They can't be far away.
As Mehmed's Italian cannoneers bombarded the outer walls of Belgrade,
the Ottomans blockaded Belgrade to stop the provisioning of the besieged city.
1456 BELGRADE
Come! Hurry!
- They set the boats on fire! - Look!
What is this?
My father's here.
We thought you'd never get here.
Where's Miho?
He could have died.
- Brother... I came as soon as I could. - Well, it wasn't soon enough.
Can't you stop grumbling?
One would think you got wounded, not me.
Sit down.
You're not going to like this...
They've been blasting the outer walls for two weeks.
They don't want a long siege.
Once the walls are gone, they'll try to take us in a single attack.
Have you brought reinforcements?
I have.
Though the nobles are all in hiding.
And the King?
He fled to Vienna.
Friedrich?
The Pope?
The Germans? The Italians? Anyone?
We're all on our own.
Well, it's business as usual, then.
At least we won't be getting in each other's way.
My lord!
An Italian monk wants to see you.
They are camping across the river.
Father Capestrano.
Is His Holiness sending us help?
His Holiness has ordered the bells of every church in the entire Christian world
to be rung each day in support of you Hungarians.
Did he happen to send any soldiers?
No. But I have brought my own glorious Christian army.
Twenty thousand souls ready to die for the cause.
Just as I promised.
The armies of Satan have gathered here at the gateway to the West.
You and I, we shall battle the Antichrist together...
Father!
The largest army the world has ever seen is waiting out there.
They are not led by Satan, but by Mehmed.
A hundred thousand Ottoman warriors.
Those "souls" you have brought will be massacred.
Where is your faith, Johannes?
My faith?
For the love of God...
Get them out of harm's way, Father.
The Lord called me.
He said that when I saw the sign, I must set forth with my army.
Then take your "army" and go and wait for your "sign"
as far away from here as possible.
I don't want to see your suicidal maniacs anywhere near the castle.
Can I ask a question?
Did Cillei want to kill me?
No, Vitovecz did. But it's the same thing.
Because Lisabeth died?
Yes.
But Cillei loves me, doesn't he?
Cillei only loves himself.
Wait!
Why do you hate my family?
You said "one question".
Now come on.
We need every able-bodied man at the walls.
- Don't worry, we'll keep them out! - That's what they said in Constantinople.
We need a plan for once they're inside.
Emese, wait!
Take the wounded to the infirmary.
Boil water, get bandages ready.
And what do we do with the dead? They're buried in the ruins.
Let's try to save our own lives first. We can worry about the dead later.
If they aren't moved, it won't be the Ottomans that kill us, but the plague.
We're going to win.
And then we'll give our dead a decent burial.
You boys need to eat!
Thanks, but I'm not hungry.
Thanks.
Help me carry these.
I don't understand how you can be so relaxed.
I'm like a cat.
Lazy and antisocial?
I've got nine lives.
I survived the Battle of the Iron Gates, the bloodbath at Varna...
Then Vlad's prison...
I even tasted your cooking once. So all in all,
I've still got five lives left.
The trick is not to take things too seriously.
Nobody takes you seriously.
We could be on the other side, it doesn't matter.
Are you crazy? Of course it matters which side you're on!
Well, I'm on my own side.
Then you should get the hell out of here.
What's up with him?
It can't be easy being Hunyadi's son.
At least his father's still alive.
Father!
Wake up!
- What's up? - You've got to see this.
Matyas?
Cillei wanted to kill him.
Ujlaki rescued him.
- Ujlaki? - You can trust him.
You left Matyas with him?
Vitez had no other choice. If he hadn't gotten Ujlaki to help,
all three of us would be six feet under by now.
Cillei's daughter...
She's dead.
Ujlaki will look after him.
It's a chance for him to atone for his sins.
Allahu Akbar...
Allahu Akbar.
Kneel before Allah.
Something's changed since Hunyadi arrived.
I can sense it.
You defeated him once.
Why are you afraid of him now?
I'm not afraid of him.
My men are.
They're whispering that Hunyadi is coming to get them.
Superstitious fools!
They believe his power comes from the black magic of the Cumans.
That he's a demon.
That no weapon can harm him.
It almost sounds like you believe it yourself.
We attack now.
With all we have.
Your job is to keep discipline in the front ranks.
But my place is by your side.
Do whatever it takes.
Surely you're not afraid?
I'd give my life for you.
My righteous warriors!
We are the unstoppable storm
that will blow that sandcastle away.
Our horses shall soon be stabled in the churches of the Vatican.
Because today we will crush them!
Today we will smash their gates down.
We will trample their crosses in the dirt
and fly the glorious flags
of the Prophet from their blood-soaked bastions.
Allahu akbar!
We're ready.
All my life I have fought against superior numbers.
And this time is no different.
But if we fail now,
Hungary will be lost.
If we fail,
the gateway to the West will lie open.
The gateway to Rome...
And the only guardians of that gateway are us.
Only us.
The King has fled.
The nobles have fled.
They don't believe in miracles.
But while we still draw breath,
Mehmed's army shall not pass!
I have a message for the King,
a message for his bootlickers...
Living as a coward is easy,
but dying?
It's only worth dying as a hero!
I think I'd rather live as a coward...
Hunyadi!
Our Father,
who art in Heaven...
Our Father, who art in Heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth, as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen!
Lousy Genoese scum!
You've already sold your souls to the devil.
Just like you!
At least I don't cross myself
and then waste my pay like you lot.
These men are Christians.
We'll be firing at Christians.
Fighting against our own god.
Their god pays more.
We're going to hell for this.
If Hunyadi weren’t so stupid,
we’d be in the castle, firing these cannons at the Turks.
Hunyadi?
- Did you say "Hunyadi"? - Yeah.
Is it true that you knew him?
Is he really invincible?
"Invincible"...
Janos!
More archers here! In three rows.
Janos...
Wait! I want to fight too.
We weren't all born to swing a sword.
Load these, too.
Bring up anything we can use.
I will fight.
- What? - I didn't say a word.
Out there or in here?
In here.
I think, I'd rather stay in here.
We'll find you a weapon...
Nobody shoots till I say!
We need archers here too.
You want to go out there?
I hate just sitting and watching.
Yeah, me too!
But they outnumber us ten to one at least.
I know. And human life is cheap to Mehmed.
Let's hope the defenses we made decimate them.
Then we'll see.
Aim!
Hold!
Fire!
Reload!
Get this man to the infirmary!
The wall won't hold...
The wall won't hold till night!
Hold on!
Fetch clean sheets! Get ready for the wounded.
Fill this up! We'll need lots of water.
Soldiers!
We're going out there! Mount up!
They're down there!
Janko!
Are you desperate to die?
Get back inside, Janko!
Retreat!
Open the gates!
If you want to get killed, you don't need my help.
Why couldn't you just stay by the wall?
Are you insane?
Are they retreating?
They're sounding the attack.
The attack?
They go to pray at twilight. Even I know that.
ROADSIDE INN THE KINGDOM OF HUNGARY
For a skinny little bastard, you've got one hell of an appetite.
This bunch is drinking like there's no tomorrow...
Although maybe there won't be...
My father won't let it happen.
He'll save us all.
You'd better get used to the idea that you'll never see your father again.
We all die sooner or later.
But if anything's worth fighting for, it's to delay that day for as long as you can.
That's not what Father says.
I can hardly remember him...
What's he like?
He's a pig-headed brute.
Maybe others would say he just speaks plainly...
That he stands up against the powerful in the name of justice.
That he defends the weak...
But that's only what others say.
I will give the order for the men to withdraw for the night.
We're not stopping now!
But the troops must rest...
No one rests tonight until the castle is ours!
This one’s for my father.
Forward!
Come on!
No stopping!
You dogs!
What's your name?
Abdullah.
Abdullah!
If you take one step backwards,
I will personally impale you!
I want to see our flag on top of that castle!
Over here...
Lay him down!
Emese!
I'll ask you one more time... Are they here?
They're upstairs.
Don't hurt me...
Of course, my dear.
After him!
Come on!
Matyas!
Here you go...
Even if you split it,
there's enough gold in this to last you a long, long time.
The eastern gate won't hold much longer...
Saddle all the horses!
We've got to push them out!
I'm not a miracle worker!
Then forget the saddles. Just get the horses...
- For a charge? - For a stampede!
Push them!
Push!
Close the gates!
- Close the gates! - Push!
Only four...
Glorious Sultan.
The troops must rest.
Nice work!
It’s not finished yet.
It’s all right.
It’s all right...
What happened?
The fire.
We couldn’t stop it.
Now do you see why I always left you at home?
- I'm fine. - She's delirious.
It’s just a scratch. Really.
I'm glad I'm here with you.
With both of you.
I’m not afraid of death anymore.
I’ve never feared death.
I’ve always feared for our boys.
And now I fear for you too.
You've both got to get away from here.
You can sail up the Danube while the Turks are still resting.
But there's nothing and no one there for us.
We're not going anywhere without you, Janos...
I'm gonna impale each and every one of you!
This is what awaits cowards!
I'm gonna eat your flesh!
Enough!
This is the only way to win.
Don't be afraid to go all the way!
Come!
Bright-eyed Sultan...
It's not torture your troops need,
it's rest.
Every man must get double--
You want to reward them when they've failed?
Would you rather impale the entire army?
There's no better incentive than fear.
Perhaps you're the reason Allah has turned his back on me.
What does it matter?
You are the Shadow of God.
"The Shadow of God is not God."
"Only his shadow."
Your father said that.
You're growing more and more like your father.
You're becoming crueler and crueler.
Let me lead your troops to victory!
And sicker and sicker.
Fear is a stronger weapon than you think.
You've become like your father too.
You're just as soft as he was!
You're right.
I really am like him in many ways.
You have no further business here.
You'll get what you asked for.
Your father's former lands.
Thank you,
Glorious Sultan.
Come here.
Come here!
One more thing...
Send me a sign, Lord.
I am not wise enough to act alone.
You showed me that everything
will be decided today.
Let me be the instrument of your victory.
What the hell is happening now?
What the hell's got into them?
Let's mount up!
You want to go out there?
Why?
You want to stop me again?
Not likely.
Come on!
They're coming!
Get ready!
Bring the horses quickly!
Turn the cannons! Towards them!
All the cannons!
Genoese!
Will you fight against your own God?
Come on! Come on! Come on!
Hurry up!
Come on! Come on!
Turn them around!
You will burn in hell pagan dogs.
You will burn in hell for this!
The Lord will spit you out...
Stop!
Prepare to fire!
Those aren't soldiers.
They're innocent Christian peasants.
Are you not the children of Genoa?
Kneeling before a madman like that?
Fire, damn you!
How can you serve the Devil himself?
The Lord will spit you out
like rotten bread!
Damnation is too good for you!
But it's not too late for you to beg for redemption!
Reload! Bring the blankets!
- Quickly! Reload the cannons! - And may you die as men,
and not as traitors!
Two... one... fire!
It's not too late!
May the Lord forgive you,
and may you die as men
and follow the path of Christ!
Oh, Lord...
Help me, Lord...
You go that way.
We're attacking the cannons!
No!
- Have mercy... - There's no mercy for treason.
Have mercy!
I'll serve you!
The cannons! Turn them around!
Fetch ropes!
I’ll give you one last chance.
Do what he says!
Aim at the camp!
Ropes! Now!
Pull!
Aim at the camp!
Turn them!
Pull!
Go on!
Go back. To the cannons!
Back to the cannons. Move it!
My Sultan!
Go back to the cannons!
Fire!
- We have to get the cannons back... - You must leave the camp.
We don't go...
My Sultan!
- Sultan! - Get off me!
- We need to leave... - I want to fight!
Open it up! Carefully!
It's hot on the outside!
Take it out quickly!
Quicker!
Come on!
Fire!
My Sultan...
Find a way out!
Come on...
This way!
Come on, come on!
Hurry up!
Here!
Fetch the horses!
This way!
Fetch the horses!
Hurry up!
Quickly!
Come on!
Hurry up!
Bring my horse! We've got to go after them.
Brother...
You won!
You won.
By this holy anointing and by his good mercy,
may the Lord forgive you for the sins you have committed
by hearing, by smell,
by taste, by speech,
by touch and by walking.
Lacko!
My little boy!
He wanted to come here.
To be with his family.
You must be tired...
It's best if I keep going.
Matyas!
Father!
Thank you.
I did what I had to.
I'll put more wood on the fire.
Careful, don't get burned!
It seems that God and I have different ideas about my future.
I wanted to teach you boys so many things...
Matyas!
You can't!
Your father is sick.
In every campaign, in every battle, I was prepared for this...
It's yours now.
I'll soon meet my own father.
He’s waiting for me in the Heavens.
I'll tell him all about you...
He's dead?
Dead, Glorious Sultan!
Of the plague.
We must organize a celebration!
Our arch enemy is no more.
This is not a time for celebration.
The Thunderbolt of War has been silenced.
We will never face such a great opponent again.
No...
Don't celebrate Hunyadi's death.
Mourn him with the respect due to a true hero.
I always knew you'd be our savior.
And you didn't disappoint me.
I came to say goodbye to you, Il Corvo.
We'll meet again soon.
We have lost more than just a husband.
More than just a father.
More than just a general or a governor.
More than just the savior of Europe, for whom, by the Pope's decree,
the bells of every church will ring each day at noon.
To remind us forever of our loss...
And of the glory of his name.
Nothing was more important to Janos Hunyadi than his family.
But the duty he felt to his homeland stole him away from us.
He went away...
to fight his enemies in Hungary and foreign lands alike.
Because he had enemies everywhere.
And what is the legacy of Janos Hunyadi?
When he drove the Ottomans out of Europe,
he left you peace.
He left the nation and its future to your children
and your children's children.
For them to protect and defend it with the very last drop of their blood.
And to us,
his family, he left his anger...
His strength...
and his perseverance.
To fight against those who wish to dishonor his memory.
Issue the command, Your Majesty...
Call your army to Belgrade.
We must occupy the castle!
But...
They beat the Sultan.
The war is over.
Oh no, my boy...
It's only just begun!
Janos Hunyadi's triumph at Belgrade
brought peace to Europe for the next seventy years.
Church bells the world over ring each day at noon to commemorate the victory.
Two years after his father's death Mátyás was crowned king of Hungary.
He was fifteen years old.
King Matthias became Hungary's greatest ruler.