Aetius, join me.
Once, you invited me to Rome.
You said we could do great things together.
We still can.
Only now I invite you to stay here.
To serve you?
I'm a better man than the emperors you serve now.
I serve Rome.
Speak frankly. Do you plan to attack the Western Empire?
I have no such plans at the moment.
But in the future?
No one can tell the future.
Let's strike a bargain here and now.
A treaty of peace between your people and mine.
I think that's the first sign of weakness I've ever seen you show.
Will you make the treaty?
Empires expand until someone is strong enough to stop them.
So it was with Rome, so with us.
And so it will be as long as men walk the earth.
Then our business here is done.
So it seems.
Well done, Orestes.
I will use it tonight. Bring my wives.
Which ones, Your Majesty?
All of them.
It's the only way to avoid a fight.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Majesty?
That girl, who is she?
- A slave. - How long has she been here?
Where is she from?
Newly arrived. I don't know where she's from.
- I can find out. - Yes.
Find out everything about her, and bring her to me tonight.
But your wives, Majesty, and the bath.
Tell them it's not finished.
Spare their feelings, but tell them... whatever you wish.
Come closer.
Don't be afraid.
I won't hurt you.
What are you frightened of?
Among my people, a woman who is taken before marriage
is dishonored forever.
You won't be dishonored.
Why else do kings bring slaves to their quarters?
You won't be dishonored. I swear it.
Your name is Ilidico,
from a village to the north?
- My village was destroyed. - And your family?
- Killed. - I'm sorry.
Those things happen in war.
But whatever can be done for your comfort will be done.
Why?
- You please me. - You don't even know me.
But I will come to know you...
and you will come to know me.
As you wish, Great King.
When my village was destroyed, I stayed in the forest for days.
Finally, I came to a road,
and the next day, some travelers took me in.
I will have them rewarded.
They were killed by robbers, but I was lucky again and escaped.
It wasn't luck that brought you here.
The gods work in mysterious ways.
They take with one hand and give back with the other.
I don't understand.
- Are you still frightened of me? - Great King, I...
Call me by my name.
- Is it permitted? - I command it.
Then, no, I'm not still frightened of you...
Attila.
News from Pannonia. Attila is getting married again.
- Is he? - Yes.
To some slave girl who suddenly took his fancy.
I suppose, in addition to the fortune he already extracts from me,
I shall be expected to send a royal wedding present.
That's what you get for trying to kill him.
Why don't you stop being so smug and form a plan of your own?
- That's what you're here for. - I did form a plan.
And I have every reason to believe that Attila's marriage
may not turn out to be an entirely happy one.
Gods of my father, curse this root, and make it deadly.
And curse he who drinks it.
And give me the strength to hate till my father's death is avenged.
Your Majesty, Lord Orestes.
- What is it? - A message from Constantinople.
- From the emperor? - No, my lord,
- a Roman princess named Honoria. - This is her ring.
She wore it often.
Read it.
She says she's being held prisoner on her brother's orders.
If you rescue her, she'll marry you.
I have no need of another wife.
She promises, as her dowry, one half of the Western Empire.
There is my pretext.
She has no right to half the empire.
Perhaps you should consult a lawyer.
Attila is already gathering his forces.
The wedding to the slave girl?
Postponed indefinitely.
All nations north of the Rhine are to join the Huns
in a mighty crusade against the wicked forces of the West.
Then we must present a united front.
Attila has hammered us long enough.
It's your turn now, Flavius Aetius.
I'm sending Honoria back to Rome on the next ship,
and I wish you the best of luck.
He marches on Rome within the month.
I've neglected you for the past few days.
I apologize. There was much to be done.
They tell me you're going to war to rescue a Roman princess.
I will probably never even meet her.
But it's given me a reason to invade Rome.
And our wedding?
It will have to be postponed until I return.
Several months at least.
And if I am not here when you return?
I will tell my servants you are free to leave at any time.
Wait.
I've displeased you. We could marry before you leave.
My weddings are state affairs, for royalty from many nations.
There is no time.
I thought I was the one in a hurry.
Perhaps I've changed.
I'm glad.
May I speak freely?
You may.
I've been told of another woman, named N'Kara.
My first wife.
She died giving birth.
They say I'm of her very likeness.
You resemble her closely, yes.
Then who is it you marry?
Me or N'Kara?
If I had wanted nothing but her likeness,
I would have taken you by now.
But I haven't, have I?
No.
Then wait until I return, and you, not N'Kara,
will be queen of the world.
(Cheering)
(Yelling)
(Roaring)
(Screaming)
(Screams )
Battering ram!
(Screams )
(All yelling)
He's taken 30 cities in Gaul. Some surrendered, some were destroyed.
- While we did nothing. - They weren't necessary to us.
- Nevertheless, they were Roman. - I understand your distress,
but in a crisis, that which is unnecessary must be dispensed with.
Attila's carving a path wide enough to protect him, but no further.
Clearly, he intends to press on further west.
If he wants to conquer Rome,
why doesn't he march south into Italy?
Then the free tribes of Gaul might threaten his rear.
So he plans to conquer Gaul first?
As I would in his place.
Then where do we stop him?
Here, at Orleans. He cannot afford to bypass the city.
He must be near there already.
- The siege began two days ago. - We should send troops.
(Aetius ) I sent them some time ago.
- The city can hold for months. - And then?
500 leagues from his base,
with winter coming on, he'll have to withdraw.
- He'll be back next year. - By which time, other plans of mine
will have taken effect.
Flavius Aetius, once again, you have done Rome a great service.
What if Orleans falls?
I'm confident that it won't.
You should have a contingency plan,
and it should be an alliance with the Visigoths.
- Theodoric wouldn't consider it. - He might, at the right price.
She's his daughter, Aetius.
Can't blame him for wanting her back.
She's my child in every way.
Except by blood.
The fact of which she is completely ignorant.
Whoever enlightens her dies.
I wouldn't meddle in family affairs,
but you always talk about making sacrifices for the empire.
That sacrifice is not necessary, because we don't need Theodoric.
Attila will be stopped at Orleans.
(Screaming)
Get those ladders back up - now!
(Confused shouting)
Move in there!
Bring the battering ram!
Train all the catapults at this point, to the right of the gate.
It is done.
(Man ) Clear!
Pull!
Your Majesty. Everything is in position.
Pull!
Pull.
Clear!
Pull.
Pull!
- You are certain? - Yes, my lord.
- I saw it with my own eyes. - The troops?
- Those who survived were executed. - The population?
Enslaved, and every building burned to the ground.
Leave me.
(Giggling)
I think he loves me, Father,
even if he hasn't said so yet.
Who?
Livius. Who else?
Oh, yes, of course.
What's wrong?
- Attila's taken Orleans. - You said that wouldn't happen.
It seems I was mistaken.
What will you do?
Take a journey to Gaul.
I'd like you to come.
Now? Just when Livius is...
If you think you'll need me.
- I think I might. - I'll make ready.
(Valentinian ) Mmm...
(Laughing)
What's she doing here?
Take her back to prison at once.
- Valentinian, she's your sister. - Well, tell her that.
She plots against me, then offers my empire to barbarians.
She's come to beg your forgiveness.
Haven't you, Honoria?
As your sister and loyal subject,
I humbly beg your forgiveness.
I'm touched!
- I told you! - Honoria, please.
You can't keep her locked up forever.
Can't I? We'll see.
- Guards, take her back to her cell! - Valentinian...
Mother!
Tell me, Mother.
How can you be so concerned for one child and so unfeeling to the other?
- What are you talking about? - Let's stop pretending.
Your attempt to have me killed in the Garden of Corona.
You thought I didn't know. I've known since it happened.
- You're mad. - If not for Aetius, I'd have died.
- The assassin carried your seal. - Impossible.
I saw it myself.
Since you became emperor I've only given my seal to one person.
Aetius.
(Aetius ) He's three days' march from here and moving quickly.
(Theodoric) I'll withdraw into the mountains,
or perhaps I'll join his army, leaving you to stand alone.
Then you would be his servant.
I would also see Rome crushed.
I think I would enjoy that very much.
You and I have fought over land, but we've also shared it.
We fought over religion, but we're both Christian.
This isn't just you and me against Attila.
It's our world against his world.
Name your terms.
My men to fight under my banner.
You and I to command jointly.
You will return my daughter to me.
- Ask for something else. - I want my daughter.
She doesn't know she's your daughter. She's lived as a Roman.
Without me as an ally, there will be no Rome.
Hello, Father.
Who's this?
Father? Father?
Father!
Father...!
She'll be taken over the mountains to Spain. You'll never see her again.
And now you know what it is to have your child stolen from you.
Gather your army.
- We must withdraw at first light. - And leave my villages unprotected?
Burn the villages.
Burn the crops. Burn anything that doesn't travel.
Attila commands many nations, but his best troops are still Huns.
If we take away his horses...
we can win.
Galen...
I used to make fun of your visions,
but I wish you were here now.
God of war,
you once gave me this sword as a token of your favor.
When I've been in need, you've guided me by sending a sign.
If I am still your chosen one,
if it is my destiny to rule the world,
send me a sign now.
Send me a sign!
Your Majesty, we were concerned about you.
- What's happened? - Aetius has stopped retreating.
He takes position ten leagues away, by a village called Shalom.
I thought the war gods refused me a sign, but I was wrong.
What better sign than an enemy prepared to fight?
Visigoths, the land we fight on belongs to you.
Fight well, or it belongs to Attila.
Your wives and daughters will be his slaves.
Romans, you too fight for your country.
For if we fail, Attila will march on Rome,
and there's no one to oppose him.
Remember your ancestors.
Add their strength to yours,
or a flame that has lit the lives of men for a thousand years
will perish from the earth!
(Attila ) They retreat, burn their own fields,
choose their ground with care.
They use tricks because they are weak!
We are strong and so they fear us.
Huns, it's enough to remind you
that we've fought many battles and never been defeated.
To you nations and tribes who fight alongside us,
I say you are Huns in spirit!
You are invincible.
There is no retreat from this place, Valorus.
We must hold this hill at all costs.
All is set, my lord. They'll never make it up the hill.
It's marshland and they've dug pits.
We'll proceed on foot.
Dismount!
Archers to the front! All-out attack!
(Yelling)
Send a reserve unit to the line.
Second Cohort, forward!
Orestes!
- Orestes, fall back! - Fall back! Fall back!
Fall back!
(Men moaning)
It's well entrenched, sir.
Keep half the company in reserve.
Send the other half to aid against the Visigoths.
- On the flank? - Yes.
Aetius will have to weaken his position to reinforce them.
And when we does, we'll attack him.
Yes, sire.
Forward!
(Yelling)
It is done, sire.
They're attacking the Visigoths.
Hold this hill!
Reinforcement! Flank attack! More men now!
Let me have three cohorts to lend support.
General, we'll be outflanked.
- It could be a diversion. - It's an all-out attack.
Why isn't Attila leading it?
General, I beg you.
- Take them. - Third Cohort with me.
It's working, sire. They've weakened their center.
Bring up the reserves.
Reserves to the front!
We'll never hold.
Forgive me. I should have stayed.
- I commanded. The blame is mine. - You can still escape.
No.
I gave the only thing I love to save Rome.
Now I've lost Rome, too.
I'll die here.
But I give you one last order.
- Kill Theodoric. - Yes, General.
All legions...
to the front.
The King is dead!
Charge!
(Yells)
Sire, we must retreat!
No.
We're pressed on all sides!
All to us, here, now!
Valorus, you were magnificent.
The Visigoths assumed the arrow came from the Huns,
took revenge, and won the day for us.
Never let it be said that God is without humor.
God has more humor than you think.
The Visigoths are leaving camp.
(Aetius ) Your father never would have left.
My father is dead and I must look to my crown.
My brothers will start plotting.
- What difference can a day make? - Enough, if spent fighting.
I'd lose good men, needed against my brothers.
After the battle, I'll join you against your brothers.
I won't owe my throne to a Roman.
I leave in the morning. The decision is final.
The Romans have taken up a defensive position.
- And the Visigoths? - Gone.
Perhaps they mourn Theodoric or they've quarreled with the Romans.
In any event, we face Aetius only. He can't attack alone.
Nor are we strong enough to attack him.
Then we can withdraw in good order and return in the spring.
So it seems.
In that case, Your Majesty, may I take the liberty of offering a gift?
A gift?
This morning I sent men to the place where the sword broke.
They found these fragments.
There are smiths in Scythia who can reforge this as strongly as ever,
if you will allow it.
- I will allow it. - You see, Majesty,
your destiny has not ended, it merely makes a new beginning.
Aetius, your wisdom and valor
have once again saved Rome from the greatest peril.
Accept this laurel from your grateful nation
and from your emperor.
(Clapping and chanting)
Orestes, we're retiring.
See that the guests have everything they need.
Yes, Your Majesty.
And may I offer you my heartfelt congratulations?
You're a loyal servant, Orestes,
and one of the few men I've ever counted as a friend.
Come, N'Kara.
It's time.
In my country, we have a custom.
The bride and groom have one last toast before the wedding bed.
Is it permitted?
Of course.
(Choking)
Attila?
(Groaning)
(Panting)
N'Kara...
Great King?
Your Majesty?
Dead.
(Laughing)
(All wailing)
You wish to see me, Majesty?
Yes. We're celebrating the death of Attila.
Naturally, we wished you to be present.
I'm flattered.
Is there any chance, I wonder, of finding his grave?
It's doubtful, sire.
The slaves who buried him will have been killed to keep it secret.
It's an old Hun custom.
It's a pity. I had hopes of displaying his head in the Forum.
No doubt, that explains the custom.
At any rate, it appears that your work is finished.
You were set free to deal with Attila,
and you've dealt with him.
You said, "Anything that isn't necessary must be dispensed with. "
And with Attila gone...
you're no longer necessary.
(Narrator) 'With Attila dead, there was no one capable of uniting
'the various nations outside Rome's borders.
'With Aetius dead, there was no one capable of protecting Rome.
'Within a generation, the Western Empire fell,
'and the centuries of chaos known as the Dark Ages
'descended on the Western world. '