The battle scenes have been filmed with the participation and collaboration
of the Public Security Squad and of Carabinieri Squad.
The Huns have been here.
An irresistible horde of barbarians from the distant deserts of Asia,
driven by an insatiable hunger of prey,
is moving toward the rich western lands.
The Huns,
a sea of blood, destruction and death.
They are driven by a savage chief
whose name is as talked about as the devil's,
as threatening as a sword, Attila.
It's the year 450 A.D.
The Western Empire is languishing.
At the eastern border, on the Danube, a Roman legation is advancing.
It is commanded by the only man who really knows Attila
and is capable of getting the heart of his secret ambitious schemes.
Born in Pannonia,
he's been living in the Western Roman Empire for years.
Ezio, Roman general.
Look, Prisco. That's the Hun's territory.
We'd better be cautious.
What do we have to fear? They're allies of ours.
For two days, I've been feeling
a sort of invisible presence.
Who are you? What are you doing here?
I'm Ezio, Roman general.
I'm carrying a message
from our Emperor to Rua, your king.
Follow me.
Go on, Bleda. Come on. Hit him.
Faster. Again. Come on.
Faster. Jump on him!
Knock him down. Go on.
Grab him again. Go on. You're winning.
Don't let go of him.
Shoulders on the ground! What are you waiting for?
Come on. Come on!
- He's bleeding. - It's nothing serious. Come on, Bleda.
- Leave them be. They're children. - Better they learn while they're young.
Come on, Bleda. What are you waiting for? Turn him over.
Attila. The Roman general is here.
- Let him in. - Enough, Pilai. Let go of him.
Get off.
Come here. We'll take a look at your arm.
- Here we go. - Does it hurt, Bleda?
He'll have to get used to it.
But our children are still young.
Our children? My children!
Water.
It's nothing.
- Does it hurt? - No, not at all.
Like father, like son.
General Ezio, ambassador of the Roman Empire.
Hail.
I'm carrying a message from the Western Emperor to Rua,
King of the Huns.
News arrives late in Ravenna.
Rua, our uncle, has been dead for over two months.
It grieves me to know this.
According to my uncle's wishes,
my brother and I now rule together.
- Attila! - I've been waiting for you.
- Welcome. - I haven't seen you in years!
But your fame as a leader has come to us.
You have become a leader too.
But you have been crowned king.
But you are still a friend of mine, I hope. That way it will be easier
- to solve the problems I'm here to... - I won.
What is it? Shut up!
My youngest son.
He's named after my brother.
He has already killed a wolf.
So, tell me.
What's new in the capital of your empire?
Nothing. Nothing has changed since you were there.
We're only bothered by the incidents at the borders.
And, unfortunately, your tribes are amongst the most riotous.
The Emperor would like...
It's pointless. I know nothing of politics.
Bleda.
It looks like the Emperor has some complaints.
Onegesio.
Onegesio is our counselor in such matters.
He will speak on our behalf.
I, Onegesio, wish a long life to Ezio from Pannonia.
We know the Emperor has sent you
to renew the peace treaties with us.
But we can no longer trust you.
You have detained our hostages longer than agreed
and forced them to convert to Christianity.
- You have also violated our borders. - What are you talking about.
Your allegations are groundless.
The hostages stayed in Ravenna of their own free will.
Many married Latin women.
It's true that some of them have become Christian,
but of their free wills. And as far as...
The bishop of Margus has violated the tombs of the Hun's king's.
- That's false. - There's no bishop in Margus.
It makes little difference whether he was a bishop.
It's what he has done that is important to us.
I can't believe that a priest would...
We have proof that a person from your church, maybe a simple priest,
violated the graves of our ancestors in Margus.
And this is an insult to us.
I swore on my children that I would take revenge.
After such events, we expect guarantees
before renewing our peace treaty.
We will come to an agreement.
- We'll discuss... - No, there's nothing to discuss, Bleda.
The culprit must die, whether he's a bishop or a priest.
Is this all you want?
No, not only this. You'll give back our hostages and the deserters.
You'll also pay a tribute double the one we've been
silly enough to pay you up until now.
This is our proposal. And it won't change.
What do you say? Yes or no?
How can this be your proposal?
You say "Yes or no?" to a child
or a defeated enemy.
Not to an ambassador of Rome, not to the Empire.
We've overcome the Goths and crushed the Franks.
- We're not afraid of your Roman Empire. - Attila! Ezio!
Attila has been impulsive.
You'll have time to think about it. Etere!
See the general to his tent.
Go now. You'll see the barbarians, too,
know how to honor their guests.
Let the sacrifice begin.
What does the blood say, Grune?
Prosperity awaits the Huns.
Our herds will increase
and our appetites will be satisfied.
Our friends will present us
with a lot of gold and many horses.
But I can see another woman next to you, Attila.
Let him have all the women he desires.
I can see her.
She's beautiful and very ambitious.
I can see you, Attila, at the gates of Rome.
Why just at the gates?
In Rome!
What else can you see, Grune?
Do you see how easy it is?
A little wine is enough to overturn the fate of empires.
How dare the Roman...
History is written in blood, not in wine.
Wine is used to drink to victories,
both past and future.
My brother is right.
History is written in blood not wine.
It is with blood that we've conquered the land for our plows,
the wood for our hearths
and the food for our women and children.
Until a few years ago, our tribes, decimated by hunger and cold,
roamed the wastelands in the north.
Until a few years ago, it was upon the passing by of a herd of buffaloes
that the existence of thousands of Huns depended.
Now, we, too, have
rich soil to till
and build our houses upon.
We'll befriend all of our neighbors
and we will live in peace because we want peace.
The world is big.
There's enough land for everybody.
Huns and Romans can live side by side like brothers.
I hope they will never take up arms
against each other
and that, instead, they will be able to fight side by side
against common enemies.
It is to this that I drink, to peace between Huns and Romans.
Peace, peace for everyone.
- He's right. - Yes, but first let them give back
- the hostages to us. - And the prisoners.
Noble words, Bleda.
I receive them with joy.
I long for peace, too. As do all Romans,
from the last of the legionaries to the Emperor.
This is why I'm here tonight,
to renew our alliance.
On behalf of my Emperor,
I wish the two Kings of the Huns long life and glory.
I drink to their fortune and that of the Huns.
I wish the Emperor what he wishes us.
And now, guests,
I'll present you with a fight.
A Hun.
- And now, a Roman. - No.
There are no fighters in our legation.
That's strange. All Huns are fighters.
If you want to challenge us, come to Ravenna.
Maybe I will.
A Hun king doesn't disdain a fight with one of his soldiers.
In fact, I'm proud to fight him.
Come on!
- The sword! - Here, Attila! Use the sword!
- Come on! Be careful! - Fight back!
I don't want any bloodshed tonight.
My brother can't stand the sight of blood.
Not even if it's a game.
- What did you see in the blood? - I'm scared, Attila.
- Of whom? - Of who will fight you without weapons.
This is the right time. Go with him. I'll stay with Bleda.
Bleda, I'll try to persuade Attila.
Prisco will explain our plans for the agreement.
I need to talk to you, Attila.
I didn't like your behavior a moment ago.
You insulted my Emperor.
But I'll forget that because we're friends.
Or because the Roman Empire is weak.
The Empire has several flaws.
But it's strong because it has faith.
You only have one god. Only one.
We have many.
Come on, Ezio, make a decision.
- What do you say? - Your price is too high.
Say no, then.
If I said no, what would happen?
Look!
- Attila! - Attila!
There go the Huns! They've never been defeated.
I know.
Your cavalry is famous for its valor.
20,000 knights here,
100,000 men on those hills
and an entire people behind them.
No city, no fortress
will ever stop them.
That's the Roman general.
They say he's come to make peace.
Then he might as well leave.
- Nice weapon. - Yes, when it's in our hands.
We're barbarians. That is our strength.
Are they all eager to fight?
How many children do you have?
Three, Attila. All male. They are seven.
- What about the others? - The famine got them.
This is our fate. We fight to live.
You have an Empire now, Attila.
Surrounded by enemies.
What are they talking about?
I don't know. I don't get it.
Let's hope they can reach an agreement and leave us be for a while.
Ezio, you are a soldier like me, not a diplomat.
Leave Ravenna and come to me.
Together, we will conquer the world.
At what price?
Lands laid to waste, cities set ablaze,
carnage and destruction.
The hatred of entire peoples. No, Attila.
You're becoming a philosopher.
Call me what you like.
I'd rather love than hate.
And build rather than destroy.
I have faith in human fraternity.
Christian fraternity, at most.
I'm not here to talk about this, anyway.
Let's get back to what we were talking about.
I've already told you everything.
You'd like me to say no, wouldn't you?
You can't wait for a chance to attack us.
But why do you hate civilization so much?
What is civilization? The one you can find in Ravenna?
Corruption, intrigues, slavery.
An empire of cowards and an Emperor who wears makeup.
No, Attila.
If this were true, I'd come with you.
But law and order, freedom and justice,
a god who promises resurrection,
this is our civilization.
These are not material goods, but moral values.
Many Huns have understood this, including your brother.
As for me, I'll fight to death for this ideal.
All right, Attila.
I'll sign the treaty on your conditions,
you will have the hostages, the deserters,
the prisoners and the gold.
And may God forgive you.
This is Ravenna, the new seat of the Western Empire.
On its humble and industrious population,
unaware of Attila's threat,
weighs the burden of the imperial court.
Valentiniano, the cowardly and hysterical Emperor,
and his mother, Galla Placidia,
are the representatives of this court that dissolves the remains
of an Empire into its own refined ruin.
Why are you so sad, son? Smile.
It's a pleasure to see the Emperor of the Romans
drinking with such relish.
Will you shut up? You'll bring me bad luck.
Dear brother, you must trust in the affections of your subjects,
as you're not afraid someone may have poisoned your wine.
But, after all, you are a god and as such you are immortal.
But my taster is not immortal.
Why have you deigned to come down and see us?
Blame it on loneliness, Mother.
Unlike you, I do not have a son to take care of.
You wouldn't know how to care for a child.
The way you didn't, for as long as men were still interested in you.
- Death! - Death!
Bring that to Ezio.
I offer it to the victor of so many battles.
Enough!
Go away. All of you!
I want to see Dominicus.
What could have made you forget your glorious past as a general
and sign such a treaty?
It's an unprecedented humiliation for the Empire.
Who will pay the tributes you let Attila impose on you?
Not satisfied with causing such damage to the Empire,
you're also demanding to establish a permanent army
that would only serve the purpose of satisfying your ambition.
Come on, speak! Defend yourself.
What am I supposed to say? They're just words.
I won't diminish myself by defending myself from words.
These are not just words. These are precise charges.
The treaty you signed on behalf of the Emperor
is unworthy of Rome and it brings us dishonor.
By accepting it, you betrayed your Emperor and your people.
Maybe you even plotted against his life with Attila, too.
- All is against you. - All right.
Give the praetorians the order they've been waiting for.
But remember,
Attila won't have mercy
on the Empire nor on your son.
Dominicus, what does the Pope think about this?
The Pope trusts in understanding among men of good will.
Yes, but these are not men of good will.
These are Huns! Huns!
By Attila's side is Bleda,
his brother. He is a generous and noble man.
Yes, it's true. There's Bleda.
Why don't you tell us about Bleda, then?
Because only very few Huns are like Bleda, brother.
Onoria, I warned you!
Never speak words of ill fortune.
Not you, nor anybody else!
I'm scared.
And I can't stand fear. It makes me feel ill.
I was afraid, too, when I was there.
I was afraid for you, Valentiniano.
For the Empire.
If I accepted the Hun's conditions,
it was only as a way to stall them.
Yes, we can still organize a defense,
arm our legions and form alliances. But we must hurry!
If these precautions aren't taken immediately,
when Attila invades Italy
there will be no horse fast enough to save you,
no forest will be enough to hide you.
Enough! Make him shut up! Arrest him!
Do whatever you want, as long as he shuts up!
Son!
Arrest him. The Emperor has ordered it.
He wanted an equestrian statue
like that of Julius Caesar.
Ezio, the Savior of Rome.
Nobody can enter this house by order of the Emperor.
Let her in.
"The enemies divided the cavalry into three parts,
two arranged themselves on our flanks
while the other one started out by attacking us frontally,
crossing our path.
Hearing the news, Caesar ordered the army to form three lines..."
Leave me, Prisco.
Greetings, Ezio.
Onoria. Why are you here?
Never ask a woman why she has come to see you.
I left the palace because I felt stifled there.
My mother is blinded by fear of conspiracies and love for my brother.
She wants to ruin you because she knows you are stronger than they are.
She hates you, Ezio, as she hates me
because I remind her of my father, Ataślfo,
who enslaved her for so many years.
She knows my blood is not the same as Valentiniano's
and I'm as strong as she is.
If I were a man, I would be the Emperor already.
No, Onoria.
I won't serve your ambitions.
I couldn't be less interested in your mother's destiny, or Valentiniano's.
But you should be interested in mine. I can set you free.
How?
My mother, Galla Placidia, has lived too long as Empress.
Without her, Valentiniano...
You're just like them, Onoria.
You're bloodthirsty and merciless.
I can see it in your eyes.
There's the same fixed, glassy look
your brother's eyes have when he decides to have someone killed,
as you want to have them killed.
I want freedom and greatness.
Mine and the Empire's.
In Galla Placidia's and Valentiniano's hands, Rome's days are numbered.
Only we can save it.
Nothing has ever been saved through crime.
Will you let them lead you to slaughter without even defending yourself?
Galla Placidia hates me,
but she knows she may need me. She won't have me killed.
When Attila's hordes show up at our borders,
she'll call me back and I'll lead the army once again.
And you'll go back to fighting for Valentiniano?
I'm faithful to my oath, Onoria.
Accept it.
It's not my fault destiny assigned us to opposing factions.
We'll see who the strongest is, me or your destiny.
The power is in my hands now.
I can give away what you won't defend.
Farewell, Galla Placidia's general.
I declare that...
Silence! Silence.
Take your seats.
Onegesio has just begun.
Listen to him until he has finished.
Rebellion is brewing in all the Western Roman Empire.
For example, the Avari are waiting for the right moment
to rebel against the authority of Ravenna.
It's time to attack.
The weapons are ready. And so are we.
Let us give the Avari their opportunity.
The Roman Empire has never been so weak before.
But how can we attack the Romans?
We have just renewed our treaties.
Treaties go with the wind.
But the word of a king is sacred.
And how can we be sure we'll win this war?
Be patient and Onegesio will explain.
We've never been so strong.
We have braver soldiers
and better weapons than the Romans.
We also have powerful alliances.
Today the Mongolian chiefs have arrived
to ally with us against the Roman Empire.
Now is the time to strike.
Give me two months and I'll lead you to Rome.
It may well be, Attila, but remember what happened to Alarico.
Alarico wasn't a Hun.
A single Hun soldier is worth a hundred.
They say the god of the Christians killed him.
- Of the Christians! - They say he died
from a mysterious illness soon after invading Rome.
Tall tales for silly women. Listen to me, everybody.
This is our chance to conquer Italy.
And the Mediterranean.
After which, we'll conquer the world.
With the blood of thousands of our men? No, brother.
Our people have suffered enough already.
Let us stay on this land.
Our people live in tranquility.
Our neighbors pay large tributes.
What more can you possibly expect?
The treaty with the Romans is profitable.
We have fought a lot.
Let us devote the rest of our lives to the well-being of our people.
Our father taught us to fight,
- not to be idle. - But the treaties...
Ezio signed them to stall. He's recruiting new troops.
But the Romans don't renege on treaties.
You're naive
because you trust them.
Not everybody is like that.
We must crush the Romans!
If we don't do it now,
they'll send us back to the muddy banks of the Danube!
Is this the well-being you were talking about?
You misunderstand me.
I only said not to shed blood in vain.
I say, "Live and let live."
And I say, "Kill if you want to live."
- It's necessary. - You're a madman!
My tribe is with Bleda and with peace.
To think that as a young boy
I loved you and looked up at you as a hero.
You've become a chicken.
You have insulted my chief and the honor of my tribe.
You have drawn your sword.
Come on, use it against me.
A Hun doesn't draw his sword
unless he means to use it.
A coward doesn't need his right hand.
You're a savage.
They're right when they call us barbarians.
You can't conceive of anything but violence.
Your only ideal is your own ambition.
You think you can conquer the world with violence.
You'd destroy entire peoples
to satisfy your hunger for power.
We have too much power already.
To preserve it, we need to bring down Rome.
- I'm with you, Attila. - My men won't follow you.
Mine will.
I'll go to the end of the world with Attila.
So, do it!
But my tribes and I can't support you
in this crazy endeavor.
- I commit 5,000 soldiers. - So do I, Attila.
- I will give you 10,000. - My Mongols are with you.
We can do fine without their help.
All right, now go.
- We won't abandon you. - Who cares about Bleda and his tribes.
Your brother doesn't act like a Hun, but like a Roman.
Attila, I need to talk to you.
I'm sorry for creating this conflict.
Especially because it happened in front of all the chiefs.
Let's try to come to an agreement
after tomorrow's hunt.
I'm sorry I had to contradict you. But you were wrong.
You are the one who is wrong.
We are a people, a race.
Our father fought to bring us together.
And you have divided us.
I will never forgive you for this!
Bleda!
Attila!
I have news from Ravenna.
- Wake him up. It's important. - Leave him be. He's tense.
- I'm telling you, you must wake him up. - Let him sleep.
He's leading the hunt today.
- I must do it, Grune. - What is it? Attila, what's wrong?
- What do you want? - I have news from Ravenna.
- Good or bad? - It's a message from Onoria.
Read it.
"I, Onoria,
Emperor Valentiniano's sister
and Galla Placidia's daughter and descendent..."
Skip to the facts!
"I beg you to free me from the slavery
of a corrupt court
and take me as your wife."
Can't you see?
In Ravenna you can make her keep her word.
Her dowry to you will be half the Western Roman Empire.
See, brother?
You can conquer the world without fighting.
I don't like intrigues.
But Onoria's offer protects us from a Roman attack.
The tribes would welcome a marriage that would give us
half the Roman Empire.
Without striking a blow, we would ensure for a long time
the peace we all desire and need...
Peace! Peace! Peace!
Who says the Romans want peace?
- That letter is from a lying woman. - Look at this.
She sent her ring as a pledge.
This ring represents the possession of an Empire.
Empires are made with iron,
not with women's intrigues.
So, let's question the gods
as our forefathers taught us.
The gods have already spoken.
On horseback. We're going hunting.
Attila, don't go today. I beg you.
I have to. Not today, son.
But I have to kill another wolf today.
Why can't he come?
Go ahead, Bleda. I'll catch up with you.
The next time you'll come, I promise.
Bring him inside.
Halt!
That way!
Where's Attila?
Follow me.
I know what you want...
Louder. Make them bark louder.
Can you hear that? They've captured the boar. They're close.
Shoot.
Attila! Brother!
Listen to me.
You think killing me will silence the last voice
hindering your rise to power.
But you can't conquer the world shedding innocent blood
because innocent blood
won't wash away.
It will come back to you.
Shoot!
He doesn't know anything.
He's just scared.
And so am I. What are you going to do?
Attila, the funeral pyre is ready.
Bleda's followers have gathered.
The field is in a state of ferment.
We must be cautious.
They must be plotting. Let's get rid of him right away.
After the funeral, it'll be worse. We must be cautious.
Somebody has drawn his sword already.
My tribe is faithful to Attila.
He was a traitor and he was punished.
- We should all use force. - More blood will be shed.
The people loved Bleda.
- I did, too. - Attila.
Attila! Attila!
- Assassin! - Assassin!
Fratricide!
Are you suffering?
I'm suffering more than you.
To you he was a king. To me he was a brother.
He was my own flesh and blood.
But I killed him.
Why?
Was it for the crown?
I already have one and I don't wear it.
Was it because I hated him?
My son bears his name.
I loved him. And if I killed him,
it was only for the welfare of my people.
We fought side by side
in deserts and mountains.
We suffered from cold and endured pangs of hunger...
leaving behind a trail of corpses.
But what was the purpose?
It wasn't to conquer destitution...
but to conquer dignity...
and make the Huns a united people,
unassailable
and invincible.
Now that we are about to achieve
what we have fought for for so long,
Bleda wanted to betray all our ideals
and accept a mediocre existence.
The king, my brother,
would have divided us.
He would have destroyed the unity of the Huns.
This is why I killed him.
No sacrifice is too big
for the glory of our people.
To obtain it, I would sacrifice the lives of my own children.
And here, now, I am entrusting you with mine.
Take it if I deserve to die.
No, Attila! You must live and lead us to victory.
Then let the fire burn.
May these flames unite us
and give us further strength.
Beyond those mountains is the enemy.
It's time to face him
and that what is ours by right.
People of one race,
of one blood and one destiny...
Huns,
Attila will lead you to conquest.
Today, Rome.
Tomorrow, the world.
King Attila!
Have fun now!
It would have been better to kill him right away.
Not like this.
His death won't be slow enough, anyway.
But he's a priest.
He violated the tombs of our forefathers.
Beware the god of the Christians, Attila.
Un-nail yourself, if you can. Come on.
You may ravage our cities
and our lands,
but you won't be able to destroy our faith.
You will never be able to win, Attila.
Ask your god to save you.
I've already been saved
because I'm dying for Him,
as He died for me.
For each one of us
you kill,
100 will come against you.
You can't win by killing, Attila.
History will prove me right.
History will remember you,
but as the Scourge of God.
Unbelievable. Attila was looking for an excuse to attack us
and you gave him one.
Read what he has written.
The King of the Huns holds me in higher esteem than you.
You're despicable. You offered yourself to him
who has sworn to ruin us.
You, sister of a Roman emperor,
wife of a barbarian.
You're one to talk. You were Alarico's lover and his brother Ataślfo's wife.
Only to save my life.
I didn't betray my blood out of ambition, like you.
There's not a drop of your blood in me.
I'm barbaric like my father, Ataślfo.
Had I never given birth to you!
You've always been my enemy.
When you were 14, you plotted against me.
At 17, you eloped with a praetorian.
You are the embodiment of corruption and betrayal.
I learned from you. You killed your lovers
when you grew tired of them.
Galliano, Fabio, dead from poisoning.
Teodoro, who you stole from me.
You stole him from me.
If I hadn't had him killed, you'd have convinced him to kill me.
I should crush your head like a viper's.
Why don't you? You're afraid of killing Attila's woman, aren't you?
Go away. I never want to see you again.
Go away.
But remember, when the Huns arrive,
you'll kneel in front of me
begging me to save your life.
My God. My God.
I think it's too late, Galla Placidia.
You wasted the precious months
I had obtained.
Attila has taken possession of all of Illyria
and is quickly advancing towards the Alps.
You'll stop him when he's crossed them.
I can't see how.
When our troops from Spain arrive,
Attila's will have occupied the plains.
Let's marshal all our troops along the Po.
If you manage to prevent them from crossing the river
we'll have more time and the reinforcements will be here.
You have no idea how courageous the Huns are.
Nothing will stop them.
Attila has trained them perfectly in the last few months.
And they're thrilled by their victories...
- What about our troops? - Our troops?
Are you sure we can trust them?
You let them rot in idleness.
They don't know what discipline is anymore.
Have you lost your faith in God, Ezio?
This man is treacherous.
He's a traitor. A friend of Attila's.
Let someone else lead us.
Enough! Shut up!
I decree that from this moment onwards,
Ezio will be the commander of all the Roman troops.
Don't trust him, Augusta.
I trust you, Ezio.
I trust only you.
And I apologize for the many ways I have wronged you.
I promise to support you
with all the authority I have left.
I am about to end a life
that has been a series of mistakes.
I realize that now.
I have no more aspirations,
nor personal ambitions.
My end is near.
Whatever the result of the war,
I am more than certain
I'll never see Attila coming up the steps of this palace,
nor you triumphant in the streets of Rome.
It is only for the sake of my son
that I am talking to you.
His shoulders are too weak
to carry the burden that awaits him.
He needs a man like you by his side.
Can you see? I have no pride left.
Save Valentiniano.
Mother!
He's dead! He's dead!
He was my life!
My only reason to live.
Don't do this, Valentiniano. Don't cry, son.
Dominicus, I want him to go to heaven.
I want him to go to heaven immediately.
It's an order, do you understand me?
Take a look, Ezio.
These are the people for whom you will fight.
Look at the heirs of Rome,
the rulers of the world.
Don't laugh, Onoria. Sometimes desperation
carries an unexpected strength.
Your mother has proven it.
It's not madness, Onoria.
It's the extraordinary effort of a mother
who loves her son and tries to save him.
Listen to me.
So far, I have fought against the enemies of Rome
to save what is left of it,
its prestige,
its grandeur, the civilization it has created
in so may centuries of history.
But from now on, I will fight for its people,
so that they can continue to work free and happy.
Because they are the true heirs
of Rome's traditions.
And I swear that, as long as I live,
Attila won't occupy Italy.
For too many years words have muddled Roman minds.
If men of war start to use them to muster up courage,
it means that it's all really over.
Farewell, Ezio. Farewell, Mother.
Stop her! Arrest her!
No, don't.
Let her go.
She's unhappy, too, like us.
The Huns are moving forward.
Having left Gaul and Germany behind,
the invaders encounter no resistance as far as the Alps,
that, silent and undefended, lead to Italy.
The terrified populations
murmur that grass will not grow where Attila's horse has trod.
In the exaltation of victory,
only one thought torments the conqueror,
that of Bleda's murder.
But remorse is not enough to stop his march.
By now, Attila has the future of all of Europe in his hands.
Attila, look. Italy is at our feet.
The road leading to Rome passes through this valley.
- Ezio is nowhere to be seen. - We'll see him soon.
Don't doubt it. He's waiting for us in the hills.
This is the end of their world, Attila.
And the beginning of ours.
Come on, let's go.
Forward!
Let us ask God to forgive our sins.
The end of the world is near.
Attila has reached our doorstep.
Our salvation is in Rome.
To Rome!
To Rome! To Rome!
Hurry, we must reach the camp before dark.
Onegesio, how many armies does the Western Empire have left?
Only Ezio's.
But they say his soldiers won't fight.
It's the Romans themselves that spread these rumors.
Ezio knows how to control his men.
Don't fool yourselves, the battle will be harsh.
But he's been running from us for a month.
Maybe he hopes we will fall into a trap.
Attila won't fall into a trap.
He'll force Ezio to retreat to Rome
hoping for an opportunity that will never happen.
Rome, cursed city. Our true enemy is there.
And who is it? The Pope?
What can the Pope provide?
How many men and how many swords can he arrange for?
None, Kadis. But I fear his god.
If he exists, we will soon endure his wrath.
You like that, don't you?
In what mood are the gods today?
They say you'll have more glory and power than you hope for, Attila.
I don't need the gods to tell me that.
But the gods are also warning you.
Beware of the man who has the name of an animal.
- You've already told me that. - Be careful, Attila.
That man could destroy you.
I like you better as a woman than as a prophetess.
Attila, a Roman woman has asked to speak with you.
Onegesio has given her permission.
Glory and long life to you, Attila.
Is this the woman? Don't let her come near you.
I'm Ataślfo and Galla Placidia's daughter, Valentiniano's sister.
I know who you are.
- Why are you here? - I sent you a message.
Oh, yes. I received it.
But we barbarians can't read.
Send her away. Don't trust her.
Forget what happened in Ravenna, Attila.
Prove yourself generous.
Go.
So, you remember, too.
Time has taught me many lessons.
Was one of those lessons to offer your body to a barbarian?
I can offer you much more than that, Attila.
What?
Valentiniano and I have the same rights.
Half of the Western Empire is mine
and it will be yours when I'm your wife.
So when we enter Ravenna, nobody will be able to call you a usurper.
You'd marry me?
I can still taste the wine you threw in my face.
Look at me now. Take a good look.
It's still me,
the barbarian you insulted
because he had touched you.
Why have you come here?
What made you change your mind?
I'm here because I know my destiny
is to live by the side of the conqueror of the world.
How do you know that the conqueror of the world wants you?
You don't know what a woman like me is.
You've only had the women of your camps,
animals crawling at your feet.
You wouldn't crawl, would you?
But according to the gods,
you can ruin me.
Why would I destroy that which I desire the most?
The Empire needs strong men like you,
not puppets.
Attila, nobody is more worthy than you
of the imperial crown.
What if you're wrong?
What if Ezio wins?
Ezio won't win.
How I have longed for your lips!
Don't despair, Grune.
Maybe we will conquer an empire without fighting.
The Romans!
They are near.
Look. Those are their outposts.
But the greater part of the army is on those hills.
The Huns have all gathered.
They're now arranging their carts around the camp.
Defensive formation.
They won't attack us before dawn.
Attila, what are you thinking about?
I've been waiting for this day for years.
The eve of the last battle.
Tomorrow, I'll march to Rome with you.
Will you?
Do you think you'll lead me to Rome by the hand?
With me by your side, everything will be easier.
I came to meet a conqueror
and I found a man.
I will never leave you.
- Go away. - I am an Emperor's daughter.
That doesn't make you any better than any other woman.
Remember what I can do for you.
Go back to your cart.
What are you doing? Leave the horse be.
Attila, you can't humiliate me like this.
Fabiano, you'll face the enemy's first strike.
Place the best archers in the middle.
But be careful, and this is important,
not to let Attila see them.
That way we'll be able to take the horses by surprise.
Giustino and Valerio, you'll command the two wings.
You'll engage only upon my order.
Romans,
for 50 years the defense of the borders
has fallen on the shoulders of the allies of Rome.
Since then, nobody has asked you to risk your lives
for the safety of your families,
of your houses and lands.
Today, salvation depends on you.
If we don't succeed, everything will be destroyed.
There'll be death and slavery for you and yours.
But I have faith.
I trust that Roman soldiers
won't let a herd of barbarians beat them.
Your forefathers conquered the world.
Prove yourselves worthy of it.
And above all,
remember that, after you,
there will be nobody left to save the country.
Romans, everything depends on you today.
The men are ready, Attila.
Pretend you're going to attack the wings,
then go for the center. Go.
Don't let them fool you.
Wait for them to be within shooting range.
Shoot!
They're retreating.
Troops, the signal.
Forward!
They won't stop us this time.
Ezio! Ezio!
Ezio is dead!
Here she is! Onoria is on this cart.
You'll pay for your betrayal.
Don't spare him!
Here are the naughty Romans,
descendants of Caesar and Augustus.
They won against the Gauls and against Carthage.
Look at them now.
They're reduced to shapeless lumps of flesh.
Let's go away, Father. I'm scared.
Scared of what?
They can't scare anybody now.
Take me away, Father. Take me away.
You must get used to the sight of blood.
But I'm scared.
Why, son?
After a victory, there's joy.
And the taste of glory is sweet.
Bleda.
Bleda!
- Bleda! - I didn't mean to hit him, Attila.
That arrow was for you.
May God forgive me
for killing an innocent.
Bleda! Bleda!
My son!
Bleda!
- Do you want to drink? - No.
Can't you hear that?
Hear what? I can't hear anything.
You can't hear either?
It's the wind whistling in the branches.
It's like a lament.
A child weeping.
Why don't we put up camp?
You've got a temperature, Attila.
We've been riding for three days and three nights.
No, we're moving forward.
Mother!
- Mother! - Don't go.
Don't leave me. Don't go.
Don't go away!
Tell me, where is Ippolito?
He abandoned us, too.
He ran away, like everybody else.
They're all going to Rome.
There's nobody left in this palace. Nobody.
Dominicus,
Costanzo, Ezio.
All those who could save you have died.
- And I'm going to join them. - No, Mother.
No, Mother! You can't leave me now.
I'm not used to being alone.
What would I do without you?
Maybe the Lord wants you
to be alone. Go.
Don't worry about me.
Go to Rome.
Seek the protection of the Church.
Go! You must go, Valentiniano.
You are right, Mother. Rome.
I will go to Rome. I will be safe there.
Farewell, Mother.
Valentiniano!
Onoria!
I don't want to die alone.
It's too cruel
to die like a beast...
alone.
Valentiniano!
Attila, what are you looking for?
What is it that you want?
Is this because of the fever, too?
- What is it, Attila? - I can hear it too.
So can I.
It's like a chant.
It's like a far away chant.
Beware of the man who will face you without any weapons.
- Be careful, Attila. - It might be a trap.
Do you think I'm afraid of a few wooden planks?
Who are you, daring to cross my path?
I'm Pope Leo. The servant of God's servants.
I don't know your god.
But He knows you, Attila.
He sees your every gesture and what is in your heart,
He speaks to your spirit in the voice of those
you have sacrificed to your ambition.
I didn't cross the Alps to listen to lectures.
I know.
You are impatient to get to Rome.
There's no one there to defend it.
You can turn it into a pile of ruins.
You can kill everybody... old people, women, children.
But remember, Attila,
innocent blood
won't be washed away.
Remember, brother.
Innocent blood won't be washed away.
It will come back to you.
What further words did the Vicar of Christ utter
trying to calm the barbaric fury of the Hun leader?
Nobody heard them.
This is considered one of history's greatest mysteries.
But maybe it's not a mystery.
Pope Leo couldn't have used any other language
than the divinely simple one of the Gospel,
a language comprehensible to all men of good will,
Romans and barbarians,
great or humble, slaves or leaders.
But could Attila understand him?
I have nothing more to say. It's your decision.
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