1
00:00:30,583 --> 00:00:34,500
It looks like two units
of Janissaries. Maybe three.
2
00:00:37,333 --> 00:00:38,416
Hamza Bey!
3
00:00:39,875 --> 00:00:42,208
How many Ottoman soldiers at Giurgiu?
4
00:00:44,250 --> 00:00:46,958
The sultan should have
killed you years ago.
5
00:00:49,125 --> 00:00:50,458
Traitorous dog!
6
00:00:51,833 --> 00:00:54,375
Our Ottoman friend isn't happy with me,
7
00:00:55,166 --> 00:01:00,625
but at least his men were kind enough
to give us their nice, warm uniforms.
8
00:01:08,708 --> 00:01:09,791
My prince,
9
00:01:10,333 --> 00:01:12,375
I will be with you until the end...
10
00:01:14,875 --> 00:01:17,958
but once we cross the Danube,
there is no turning back.
11
00:01:19,916 --> 00:01:21,625
Are you sure you want to do this?
12
00:01:25,916 --> 00:01:30,125
With our new uniforms,
the Turks will welcome us with open arms!
13
00:01:38,958 --> 00:01:41,416
In the winter of 1462,
14
00:01:41,500 --> 00:01:44,166
along a remote stretch of the Danube,
15
00:01:45,208 --> 00:01:46,916
death comes calling.
16
00:01:47,541 --> 00:01:48,958
Who goes there?
17
00:01:49,666 --> 00:01:50,875
Open the gates.
18
00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:55,333
We are being pursued
by a unit of Wallachian mercenaries!
19
00:02:00,250 --> 00:02:02,500
Open the gates. That's an order.
20
00:02:05,458 --> 00:02:06,666
Open the gates.
21
00:02:50,291 --> 00:02:51,625
Kill them all!
22
00:03:20,916 --> 00:03:24,625
As the long-simmering
blood feud between Mehmed the Conqueror
23
00:03:24,708 --> 00:03:26,916
and Vlad Dracula intensifies,
24
00:03:27,666 --> 00:03:29,833
the tentacles of the coming war
25
00:03:29,916 --> 00:03:34,166
reach all the way to the inner sanctum
of the sultan's harem.
26
00:03:45,833 --> 00:03:49,458
- We have an artist in our midst.
- Princess Mara.
27
00:03:51,958 --> 00:03:55,625
Mehmed has promised to bring artists
from Florence to teach me.
28
00:03:56,333 --> 00:03:59,666
Perhaps you will teach
the Florentines something.
29
00:04:08,041 --> 00:04:09,541
I've come to say goodbye.
30
00:04:10,500 --> 00:04:13,291
I leave for the court
of Matthias Corvinus tomorrow.
31
00:04:16,208 --> 00:04:19,750
I heard the Hungarian king
is as slippery as his late father,
32
00:04:20,500 --> 00:04:23,083
but lacks the old man's valor
on the battlefield.
33
00:04:23,166 --> 00:04:26,458
We'll soon see if he has the stomach
for a war with Mehmed.
34
00:04:28,625 --> 00:04:31,666
But there's another matter.
35
00:04:41,375 --> 00:04:45,125
While I'm away, I want you to sleep
with this under a pillow.
36
00:04:46,500 --> 00:04:47,875
I don't understand.
37
00:04:47,958 --> 00:04:51,375
Vlad Dracula lived
in the imperial palace for years.
38
00:04:52,166 --> 00:04:54,916
He may have friends here
who are a threat to you.
39
00:04:55,791 --> 00:04:59,750
- But I...
- One day, you will be queen mother,
40
00:05:01,041 --> 00:05:03,500
the most powerful woman in the empire.
41
00:05:06,375 --> 00:05:09,750
I'll wager our enemies
have not seen the likes of you before.
42
00:05:20,541 --> 00:05:22,208
Stand strong, dear Gulbahar,
43
00:05:23,416 --> 00:05:24,875
and remain vigilant.
44
00:05:46,208 --> 00:05:48,583
Some 340 miles north,
45
00:05:48,666 --> 00:05:53,791
Sultan Mehmed II's massive army
continues its march to Wallachia,
46
00:05:54,375 --> 00:05:57,250
where they find themselves
surrounded by the carnage
47
00:05:57,333 --> 00:06:01,250
of Vlad Dracula's earlier rampage
across the Danube,
48
00:06:01,333 --> 00:06:05,000
but see no sign
of their missing general, Hamza Bey.
49
00:06:05,791 --> 00:06:09,500
The Impaler Lord's message
to his childhood friend
50
00:06:09,583 --> 00:06:13,666
is written in the blood of thousands,
"Come and get me."
51
00:06:15,541 --> 00:06:18,375
Mind you,
that kind of disrespect was something
52
00:06:18,458 --> 00:06:22,583
that a ruler like Mehmed II
could never forgive
53
00:06:22,666 --> 00:06:25,250
because in this kind of world,
reputation is everything.
54
00:06:26,208 --> 00:06:31,541
So from that point onward, it became
quite personal between Mehmed and Vlad.
55
00:06:32,791 --> 00:06:38,208
What Vlad Dracula should have done
with Mehmed was seek a limited peace.
56
00:06:38,291 --> 00:06:40,083
Maybe a reduction in tribute.
57
00:06:40,958 --> 00:06:46,875
But the problem with Vlad Dracula is
that everything to him is about a duel.
58
00:06:46,958 --> 00:06:49,291
Perhaps, again,
this does come from his youth,
59
00:06:49,375 --> 00:06:52,958
this very hard upbringing,
this idea that he would never give way.
60
00:06:53,625 --> 00:06:55,875
That it was down to me-versus-him,
61
00:06:55,958 --> 00:06:57,041
black and white.
62
00:07:13,750 --> 00:07:15,875
Vlad massacred these poor souls
63
00:07:15,958 --> 00:07:19,041
to impress his masters
in Buda and the Vatican,
64
00:07:19,125 --> 00:07:20,666
and to draw me out.
65
00:07:22,750 --> 00:07:24,083
I could never do this.
66
00:07:25,916 --> 00:07:28,916
Which is why
you will be a better ruler than Vlad.
67
00:07:31,625 --> 00:07:34,333
Yet, Mahmud Pasha doesn't trust me.
68
00:07:35,750 --> 00:07:38,083
Trust is hard-earned with Mahmud Pasha.
69
00:07:39,125 --> 00:07:41,666
One of the reasons
I chose him as my grand vizier.
70
00:07:42,833 --> 00:07:46,000
But have I not been
a loyal friend and adviser?
71
00:07:48,333 --> 00:07:52,416
Yes, but you have the misfortune
of sharing the last name
72
00:07:52,500 --> 00:07:55,416
of the man every soldier
in this army is here to kill.
73
00:08:08,208 --> 00:08:12,916
The Danube was supposed to be a bridge
between our kingdoms, not a wall.
74
00:08:20,166 --> 00:08:22,583
There's no shame in second place, Vlad.
75
00:08:23,958 --> 00:08:24,833
I win!
76
00:08:24,916 --> 00:08:26,458
You cheated, Mehmed!
77
00:08:26,541 --> 00:08:28,375
No, I won.
78
00:08:38,500 --> 00:08:39,980
Do you miss Wallachia?
79
00:08:40,500 --> 00:08:42,416
More than anything.
80
00:08:44,750 --> 00:08:46,333
But you have a life here now.
81
00:08:47,875 --> 00:08:50,291
This isn't my life. It's yours.
82
00:09:04,125 --> 00:09:06,916
One day, the world will be ours,
brother Vlad.
83
00:09:12,041 --> 00:09:14,916
Your battles, they will be my battles.
84
00:09:41,458 --> 00:09:47,166
"Fire is the test of gold,
adversity of friendship."
85
00:09:56,250 --> 00:09:58,833
Vlad,
growing up at this court,
86
00:09:58,916 --> 00:10:01,333
met young Mehmed, the future Mehmed II,
87
00:10:02,458 --> 00:10:06,375
because the princes present
at the Ottoman court grew up
88
00:10:06,458 --> 00:10:11,250
along the heirs to the Ottoman throne.
89
00:10:11,333 --> 00:10:14,083
And they grew
like a band of brothers.
90
00:10:17,833 --> 00:10:20,375
One wonders
if during this invasion
91
00:10:20,458 --> 00:10:24,541
that the two might not have reflected
on their childhood and thought of this.
92
00:10:24,625 --> 00:10:29,666
You know, maybe they'd joked or fought
with each other in that palace in Edirne.
93
00:10:31,250 --> 00:10:34,208
"One day when I'm the sultan,
I'm going to come after you."
94
00:10:34,708 --> 00:10:38,041
"One day when I'm the prince,
I'm going to come after you."
95
00:10:43,041 --> 00:10:45,291
Prince, the troops are ready.
96
00:10:46,375 --> 00:10:48,791
We'll meet General Gales' company
outside the city.
97
00:10:48,875 --> 00:10:51,333
Good, and the sultan's army?
98
00:10:52,666 --> 00:10:54,208
Have we eyes on them yet?
99
00:10:55,416 --> 00:10:57,958
Still south of the Danube,
marching north.
100
00:10:58,833 --> 00:11:00,375
At least 100,000 men
101
00:11:01,833 --> 00:11:02,916
and 100 cannons.
102
00:11:08,083 --> 00:11:10,625
He has brought the entire might
of his empire.
103
00:11:13,583 --> 00:11:15,416
Now he takes me seriously.
104
00:11:16,750 --> 00:11:18,750
Have our spies send hourly reports.
105
00:11:18,833 --> 00:11:23,458
We must find their crossing point
and strike while they are exposed.
106
00:11:24,625 --> 00:11:25,625
Yes, Prince.
107
00:11:27,666 --> 00:11:30,416
After years
of threats and provocations,
108
00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:34,458
the allies-turned-enemies
will finally face each other
109
00:11:34,541 --> 00:11:37,666
in a battle
on the banks of the Danube River.
110
00:11:38,791 --> 00:11:42,625
Each man is hell-bent
on the other's destruction.
111
00:11:56,583 --> 00:11:58,500
Mehmed is finally coming for me.
112
00:12:00,166 --> 00:12:02,166
- He underestimates you.
- No.
113
00:12:04,166 --> 00:12:06,333
He still sees me as his prisoner...
114
00:12:09,083 --> 00:12:11,083
but once the Hungarians join us,
115
00:12:12,916 --> 00:12:15,166
it is Mehmed who will be on his knees,
116
00:12:16,541 --> 00:12:17,916
begging for mercy.
117
00:12:26,958 --> 00:12:29,458
If I fall in battle... Listen to me.
118
00:12:31,416 --> 00:12:34,791
If I fall in battle,
the Turks will come for you.
119
00:12:38,416 --> 00:12:39,416
No.
120
00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:46,250
I will throw myself in the Argeş
and let the fish pick my bones clean
121
00:12:47,250 --> 00:12:49,375
before I become the sultan's slave.
122
00:12:57,208 --> 00:13:01,041
The only bodies in the river
will be those of Mehmed and his army.
123
00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:38,541
Vlad Dracula sets out
for the Danube River,
124
00:13:38,625 --> 00:13:41,208
110 miles to the south,
125
00:13:41,291 --> 00:13:43,625
where he'll mount
his defense of Wallachia.
126
00:13:44,333 --> 00:13:47,166
His army is made up of
his personal bodyguards,
127
00:13:47,250 --> 00:13:49,500
loyal boyars, and mercenaries.
128
00:13:49,583 --> 00:13:52,083
They number less than 30,000,
129
00:13:52,166 --> 00:13:55,833
but Vlad has the advantage
of fighting on his home terrain
130
00:13:55,916 --> 00:13:59,958
against an enemy he knows
almost as well as he knows himself.
131
00:14:00,041 --> 00:14:02,708
When he was a kid
at the Ottoman court,
132
00:14:02,791 --> 00:14:06,083
he learned a lot about the Ottomans.
He knew everything about them.
133
00:14:06,750 --> 00:14:10,000
He knew how they were thinking,
he knew how their armies would gather,
134
00:14:10,083 --> 00:14:15,250
how they were fighting, and maybe
this drove him to wage war against them,
135
00:14:15,333 --> 00:14:19,166
but he knew what was coming,
and he knew that that army would be huge.
136
00:14:26,500 --> 00:14:29,000
As the invasion
of Wallachia nears,
137
00:14:29,083 --> 00:14:35,458
Mehmed II now faces the challenge
of transporting 100,000 men, 100 cannons,
138
00:14:35,541 --> 00:14:39,791
and thousands of horses
across the perilous waters of the Danube,
139
00:14:39,875 --> 00:14:45,458
where Vlad Dracula has destroyed
most of the ports and his army is waiting.
140
00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:51,750
Vlad knew when the main core of the army
would cross the Danube
141
00:14:51,833 --> 00:14:55,375
and be in his country
because, as military commander,
142
00:14:55,458 --> 00:14:56,750
he was very good.
143
00:14:57,333 --> 00:14:58,666
He knew how to wage war.
144
00:15:01,166 --> 00:15:03,583
It proves
to be a logistical nightmare.
145
00:15:03,666 --> 00:15:06,333
When you are crossing a river
like the Danube,
146
00:15:06,416 --> 00:15:11,500
it proves so hard to carry
all these troops to the other side.
147
00:15:12,083 --> 00:15:16,333
And also, most importantly,
it reduces your maneuverability.
148
00:15:18,166 --> 00:15:20,000
How do you get across the Danube?
149
00:15:20,083 --> 00:15:23,208
I mean, the river is getting wider
and more impassable,
150
00:15:23,291 --> 00:15:25,333
particularly at this part.
151
00:15:25,416 --> 00:15:27,958
We also have the issue
that on the northern banks,
152
00:15:28,041 --> 00:15:29,375
there are fortifications.
153
00:15:31,500 --> 00:15:35,333
So what we have to do is, the Ottoman army
is to plan a naval mission
154
00:15:35,416 --> 00:15:39,666
to ensure that the soldiers can be ferried
across the river by boats.
155
00:15:40,333 --> 00:15:43,416
And so it's now down
to Mehmed and his commanders
156
00:15:43,500 --> 00:15:46,041
to find the right place along the river,
157
00:15:46,125 --> 00:15:50,166
all the while plotting their route
towards the Wallachian capital.
158
00:16:01,750 --> 00:16:03,708
So, Bogdan Bey,
159
00:16:04,208 --> 00:16:07,500
Mahmud Pasha tells me
you can help us in that
160
00:16:07,583 --> 00:16:11,833
you can guarantee me 70 boats
and safe passage to the other side. Hmm?
161
00:16:11,916 --> 00:16:15,166
Yes, Sultan, I will gladly help.
162
00:16:16,458 --> 00:16:18,208
Provided you pay me...
163
00:16:21,041 --> 00:16:22,333
One thousand ducats.
164
00:16:23,291 --> 00:16:24,291
Upfront.
165
00:16:27,791 --> 00:16:29,250
Are you a fisherman or a robber?
166
00:16:29,333 --> 00:16:33,666
Mahmud Pasha, my family has lived
on these waters for 200 years.
167
00:16:34,250 --> 00:16:36,125
Nobody knows them better than me.
168
00:16:40,875 --> 00:16:43,500
Five-hundred now, 500 when we cross.
169
00:16:48,041 --> 00:16:49,041
We have a deal.
170
00:16:54,708 --> 00:17:00,250
If you betray me, Bogdan Bey,
I will have your head.
171
00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:11,750
Sultan...
172
00:17:11,833 --> 00:17:14,541
...if I don't come home with 1,000 ducats,
173
00:17:14,625 --> 00:17:16,625
my wife will have my head.
174
00:17:27,625 --> 00:17:30,166
As Mehmed prepares
to cross into Wallachia,
175
00:17:30,250 --> 00:17:34,375
he sends his stepmother to Buda
to ferret out the true intentions
176
00:17:34,458 --> 00:17:37,291
of Hungarian king, Matthias Corvinus,
177
00:17:37,375 --> 00:17:41,875
who has allegedly allied himself
with Vlad Dracula in the coming war.
178
00:17:43,916 --> 00:17:48,708
It's not often I meet
with a princess on a diplomatic mission,
179
00:17:49,625 --> 00:17:53,750
let alone the stepmother
of the great Turk.
180
00:17:54,708 --> 00:17:55,833
I prefer "mother."
181
00:17:57,333 --> 00:18:00,500
Mehmed has many different weapons
in his arsenal.
182
00:18:01,458 --> 00:18:02,458
Well,
183
00:18:03,291 --> 00:18:06,166
I pray we're not on war footing just yet.
184
00:18:07,250 --> 00:18:11,083
While my father was victorious
over the sultan at Belgrade,
185
00:18:12,333 --> 00:18:15,875
no one is eager for another conflict.
186
00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:22,708
There are whispers
that the Pope has paid you
187
00:18:22,791 --> 00:18:25,000
to lead a crusade against the sultan,
188
00:18:25,958 --> 00:18:29,458
and that Vlad Dracula
will lead that fight.
189
00:18:31,625 --> 00:18:32,625
If true,
190
00:18:33,208 --> 00:18:35,791
that would be very distressing to Mehmed.
191
00:18:36,375 --> 00:18:39,416
That would be an act of war.
192
00:18:40,833 --> 00:18:46,458
Any rumors that we are encouraging
Vlad Dracula's adventures are just that.
193
00:18:47,791 --> 00:18:49,083
Rumors.
194
00:18:51,333 --> 00:18:56,666
Mehmed considers this a family affair
to be settled between the two of them.
195
00:18:56,750 --> 00:19:01,458
I have no desire to intrude
in a brotherly spat.
196
00:19:04,833 --> 00:19:07,208
Still, that must hurt the sultan.
197
00:19:08,375 --> 00:19:11,625
They were so close as boys,
and now they are...
198
00:19:13,083 --> 00:19:14,083
rivals.
199
00:19:17,500 --> 00:19:18,500
"Rivals"?
200
00:19:21,791 --> 00:19:26,083
Vlad is a desperate prince,
201
00:19:26,166 --> 00:19:29,125
struggling to rule a vassal state.
202
00:19:30,083 --> 00:19:33,166
Mehmed will one day rule the world.
203
00:19:37,625 --> 00:19:41,083
Mehmed respected his stepmother very much
204
00:19:41,166 --> 00:19:46,041
and used her, uh, as a diplomat,
because we should always remember,
205
00:19:46,125 --> 00:19:51,083
Mara Branković was coming from
a true imperial royal background.
206
00:19:51,583 --> 00:19:57,750
She never turned, uh, into, uh,
a secondary woman in the court.
207
00:19:57,833 --> 00:20:01,125
On the contrary,
she was a political power broker.
208
00:20:04,541 --> 00:20:07,416
Do you want to hear something curious
about the conquest?
209
00:20:11,583 --> 00:20:16,125
After all the fighting,
when the city had fallen,
210
00:20:18,166 --> 00:20:20,875
they never found
Emperor Constantine's body.
211
00:20:23,041 --> 00:20:24,958
Just his purple slippers.
212
00:20:26,208 --> 00:20:29,041
A 2,000-year-old empire gone.
213
00:20:32,166 --> 00:20:33,291
Just like that.
214
00:20:39,208 --> 00:20:40,375
God be with you.
215
00:20:50,416 --> 00:20:53,458
With the clock ticking
on his invasion of Wallachia,
216
00:20:53,541 --> 00:20:59,666
Mehmed and his army reached the legendary
port of Nicopolis in early June of 1462.
217
00:21:03,291 --> 00:21:05,375
Prince Radu, what are you doing?
218
00:21:06,708 --> 00:21:10,041
There's a clearing
that might be perfect for our landing.
219
00:21:10,125 --> 00:21:11,125
Just over there.
220
00:21:11,541 --> 00:21:14,333
Prince. Prince, please.
Let me come with you.
221
00:21:14,416 --> 00:21:18,125
No. Stay out of sight
until I return tonight.
222
00:21:34,416 --> 00:21:36,750
Meanwhile,
in the Ottoman capital,
223
00:21:36,875 --> 00:21:40,958
the name Vlad Dracula echoes
throughout the palace corridors,
224
00:21:41,041 --> 00:21:45,708
as rumors of his spies and assassins
reach the imperial harem.
225
00:22:21,750 --> 00:22:23,125
Who are you?
226
00:22:23,791 --> 00:22:24,791
I'm Elena.
227
00:22:26,041 --> 00:22:28,625
Forgive me, Sultana.
I brought fresh linens.
228
00:22:29,833 --> 00:22:31,041
Where's Fatima?
229
00:22:32,083 --> 00:22:33,125
Fatima fell ill,
230
00:22:33,958 --> 00:22:36,833
so I'm taking over her duties
just for today.
231
00:22:40,333 --> 00:22:42,250
I won't be needing any linens.
232
00:22:43,500 --> 00:22:45,583
That will be all, Elena.
233
00:22:46,291 --> 00:22:47,291
Yes, lady.
234
00:23:15,875 --> 00:23:19,833
It is possible
Vlad had spies in the Ottoman palace
235
00:23:19,916 --> 00:23:22,166
from his time as a hostage.
236
00:23:22,250 --> 00:23:24,750
Let's not forget
that at the Ottoman court,
237
00:23:24,833 --> 00:23:27,416
there were not only Ottomans or Turks,
238
00:23:27,500 --> 00:23:30,291
there were people
from all over the empire,
239
00:23:30,375 --> 00:23:32,291
or even from beyond the empire.
240
00:23:32,375 --> 00:23:38,416
When there is power, there are people
trying to take advantage of it.
241
00:23:38,500 --> 00:23:45,041
There were women who were punished
242
00:23:45,625 --> 00:23:48,458
by death for being spies in the harem.
243
00:23:51,791 --> 00:23:56,375
370 miles north
on the Wallachian side of the Danube,
244
00:23:56,958 --> 00:24:01,333
Vlad Dracula prepares his army
for the coming Ottoman invasion.
245
00:24:06,166 --> 00:24:07,833
Prince, the scout is here.
246
00:24:27,208 --> 00:24:31,750
My prince, I bring you the heads
of Ottoman scouts we ambushed.
247
00:24:31,833 --> 00:24:34,958
Put these on pikes
and mount them along the riverbank.
248
00:24:35,458 --> 00:24:37,916
I want Mehmed to see some familiar faces.
249
00:24:39,083 --> 00:24:40,166
Any news?
250
00:24:40,750 --> 00:24:45,000
The sultan's army is on the move again
towards Nicopolis.
251
00:24:45,500 --> 00:24:46,750
The entire army?
252
00:24:50,791 --> 00:24:52,333
This could be a diversion.
253
00:24:53,708 --> 00:24:55,208
Keep the main force at Nicopolis
254
00:24:55,291 --> 00:24:57,684
and spread the other units
along the north bank of the river.
255
00:24:57,708 --> 00:24:58,750
Okay.
256
00:25:01,791 --> 00:25:05,375
I am looking forward
to seeing the sultan beg for his life!
257
00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:08,500
I would love to kill him for you!
258
00:25:13,416 --> 00:25:15,291
Have you fought against Mehmed?
259
00:25:18,333 --> 00:25:19,333
No, Prince.
260
00:25:20,416 --> 00:25:23,125
Mehmed is relentless.
261
00:25:23,750 --> 00:25:28,000
When he comes for you,
you will beg for your own death,
262
00:25:28,083 --> 00:25:29,750
just to end the suffering!
263
00:25:36,083 --> 00:25:40,375
Defeating him
will take everything we have...
264
00:25:42,458 --> 00:25:43,875
and the will of God!
265
00:25:52,833 --> 00:25:55,250
I will never be Mehmed's prisoner again.
266
00:26:01,166 --> 00:26:04,208
Unhand me! I'm a prince!
267
00:26:04,291 --> 00:26:06,416
Şemsi Pasha!
Where are you taking them?
268
00:26:08,250 --> 00:26:09,750
Where are you taking them?
269
00:26:09,833 --> 00:26:12,416
This is no concern of yours,
Prince Mehmed.
270
00:26:12,500 --> 00:26:15,791
- Go back to sleep!
- Mehmed! Stop them, please!
271
00:26:15,875 --> 00:26:17,041
Let me go!
272
00:26:18,375 --> 00:26:20,000
Get your hands off!
273
00:26:20,916 --> 00:26:22,250
Let me go!
274
00:26:23,625 --> 00:26:27,125
You are in the sultan's court.
You will control yourself.
275
00:26:27,208 --> 00:26:28,208
Let me go!
276
00:26:28,250 --> 00:26:29,250
Enough!
277
00:26:38,833 --> 00:26:39,916
Your father
278
00:26:40,708 --> 00:26:42,041
has betrayed the oath
279
00:26:43,250 --> 00:26:45,666
he swore on your lives here in this court.
280
00:26:48,125 --> 00:26:51,916
He has joined the Hungarians
and taken up arms against me at Varna.
281
00:26:52,583 --> 00:26:53,875
Prince Vlad!
282
00:26:55,333 --> 00:26:56,333
Prince Radu.
283
00:26:58,083 --> 00:27:00,083
You are to be executed.
284
00:27:05,041 --> 00:27:07,625
Kill me if you must, Sultan,
285
00:27:08,833 --> 00:27:11,791
but please spare my brother.
286
00:27:14,666 --> 00:27:18,708
So there is still some honor left
in the House Drăculeşti, huh?
287
00:27:28,958 --> 00:27:31,458
Şemsi Pasha tells me you are arrogant,
288
00:27:33,125 --> 00:27:34,250
and willful...
289
00:27:40,708 --> 00:27:43,708
but that you already show
great skill with a sword.
290
00:27:46,166 --> 00:27:47,833
So what am I to do with you?
291
00:27:54,791 --> 00:27:57,166
The price of my mercy is loyalty.
292
00:28:01,041 --> 00:28:04,791
You will be vassals
of the Ottoman court for life.
293
00:28:07,208 --> 00:28:08,791
When called upon,
294
00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:13,458
you will take up your sword
against our enemies.
295
00:28:17,041 --> 00:28:18,291
Now swear this,
296
00:28:20,333 --> 00:28:21,625
and I will spare you.
297
00:28:22,625 --> 00:28:24,625
I swear it, Sultan.
298
00:28:25,125 --> 00:28:26,166
And you, Vlad?
299
00:28:27,166 --> 00:28:30,000
Do it, Vlad! Please!
300
00:28:34,291 --> 00:28:37,583
Choose your next words carefully, boy.
301
00:28:49,875 --> 00:28:54,250
You have my loyalty, Sultan.
302
00:29:21,083 --> 00:29:22,083
What's happened?
303
00:29:23,083 --> 00:29:24,458
My father
304
00:29:25,250 --> 00:29:26,416
has abandoned us.
305
00:29:32,208 --> 00:29:33,500
We are a family now.
306
00:29:34,583 --> 00:29:35,583
We are brothers.
307
00:29:36,750 --> 00:29:39,666
No, I'm your prisoner.
308
00:29:47,125 --> 00:29:51,500
The two sons are essentially abandoned
and forgotten about completely by Vlad II.
309
00:29:52,166 --> 00:29:54,416
The problem
that Vlad Dracula gets from this
310
00:29:54,500 --> 00:29:57,083
is that he essentially begins
to trust no one.
311
00:29:57,166 --> 00:30:01,250
The Ottomans did not kill
Vlad the son and his brother, Radu,
312
00:30:01,333 --> 00:30:06,666
because they believed that they would be
more useful when they're alive.
313
00:30:06,750 --> 00:30:09,375
If the Ottomans wanted to put
somebody else on the throne,
314
00:30:09,458 --> 00:30:12,541
and they have two candidates
right under their nose, why kill them?
315
00:30:12,625 --> 00:30:14,083
They're cold-blooded people.
316
00:30:14,166 --> 00:30:16,458
They've been playing this game
for quite some time now.
317
00:30:35,791 --> 00:30:40,875
Vlad's army is encamped somewhere
in the woods near here. 3,000, 4,000 men,
318
00:30:40,958 --> 00:30:43,125
with several thousand more
all along the river.
319
00:30:43,208 --> 00:30:46,333
They do not have great numbers,
but they are dangerous.
320
00:30:46,416 --> 00:30:48,666
We have signaled
that we will be crossing here,
321
00:30:48,750 --> 00:30:50,791
where it's shallower
and the river narrows.
322
00:30:50,875 --> 00:30:54,541
They will be expecting us there,
laying in wait,
323
00:30:54,625 --> 00:31:00,583
but this is where we'll land
5,000 Janissaries and artillery
324
00:31:00,666 --> 00:31:03,750
as the first wave of our attack
led by Mahmud Pasha.
325
00:31:05,708 --> 00:31:09,000
Mahmud Pasha comes from the ranks
of the Janissaries,
326
00:31:09,083 --> 00:31:12,916
and he is someone
that Mehmed trusts an awful lot.
327
00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:14,500
He's a very successful general.
328
00:31:14,583 --> 00:31:19,458
Mahmud Pasha was also
a very capable, uh, commander
329
00:31:19,541 --> 00:31:20,541
and a military man.
330
00:31:22,416 --> 00:31:24,750
And how do you know
that this location is secure?
331
00:31:26,583 --> 00:31:28,750
I went ashore there yesterday.
332
00:31:28,833 --> 00:31:31,083
The riverbank is flat,
and there's tall grass,
333
00:31:31,166 --> 00:31:33,583
which will give us cover
to set up our artillery.
334
00:31:33,666 --> 00:31:35,375
I saw no sign of Vlad's men.
335
00:31:36,083 --> 00:31:38,708
We have 70 barges
to get our troops across.
336
00:31:38,791 --> 00:31:42,916
First, Mahmud Pasha and the Janissaries,
with half of our cannons,
337
00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:46,250
then the barges will return
for the rest of our soldiers and guns.
338
00:31:46,333 --> 00:31:48,875
Stealth and speed is of the essence.
339
00:31:49,916 --> 00:31:51,916
Shouldn't we deploy
all of our cannons and mortars
340
00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:53,791
across the river as quickly as possible?
341
00:31:53,875 --> 00:31:55,250
Mahmud Pasha, I can assure you
342
00:31:55,333 --> 00:31:57,750
all of our firepower
will be ready when needed.
343
00:31:57,833 --> 00:32:02,333
Sultan, this will leave us open to attack
while we wait there for the others.
344
00:32:02,416 --> 00:32:06,250
You and the Janissaries
will hold the landing spot.
345
00:32:12,041 --> 00:32:15,583
I hope to kill that traitorous bastard
before you set foot in Wallachia.
346
00:32:17,291 --> 00:32:18,291
Sultan.
347
00:32:39,666 --> 00:32:46,208
On the evening of June 4, 1462,
Mehmed launches the invasion of Wallachia.
348
00:33:11,458 --> 00:33:12,458
Let's go.
349
00:33:27,916 --> 00:33:30,083
The first Ottoman boats set out
350
00:33:30,166 --> 00:33:31,916
for the Wallachian side of the Danube,
351
00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:35,875
uncertain of what awaits them
in the vast darkness ahead.
352
00:33:44,500 --> 00:33:48,416
If the currents are favorable,
they should be across in one hour.
353
00:33:49,750 --> 00:33:50,750
Good.
354
00:33:52,416 --> 00:33:54,000
The crossing of the Danube
355
00:33:54,083 --> 00:33:56,666
almost feels like something
out of Omaha Beach in D-Day.
356
00:33:56,750 --> 00:33:59,208
Seventy barges of infantry that cross,
357
00:33:59,291 --> 00:34:01,583
like landing craft landing on the beach.
358
00:34:01,666 --> 00:34:04,916
They bring light artillery
across with them as well.
359
00:34:05,000 --> 00:34:07,875
Now, it takes every man
to know what he's supposed to do.
360
00:34:07,958 --> 00:34:10,250
This is not some blood or glory charge.
361
00:34:10,333 --> 00:34:13,166
This is well-organized maneuvers
362
00:34:13,250 --> 00:34:16,666
to take out an enemy
who has the advantage of the terrain,
363
00:34:16,750 --> 00:34:18,458
has the advantage of being dug in,
364
00:34:18,541 --> 00:34:22,166
and has also got very heavy firepower.
365
00:34:22,666 --> 00:34:27,291
They really are modern in the application
of the science of warfare.
366
00:34:28,500 --> 00:34:32,666
The engineering genius of Mehmed
does show at every level.
367
00:34:37,458 --> 00:34:40,833
As Mehmed's shock troops
stealthily approach,
368
00:34:40,916 --> 00:34:43,166
the Wallachian shore comes into view.
369
00:34:49,166 --> 00:34:50,625
You better get ready, boys.
370
00:35:37,833 --> 00:35:40,291
Release!
371
00:35:40,375 --> 00:35:41,375
Shields!
372
00:35:57,916 --> 00:35:59,416
They were waiting for us.
373
00:36:02,333 --> 00:36:04,833
Brother Vlad has shown his hand too early.
374
00:36:05,708 --> 00:36:07,083
Now he will lose it.
375
00:36:12,583 --> 00:36:15,125
Keep going! Keep going!
376
00:36:15,208 --> 00:36:17,666
Keep going! Faster!
377
00:36:26,625 --> 00:36:28,750
- Ready the cannons.
- Yes, Sultan.
378
00:36:32,416 --> 00:36:33,750
Ready the cannons!
379
00:36:46,916 --> 00:36:47,958
Fire!