator] Meanwhile,
in the Ottoman capital,
250
00:21:36,918 --> 00:21:41,001
the name Vlad Dracula echoes
throughout the palace corridors,
251
00:21:41,084 --> 00:21:45,751
as rumors of his spies and assassins
reach the imperial harem.
252
00:21:47,251 --> 00:21:49,251
[women whispering, giggling]
253
00:21:52,001 --> 00:21:54,501
[ominous music playing]
254
00:22:09,376 --> 00:22:10,834
[clatter from inside chamber]
255
00:22:21,793 --> 00:22:23,168
Who are you?
256
00:22:23,834 --> 00:22:24,834
I'm Elena.
257
00:22:26,084 --> 00:22:28,668
[hesitates] Forgive me, Sultana.
I brought fresh linens.
258
00:22:29,876 --> 00:22:31,084
Where's Fatima?
259
00:22:32,126 --> 00:22:33,168
Fatima fell ill,
260
00:22:34,001 --> 00:22:36,876
so I'm taking over her duties
just for today.
261
00:22:40,376 --> 00:22:42,293
I won't be needing any linens.
262
00:22:43,543 --> 00:22:45,626
That will be all, Elena.
263
00:22:46,334 --> 00:22:47,168
Yes, lady.
264
00:22:56,668 --> 00:22:58,168
[nervous breathing]
265
00:23:15,918 --> 00:23:19,876
[Pogăciaş] It is possible
Vlad had spies in the Ottoman palace
266
00:23:19,959 --> 00:23:22,209
from his time as a hostage.
267
00:23:22,293 --> 00:23:24,793
{\an8}Let's not forget
that at the Ottoman court,
268
00:23:24,876 --> 00:23:27,459
{\an8}there were not only Ottomans or Turks,
269
00:23:27,543 --> 00:23:30,334
there were people
from all over the empire,
270
00:23:30,418 --> 00:23:32,334
or even from beyond the empire.
271
00:23:32,418 --> 00:23:38,459
{\an8}When there is power, there are people
trying to take advantage of it.
272
00:23:38,543 --> 00:23:45,084
There were women who were punished
273
00:23:45,668 --> 00:23:48,501
by death for being spies in the harem.
274
00:23:51,834 --> 00:23:56,418
[narrator] 370 miles north
on the Wallachian side of the Danube,
275
00:23:57,001 --> 00:24:01,376
Vlad Dracula prepares his army
for the coming Ottoman invasion.
276
00:24:06,209 --> 00:24:07,876
[Dimitrie] Prince, the scout is here.
277
00:24:27,251 --> 00:24:31,793
[scout] My prince, I bring you the heads
of Ottoman scouts we ambushed.
278
00:24:31,876 --> 00:24:35,001
Put these on pikes
and mount them along the riverbank.
279
00:24:35,501 --> 00:24:37,959
I want Mehmed to see some familiar faces.
280
00:24:39,126 --> 00:24:40,209
Any news?
281
00:24:40,793 --> 00:24:45,043
The sultan's army is on the move again
towards Nicopolis.
282
00:24:45,543 --> 00:24:46,793
The entire army?
283
00:24:50,834 --> 00:24:52,376
This could be a diversion.
284
00:24:53,751 --> 00:24:55,251
Keep the main force at Nicopolis
285
00:24:55,334 --> 00:24:57,668
and spread the other units
along the north bank of the river.
286
00:24:57,751 --> 00:24:58,793
Okay.
287
00:25:01,834 --> 00:25:05,418
I am looking forward
to seeing the sultan beg for his life!
288
00:25:06,043 --> 00:25:08,543
I would love to kill him for you!
289
00:25:13,459 --> 00:25:15,334
Have you fought against Mehmed?
290
00:25:18,376 --> 00:25:19,209
No, Prince.
291
00:25:20,459 --> 00:25:23,168
Mehmed is relentless.
292
00:25:23,793 --> 00:25:28,043
When he comes for you,
you will beg for your own death,
293
00:25:28,126 --> 00:25:29,793
just to end the suffering!
294
00:25:36,126 --> 00:25:40,418
Defeating him
will take everything we have…
295
00:25:42,501 --> 00:25:43,918
and the will of God!
296
00:25:52,876 --> 00:25:55,293
I will never be Mehmed's prisoner again.
297
00:25:56,334 --> 00:25:59,334
[dramatic music playing]
298
00:26:01,209 --> 00:26:04,251
[boy's voice echoes]
Unhand me! I'm a prince!
299
00:26:04,334 --> 00:26:06,459
{\an8}[young Mehmed] Şemsi Pasha!
Where are you taking them?
300
00:26:08,293 --> 00:26:09,793
{\an8}Where are you taking them?
301
00:26:09,876 --> 00:26:12,459
[Şemsi] This is no concern of yours,
Prince Mehmed.
302
00:26:12,543 --> 00:26:15,834
- Go back to sleep!
- [young Radu] Mehmed! Stop them, please!
303
00:26:15,918 --> 00:26:17,084
[young Vlad] Let me go!
304
00:26:18,418 --> 00:26:20,043
Get your hands off!
305
00:26:20,959 --> 00:26:22,293
Let me go!
306
00:26:23,668 --> 00:26:27,168
You are in the sultan's court.
You will control yourself.
307
00:26:27,251 --> 00:26:28,209
[young Vlad] Let me go!
308
00:26:28,293 --> 00:26:29,209
Enough!
309
00:26:30,876 --> 00:26:33,001
[young Radu sobs]
310
00:26:38,876 --> 00:26:39,959
Your father
311
00:26:40,751 --> 00:26:42,084
has betrayed the oath
312
00:26:43,293 --> 00:26:45,709
he swore on your lives here in this court.
313
00:26:48,168 --> 00:26:51,959
He has joined the Hungarians
and taken up arms against me at Varna.
314
00:26:52,626 --> 00:26:53,918
Prince Vlad!
315
00:26:55,376 --> 00:26:56,209
Prince Radu.
316
00:26:58,126 --> 00:27:00,126
You are to be executed.
317
00:27:00,209 --> 00:27:02,751
[young Radu breathing heavily]
318
00:27:05,084 --> 00:27:07,668
Kill me if you must, Sultan,
319
00:27:08,876 --> 00:27:11,834
but please spare my brother.
320
00:27:14,709 --> 00:27:18,751
So there is still some honor left
in the House Drăculeşti, huh?
321
00:27:29,001 --> 00:27:31,501
Şemsi Pasha tells me you are arrogant,
322
00:27:33,168 --> 00:27:34,293
and willful…
323
00:27:40,751 --> 00:27:43,751
but that you already show
great skill with a sword.
324
00:27:46,209 --> 00:27:47,876
So what am I to do with you?
325
00:27:54,834 --> 00:27:57,209
The price of my mercy is loyalty.
326
00:28:01,084 --> 00:28:04,834
You will be vassals
of the Ottoman court for life.
327
00:28:07,251 --> 00:28:08,834
When called upon,
328
00:28:10,043 --> 00:28:13,501
you will take up your sword
against our enemies.
329
00:28:17,084 --> 00:28:18,334
Now swear this,
330
00:28:20,376 --> 00:28:21,668
and I will spare you.
331
00:28:22,668 --> 00:28:24,668
I swear it, Sultan.
332
00:28:25,168 --> 00:28:26,209
[Murad II] And you, Vlad?
333
00:28:27,209 --> 00:28:30,043
[young Radu] Do it, Vlad! Please!
334
00:28:34,334 --> 00:28:37,626
Choose your next words carefully, boy.
335
00:28:49,918 --> 00:28:54,293
You have my loyalty, Sultan.
336
00:29:21,126 --> 00:29:22,084
What's happened?
337
00:29:23,126 --> 00:29:24,501
[young Vlad] My father
338
00:29:25,293 --> 00:29:26,459
has abandoned us.
339
00:29:32,251 --> 00:29:33,543
We are a family now.
340
00:29:34,626 --> 00:29:35,584
We are brothers.
341
00:29:36,793 --> 00:29:39,709
No, I'm your prisoner.
342
00:29:47,168 --> 00:29:51,543
The two sons are essentially abandoned
and forgotten about completely by Vlad II.
343
00:29:52,209 --> 00:29:54,459
The problem
that Vlad Dracula gets from this
344
00:29:54,543 --> 00:29:57,126
is that he essentially begins
to trust no one.
345
00:29:57,209 --> 00:30:01,293
{\an8}The Ottomans did not kill
Vlad the son and his brother, Radu,
346
00:30:01,376 --> 00:30:06,709
because they believed that they would be
more useful when they're alive.
347
00:30:06,793 --> 00:30:09,418
If the Ottomans wanted to put
somebody else on the throne,
348
00:30:09,501 --> 00:30:12,584
and they have two candidates
right under their nose, why kill them?
349
00:30:12,668 --> 00:30:14,126
They're cold-blooded people.
350
00:30:14,209 --> 00:30:16,501
They've been playing this game
for quite some time now.
351
00:30:22,376 --> 00:30:24,584
[panting]
352
00:30:35,834 --> 00:30:40,918
[Mehmed] Vlad's army is encamped somewhere
in the woods near here. 3,000, 4,000 men,
353
00:30:41,001 --> 00:30:43,168
with several thousand more
all along the river.
354
00:30:43,251 --> 00:30:46,376
They do not have great numbers,
but they are dangerous.
355
00:30:46,459 --> 00:30:48,709
We have signaled
that we will be crossing here,
356
00:30:48,793 --> 00:30:50,834
where it's shallower
and the river narrows.
357
00:30:50,918 --> 00:30:54,584
They will be expecting us there,
laying in wait,
358
00:30:54,668 --> 00:31:00,626
but this is where we'll land
5,000 Janissaries and artillery
359
00:31:00,709 --> 00:31:03,793
as the first wave of our attack
led by Mahmud Pasha.
360
00:31:03,876 --> 00:31:05,668
[tense music playing]
361
00:31:05,751 --> 00:31:09,043
[Talbot] Mahmud Pasha comes from the ranks
of the Janissaries,
362
00:31:09,126 --> 00:31:12,959
and he is someone
that Mehmed trusts an awful lot.
363
00:31:13,043 --> 00:31:14,543
He's a very successful general.
364
00:31:14,626 --> 00:31:19,501
Mahmud Pasha was also
a very capable, uh, commander
365
00:31:19,584 --> 00:31:20,543
and a military man.
366
00:31:22,459 --> 00:31:24,793
And how do you know
that this location is secure?
367
00:31:26,626 --> 00:31:28,793
[Radu] I went ashore there yesterday.
368
00:31:28,876 --> 00:31:31,126
The riverbank is flat,
and there's tall grass,
369
00:31:31,209 --> 00:31:33,626
which will give us cover
to set up our artillery.
370
00:31:33,709 --> 00:31:35,418
I saw no sign of Vlad's men.
371
00:31:36,126 --> 00:31:38,751
[Mehmed] We have 70 barges
to get our troops across.
372
00:31:38,834 --> 00:31:42,959
First, Mahmud Pasha and the Janissaries,
with half of our cannons,
373
00:31:43,043 --> 00:31:46,293
then the barges will return
for the rest of our soldiers and guns.
374
00:31:46,376 --> 00:31:48,918
Stealth and speed is of the essence.
375
00:31:49,959 --> 00:31:51,959
Shouldn't we deploy
all of our cannons and mortars
376
00:31:52,043 --> 00:31:53,834
across the river as quickly as possible?
377
00:31:53,918 --> 00:31:55,293
Mahmud Pasha, I can assure you
378
00:31:55,376 --> 00:31:57,793
all of our firepower
will be ready when needed.
379
00:31:57,876 --> 00:32:02,376
Sultan, this will leave us open to attack
while we wait there for the others.
380
00:32:02,459 --> 00:32:06,293
You and the Janissaries
will hold the landing spot.
381
00:32:12,084 --> 00:32:15,626
I hope to kill that traitorous bastard
before you set foot in Wallachia.
382
00:32:17,334 --> 00:32:18,168
Sultan.
383
00:32:20,626 --> 00:32:22,626
[tense music intensifies]
384
00:32:39,709 --> 00:32:46,251
[narrator] On the evening of June 4, 1462,
Mehmed launches the invasion of Wallachia.
385
00:32:47,001 --> 00:32:49,001
[battle clamor]
386
00:33:11,501 --> 00:33:12,376
Let's go.
387
00:33:22,126 --> 00:33:23,626
[indistinct shout in Turkish]
388
00:33:27,959 --> 00:33:30,126
[narrator, in English]
The first Ottoman boats set out
389
00:33:30,209 --> 00:33:31,959
for the Wallachian side of the Danube,
390
00:33:32,043 --> 00:33:35,918
uncertain of what awaits them
in the vast darkness ahead.
391
00:33:38,584 --> 00:33:40,584
[suspenseful music playing]
392
00:33:44,543 --> 00:33:48,459
If the currents are favorable,
they should be across in one hour.
393
00:33:49,793 --> 00:33:50,626
Good.
394
00:33:52,459 --> 00:33:54,043
[Waterson] The crossing of the Danube
395
00:33:54,126 --> 00:33:56,709
almost feels like something
out of Omaha Beach in D-Day.
396
00:33:56,793 --> 00:33:59,251
Seventy barges of infantry that cross,
397
00:33:59,334 --> 00:34:01,626
like landing craft landing on the beach.
398
00:34:01,709 --> 00:34:04,959
They bring light artillery
across with them as well.
399
00:34:05,043 --> 00:34:07,918
Now, it takes every man
to know what he's supposed to do.
400
00:34:08,001 --> 00:34:10,293
This is not some blood or glory charge.
401
00:34:10,376 --> 00:34:13,209
This is well-organized maneuvers
402
00:34:13,293 --> 00:34:16,709
to take out an enemy
who has the advantage of the terrain,
403
00:34:16,793 --> 00:34:18,501
has the advantage of being dug in,
404
00:34:18,584 --> 00:34:22,209
and has also got very heavy firepower.
405
00:34:22,709 --> 00:34:27,334
They really are modern in the application
of the science of warfare.
406
00:34:28,543 --> 00:34:32,709
The engineering genius of Mehmed
does show at every level.
407
00:34:33,584 --> 00:34:36,043
[wolf howls]
408
00:34:37,501 --> 00:34:40,876
[narrator] As Mehmed's shock troops
stealthily approach,
409
00:34:40,959 --> 00:34:43,209
the Wallachian shore comes into view.
410
00:34:43,293 --> 00:34:46,459
[wolf howls]
411
00:34:49,209 --> 00:34:50,668
You better get ready, boys.
412
00:34:58,834 --> 00:35:01,043
[horses squeal]
413
00:35:25,876 --> 00:35:27,459
[water lapping]
414
00:35:34,418 --> 00:35:35,543
[soldier grunts]
415
00:35:37,876 --> 00:35:40,334
- [Mahmud yells] Release!
- [cannon fire]
416
00:35:40,418 --> 00:35:41,293
[Mahmud] Shields!
417
00:35:57,959 --> 00:35:59,459
They were waiting for us.
418
00:36:02,376 --> 00:36:04,876
Brother Vlad has shown his hand too early.
419
00:36:05,751 --> 00:36:07,126
Now he will lose it.
420
00:36:12,626 --> 00:36:15,168
Keep going! Keep going!
421
00:36:15,251 --> 00:36:17,709
Keep going! Faster!
422
00:36:26,668 --> 00:36:28,793
- [Mehmed] Ready the cannons.
- [man] Yes, Sultan.
423
00:36:32,459 --> 00:36:33,793
Ready the cannons!
424
00:36:37,501 --> 00:36:39,959
[suspenseful music intensifies]
425
00:36:46,959 --> 00:36:48,001
Fire!
426
00:36:50,834 --> 00:36:52,834
[theme music playing]