Original subtitles

His eminence arnaldo, bishop of Paris.

Eminence, everything is prepared.

Take all the time you need.

When you are satisfied, we will gladly bind it for you.

Thank you.

Woman: How could it had been otherwise

that a woman had once occupied the papal throne

was a disgrace to the church?

Of course, Johanna was not mentioned in the 'chronicle of the popes'.

But was there truly to be no trace of her existence?

Was she to be banished from history altogether?

A woman who had accomplished so much?

The first day of Johanna"s life

was the last of charlemagne's.

They called him the great,

but in the eastern part of the frankish empire,

in former germania,

people had terrible memories of the emperor and his soldiers,

who fought the heathen faith for years with flame and sword.

But now, people have enough difficulty

just surviving the winter.

What are you doing, woman?

This will ease her pain.

The word of our lord...

“In sorrow shalt thou bring forth children.”

Then I need your help. We don't have much time.

That's women's work, lowly and unclean.

Then your wife will die.

That rests in god's hand, not mine.

It will be difficult raising two boys without a mother.

What do you want me to do? Sit behind her.

Support her back.

Now, take this cloth.

Don't cry, Johannes.

Pull to one side.

Push.

Oh, my.

It's a girl.

Healthy and strong, by the look of her.

A girl.

She will be named Johanna.

Johanna was a gifted child

and she had a clear mind.

Her hunger for knowledge was insatiable.

In spite of her youth,

she had an innate wisdom way beyond her years.

Woman: Do you know its name? Marigold.

And what does it do?

Helps us when we have a stomach ache or when we hurt ourselves.

Very good, little quail. You learn quickly.

So father will teach me too?

Father: Again.

We should get dinner ready. Right away.

Boy: Quis est deneficium... Father: No, 'beneficium'.

Do you know the difference between a 'b' and a 'd'?

Boy: Keep trying, Johannes, father will be back soon.

I cannot do it!

What does it say?

The psalm 'confitebor'.

Confitebor tibi domine

in Toto corde meo

mirabo omnia mirabilia tua.

Where did you... I've been listening.

I want to read the psalms too. And write.

Will you teach me?

I cannot do that, little sister.

Why not?

Father would never allow it.

Why not?

Because it is forbidden for girls.

It would be blasphemy.

And because girls cannot learn to read and write, just like mother.

And just like you.

Please, Matthew. I won't tell.

You are a wonder, little sister.

And do you know what you just wrote?

Lord, thy grace reaches as far as the heavens

and thy truth as far as the clouds.

Saint Catherine would be very proud of you.

Who is that?

She lived centuries ago in Alexandria.

Even though she was a woman and still quite young,

she was learned and wise.

Tell me more about her.

Catherine was a king's daughter.

Among the pagan romans, she dared to become a Christian.

How fare you, knight Johannes?

Will the heathen tribes still not convert to christianity?

They must or they'll all be killed.

Only, you should give them time to make up their minds.

Where were we?

Sword. Rumpia.

Heart. Cor.

Knowledge. Scientia.

Holy bush. Even you don't know that one!

Ohh!

Help!

Johanna: Tell me that story again about Odin.

Although he was already very wise, Odin always sought more knowledge.

So he came to the well of wisdom.

But the giant mimir, guardian of the well,

told Odin,

“wisdom is always bought with pain.”

Please don't stop.

In return for a drink from the well,

mimir demanded one of Odin's eyes.

Odin gave up one of his eyes, drank from the well

and passed his knowledge on to mankind.

To girls as well?

If father won't let me learn to read and write,

maybe Odin will share his knowledge with me.

How dare you?

You're back already, husband? Under this roof!

How dare you pray to your pagan gods?

The child was frightened. So I told her a harmless story.

Harmless?

You call such blasphemy harmless?

Please don't, father. Get out of here!

Go. Quick, go. Go.

Heathen creature!

Ugh!

Do you renounce Satan? Hmm?

Ahh! Say the words.

Say the words!

I renounce Satan and his evil and all the temptations of evil!

No. No!

Say the words again.

Outside. Quick.

Huh?

Why?

Why?

Father forbade mother to worship our heathen gods.

And in the Bible, it says that women must obey their husbands.

But in the Bible it also says,

“love is patient. Love is kind. Love is not angered.”

I have read it myself.

And if father ever finds out, you will be next.

Father: Keep praying, my son, for god will hear you.

Think of the honours that will soon be yours...

Going to the cathedral school.

God intends for you to be a scholar and a priest.

You must be strong for him.

You have to get well again. Who else is going to teach me?

There is not much more I can teach you, little sister.

I have something for you.

Turn it around.

“Saint Catherine of Alexandria.”

You are sisters in spirit.

She will guide you, like a sister.

Tell me, child, do you know where the priest's house is?

Yes, sir.

And who are you, industrious girl?

I'm his daughter, Johanna.

God be with you, Johanna. My name is aesculapius.

I would very much like to speak with your father.

Father: Your coming here shames me, sir.

You were the schoolmaster. I should have searched you out.

I thank you, sir,

and your wife and your children.

The bishop has told me of your misfortune...

And that you'd now like to send your second son

to the cathedral school.

Johannes is a worthy replacement for his brother.

He's a smart boy. Eager to learn.

To meet such children makes the long journey worthwhile.

Though, I was disappointed not to find any works by Plato.

Plato?

His works are hardly appropriate study for a Christian.

So you don't find any significance in his works?

Faith is grounded on the authority of the holy scripture

and not on the writings of philosophy.

But you have to admit our ability to think rationally

is god-given.

From him alone.

Then why fear to expose faith to the light of reason?

Since god himself gave us reason, how could it lead us from him?

Does fear of logic show a lack of faith in god's omniscience

and his love for mankind?

A solid faith need have no fear

because if god exists, logic can only take us to him.

Cogito, ergo deus est.

I think, therefore god exists.

Johanna felt the truth in aesculapius's words,

“I think, therefore god exists.”

And she knew her father was wrong.

Her love of knowledge was heither sinful hor unnatural.

It was god's gift to mankind.

Johanna had blamed herself for Matthew's death.

But now she knew her desire to learn had not cost him his life,

Matthew died because no-one knew how to help him.

She understood then and there

that it was her duty fo expand her knowledge

and to put her abilities to work for the greater good.

Johannes: S-s-5_

Simile est grano

sinapis quod a-a-ac-acceptum...

The boy is confused. Believe me, he can do better.

_h-hortum

eh...

_et-et crevit et.

You're a disgrace.

Let him go.

God did not intend every child to study scripture.

Johanna: Simile est grano sinapis

quod acceptum homo misit in hortum suum

et crevit et factum est in arborem magnam

et volucres caeli requieverunt in ramis eius.

You know how to read? And write.

Matthew taught me.

How dare you?

I can take Matthew's place at the schola and study.

I can make you proud, father.

Unnatural creature.

You have brought god's wrath down upon us.

Did you understand what you just read?

“It's similar to a mustard seed,

“that a man took and planted in his garden.

'And it grew and became a tree,

“and the birds of the sky lived in its branches.”

And what you think is meant by the mustard seed?

Perhaps it's faith, planted in the heart

like a mustard seed in the garden.

And if you tend to it, a big tree will grow from it.

But perhaps it also means the church.

It too started like a mustard seed,

small and in the dark,

but thanks to Jesus and the apostles, it grew and grew.

She must has persuaded her brother to teach her behind my back.

I will punish her accordingly.

And the birds that nest in the branches?

They are the faithful who find salvation in the church.

And the mustard seed could also represent Jesus Christ,

for he was like a seed when he was buried

and like a tree when he was resurrected and Rose towards heaven.

Thank you.

You heard that?

The mustard seed is the symbol of faith,

of the church and of Christ.

A classical scriptural exegesis.

Your daughter displays an extraordinarily sharp mind.

I will teach her.

A girl? You're not serious?

I am.

Of course, they would never approve her in Rome and to the schola.

I will come and teach her here as often as I can.

And what about the boy?

Forgive me,

but the schola is not for your son.

He is to be passed over

while a mere girl gets to study the holy scripture?

Out of the question.

It would be sacrilege to waste such an alert mind.

No.

Either you teach both or neither.

This is by Cicero,

the greatest orator Rome ever knew.

And they let you bring it?

No.

But why should only the boys at the cathedral school

be the ones to enjoy the offerings of the library?

The academy in Athens stood for a thousand years,

then emperor justinian forbade it.

A great age of philosophers ended.

So where could you study their writings?

How could all that knowledge be preserved for so long?

Well, in that same year,

Saint Benedict founded his monastery in montecassino.

Soon, many others were built.

And within their protected walls,

the legacies of the wise greeks and romans

could be handed down through the centuries.

The earth is the centre of the universe.

We are encircled by a crystal shells,

the sphere to which the planets are attached.

Pythagoras says they even make music as they turn.

L... have bad news.

Another man has applied for the position of schoolmaster

and the bishop thinks he is better suited than I.

No, that... that cannot be.

I'll go to Byzantium

and I will do whatever I can

to make sure your precious gifts do not go unused.

I promise you.

This is for you.

It is homer's 'odyssey'...

The oldest poetic work known to mankind.

First, the Greek original

followed by the Latin translation.

Where did you get this book?

Aesculapius gave it to me.

What kind of language is this?

How can you read this? It's Greek, father.

I learnt it from aesculapius.

Huh. No.

Ahh!

You have insulted god with your disobedience.

As the punishment, you will work day and night,

taking nothing but bread and water

until every last word of un-Christian writing is erased.

Begin. Begin!

Begin!

Harder.

No.

Then I will teach you to fear the pains of hell.

No!

She's your own child. Out of here. Both of you!

Please, mama. Come.

Bare your back and kneel.

Say the lord's prayer.

Our father, which art in heaven...

Keep going.

Or did that heretic teach you a different prayer?

Hallowed be... oww!

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 that trespass against us.

Are you the priest of this village? I am.

I am an envoy from the bishop of dorstadt.

Dorstadt?

You've been on the road for weeks just to find me?

Not entirely.

Johannes.

The bishop is calling you to the schola.

Forgive me, sir, but I'm here to bring a girl to dorstadt.

A girl named... Johanna.

I'm Johanna. I'm to go to the schola.

It's ridiculous! Johannes, Johanna - a small mistake in the writing.

It happens even to the best of scribes.

That may be... use your head.

What's a girl supposed to do in the cathedral school?

Huh?

You're the mother. What do you say?

Disrespectful man.

You dare doubt the word of a devoted servant of the lord?

Calm yourself, pious father.

Remember the authority that I represent.

You must have known about these plans.

The bishop does not just send for any child,

so which one am I supposed to take to dorstadt?

You ought to take the boy.

Then...

So shall it be.

Hurry. A raft is waiting for us.

Come. Come.

Pack your things.

Johannes, it's time.

Prove yourself worthy of receiving so much good. Go now.

Give this letter to the bishop.

Don't dare to open it yourself.

Arggh!

Johannes?

Johanna!

Man: How long till we get there?

Do you see them? Looks like mud banks.

For seven days, the two of them rode the rhine downstream.

Many of the raftsmen were captivated by Johanna's wisdom

and touched by her story.

Johanna knew god wanted to rescue her from her miserable existence.

Why else would he have allowed her to find her brother?

The lord had reached out his hand to her

and she felt compelled to take it.

Johannes: This is from the bishop. We're expected at the schola.

Ah. Through there.

The bishop's seal?

Pardon me, your eminence. The girl has arrived.

Girl?

You had her fetched from ingelheim.

Oh, yes. Now I remember.

That Greek scholar's idea.

But am I seeing double?

The boy's her brother.

Their father, a priest, insists

that he too be allowed to attend the schola.

What do you know? I send for one, I get two.

If only the emperor were as generous

as these holy men from the countryside.

Well, are you really the little scholar

they've described you as?

I've studied hard, sir.

It is said you can read and write Greek.

Remarkable.

Not even our highly regarded odo has mastered it.

Right, odo?

You know full well that I cannot condone this new whim of yours.

It is also pointless.

Women do not possess natural ability to draw logical conclusions.

The useful sections of the female brain are so small,

women are incapable of understanding higher ideas or concepts.

Saint Paul himself has asserted this truth,

that women are subservient to men

as determined by the order of creation,

hierarchy and strength of will.

Well, young scholar,

have you nothing to counter with?

How can woman be second to man in creation?

She was made out of Adam's rib.

Adam, on the other hand, was moulded from common Clay.

Go on.

As for strength of will,

woman can be viewed as superior to man -

Eve ate from the apple out of love of knowledge and learning,

Adam ate only because Eve asked him to.

The child's an inspiration!

Just what we need here in the schola.

Odo, you have two new students.

Has your eminence decided yet where the child should be housed?

Obviously she cannot live in the boys' dormitory.

The girl can live with me and my family.

She'll be a good companion for my two daughters.

Excellent, count gerold.

The girl will stay with you.

Welcome to villaris, Johanna.

Good evening, sir. Good evening.

What is the meaning of this?

Richilde.

May I present to you Johanna.

Johanna, this is my wife, richilde, the lady of the house.

Johanna arrived today to begin her studies at the schola.

A girl?

A girl is to attend the cathedral school?

At the request of the bishop.

He's a disgrace to the church.

Johanna is going to live with us.

With us?

This country bumpkin?

Richilde, you forget yourself.

Johanna is a guest of this house

and she should be treated as such.

Have no fear. You'll be fine here.

What are you looking at? Why are you not working?

Forgive me, I...

Silence.

Is there a mistake in the writing?

Well, no.

But still, your hand,

it is not sure enough here and here.

What excuse do you have for... For such slovenly work?

I have no excuse, sir.

To atone for your carelessness and so you may learn

the meaning of humility,

you will clean the floor tonight.

During that time, you will contemplate

the writings of Saint Paul about the position of women.

Do you know them?

“I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over man,

“but to be in silence.”

You ought to remember it well.

Yes, schoolmaster.

Girls, Gisele, Johanna.

Be sensible with these, you hear me? Go on.

Man: A fair price.

Man: Boars' heads. Come and get your trotters.

Thank you. Here you are.

Ohh!

Just open your eyes. Can't you see it's there?

Johanna: But they are blind.

If they kill the pig, they get the meat.

Ahh!

Person: Psst! Psst!

Psst! Young woman.

Do you know what this is?

Milk of the holy virgin Mary.

There were only five of these bottles.

This 1s the last.

And since you are such a friendly girl,

I will give it to you...

For a mere denarius.

Are you mad? How dare you?!

Forgive me, sir,

but even the milk of the virgin will be spoiled after 800 years.

The milk is holy! It cannot spoil!

Perhaps not. But how did it stay warm all these years?

And how can you ask such a low price for something so holy?

Are you laughing at me?

No, not at all.

I'm in awe of you, Johanna, with all my heart.

Oh, look.

Parchments.

Hmm. What is this?

The writing is in Greek but I don't understand the drawings.

Apparently some sort of construction plan.

Can you translate?

It looks like a pulley, but not one you move with your hands.

How much?

Maybe we could build it together.

I see you have an eye for a bargain.

The paper might be old but it can still be put to use.

Come! Come!

It works.

It works!

Do you still think it was a sin to accept Johanna to the schola?

You should take this girl as a model.

Her work is perfect.

What is troubling you?

The norsemen are pushing deeper and deeper into our land.

But surely we are safe here.

They've even taken Paris.

The emperor is assembling troops.

You're going away to war?

Yes. In a few days.

No more dark thoughts. Come, I want to show you something.

What is it?

Don't move. Just stay there.

Now, watch this.

The Greek apparatus. Yes.

Only bigger.

Look at this!

Can we see it again?

Well, we'll have to get more water from the stream.

Where are the buckets?

I'm going to tell the bishop all about your skill.

He will name you chief constructor of the city

and free you from your duties to the emperor.

Then you will not have to go to war.

What do you say to that?

What's wrong, wise Archimedes?

Suddenly so speechless?

Ohh!

Ahh!

Forgive me.

I should take you home as long as I have the willpower.

Trust me, it's better this way.

Richilde: You have done well, schoolmaster, and I thank you.

As soon as my husband leaves for the north,

I will deal with this annoying problem.

I will not allow this little nobody to embarrass me

in front of the entire city.

You are aware that the bishop holds his protective hand over the girl?

Not for long, schoolmaster. Not for long.

Bishop: You would force the girl to marry against her will?

What does your husband say about the matter?

He does not know.

Gerold"s feelings cloud his judgement.

Once Johanna marries,

she will no longer be allowed to attend the schola.

That is why I'm here to ask your consent.

I see.

For many years, she has been fed and clothed by my family.

How long must we provide such charity?

The blacksmiths son is a good match.

He's blunt and illiterate.

May I remind you that Johanna was put in my custody.

As the lady of villaris, I have the right

and the duty to arrange her future.

You want me to scribe a letter, my lady?

I would do it myself if I could.

But as a noble lady, reading and writing are beneath me.

To whom would you like the letter addressed?

To your father.

Well, reverend sir,

I write to inform you of the betrothal of your daughter, Johanna.

Betrothal?

You cannot do that. It has already been decided.

But...

Gerold's told me what happened down by the river

and we had a good laugh over it.

It can't be.

Marrying you off was his idea, silly girl.

This was not the first time, believe me.

Gerold has been playing this game for years.

I've got used to it.

Gerold is a knight.

He needs to conquer.

Well, now, you finally see?

So, to get on with the letter.

Johannes: I hate you.

You talked me into coming here.

I never should have listened.

What do you mean?

I was only allowed to attend the schola because of you.

Now I have to leave too.

Now you can become a soldier like you always wanted.

You're wrong.

Do you remember the letter father gave me on the day we left?

The bishop gave it back to me and he intends to obey father's will -

if I don't succeed at school,

they're to send me to the monastery at fulda.

But I'd rather die!

And you came here to tell me...

To tell you that you've brought me nothing but trouble.

You always had to be different, no matter the price.

You had to learn to read and write, even though it's unnatural.

I wish you'd never been born.

Man: Ohh.

Behold the word of god! And dare not enter...

Man: It's the norsemen!

Run!

Arrgh!

Johannes anglicus.

Since her father was an englishman,

the Abbot chose this monastic name for Johanna

when she was accepted by the brotherhood at fulda.

For years she was able to keep her secret

and all the brothers took her to be a young man.

Impressed by her linguistic ability,

the Abbot assigned Johanna the task

of translating their collection of Greek manuscripts on medicine.

Thus she was able to study the works of hippocrates and other scholars.

Good morning. Good morning.

Johanna had retained her mother's knowledge

of healing plants and herbs.

And she so impressed brother Benjamin,

the monastery's Medicus,

that he made her his pupil.

As a woman, her intelligence and her thirst for knowledge

had brought her derision and contempt.

Here in the monastery,

Johanna was praised and rewarded

for these very same qualities.

Yet Johanna was constantly aware

of the danger she faced every day.

Brother Johannes.

Are you wounded?

A small cut. Nothing more.

Johanna knew that exposure meant certain death.

She suffered most during the reading of chapters.

If a brother had found her out

or merely harboured a suspicion,

she would hear about it there.

Brothers,

before we discuss the temporal concerns of our monastic life,

are there any transgressions to confess?

Yes, father.

What offence have you committed, brother thedo?

I fell asleep while working in the scriptorium.

Again?

I am unworthy and sinful, father.

Please bring the harshest of punishments upon my head.

For three days, you will not be allowed at meals.

You are too lenient, father.

In light of the severity of my transgressions,

I beg you to extend it to a week.

God does not appreciate pride, brother thedo,

not even in suffering.

Does anyone else have any shortcomings to confess

or do you know of any misconduct of a brother?

It upsets me, but I must report

that a terrible sin has been committed within these very walls.

A most heinous crime.

Will the sinner not come forward?

This brother intends to secretly leave the monastery,

thereby breaking the holy oath he made to god.

It was my father's oath, not mine!

Your father placed you in the service of god.

To take such a gift away from the almighty

would be an unforgivable sin.

Is it not also a sin

to bind a man into a life contrary to his very nature and will?

Your soul is in rebellion, valentinus,

and therefore in terrible danger.

In order to find your way back to god in quiet and solitude,

you will not take meals with the brethren for 30 days

and you will not be allowed in the oratorium.

Why do you not just free me and cast me out of the monastery?

You will also thank brother odilo for his concern about your salvation

and wash his feet with due humility.

It is not faith that rules within these walls,

it is your tyranny.

The sickness of disobedience has taken hold of you, valentinus.

For your own good, we must banish it from your body.

Arggh!

Ahh!

Abbot: I hereby forbid you from entering any public places.

I forbid you to eat or drink in the presence of other people.

I forbid you from washing in any stretch of water

and from touching children or giving them anything.

I beseech you, Abbot, let me go home.

Four fatherless children await me.

Heaven will care for the innocent.

How, venerable father? How?

If I do not go home, they will die!

You may be dead in the eyes of the world,

but still you live in the eyes of the lord.

Forgive me, reverend father,

this woman is not a leper.

What are you talking about?

Her lesions are different and must therefore have a different origin.

God has marked her. We must not contradict his will.

She is marked, but not by leprosy.

Will god be pleased, if we consign to a living death

one who he himself has not elected?

Let me treat this woman so we do not make a sinful mistake.

How do we know you've correctly interpreted god's sign?

Is your pride so great that you place it above your brothers?

For if you administer to this woman,

you put the entire brotherhood at risk.

Not if you would allow me to leave the monastery with her.

I will vouch for brother Johannes, reverend Abbot.

He is pious and upstanding,

and will withstand all temptation.

Thank you, brother.

God bless you.

Girl: Papa! Papa!

Mama! Yes.

Give me the baby, Arn.

Ohh. Shh, shh.

Shh, shh, shh, shh.

What is your name?

Arn.

Arn, there is much work to be done here.

Will you help me?

Here you are.

What is still missing?

St John's wort. For itching.

And?

And maybe some yarrow. Very good.

You learn quickly.

I can write my name too. The priest showed me how.

If it were possible and your mother allowed it,

would you like to attend the monastic school?

Fulda lay far in the east,

so the people there were spared

the struggle over succession to the emperor's throne

that had devastated other parts of the frankish empire.

Before his death,

emperor Louis divided the empire among his three sons.

When the eldest, lothair, tried to claim the entire realm,

his two brothers Rose up against him.

Lothair lost the battle of fontenoy,

yet he retained a dominion stretching from the coast in the north

all the way down to Rome.

Abbot: Show your face, woman.

Praised be the lord.

Brothers: Praised be the lord.

So the years passed

and Johanna was convinced

she had found her rightful place in the world.

She perfected the art of disguise

and felt safe among the brothers.

But then, the fever came to the monastery.

Johannes!

Sit down.

We have to lower the fever. We have to get you undressed.

No. No!

We must apply cold linen, like you showed us.

I'm alright. Let me go! Garenor, thedo.

Brother Johannes has been working himself into a fever, you know.

Let him calm himself now. He too has the sickness.

Start soaking fresh linen.

Come, come.

You're too weak to walk far.

Take the rowing boat hidden in the reeds by the Ford.

You have to leave right away.

The brothers revere you.

To cure you, they will undress you by force and then...

Their reverence will not save you.

How long have you known?

For many years.

Why didn't you tell?

And Rob god of one of his most precious instruments?

Tell the brother at the gate he's needed here.

That will give you time.

May god protect you, sister.

You must hurry.

Come quickly, she's awake!

How are you feeling?

I'm hungry. This is a good sign.

It has been two days since we were able to feed you a bit of soup.

Where am I? Count riculf's estate.

50 miles downstream from fulda.

Your boat got tangled in the reeds along the shore.

You were half mad with fever.

So you saved my life.

And I thank god for giving me the chance

to repay you for what you did for me and my family.

Arn?

Pardon me, but...

But how should I address you...

Now... now that we know what we know?

Johanna.

My name is Johanna. Johanna.

This is my wife, bona.

And this is our daughter, arnalda.

God bless the three of you.

Tell me what happened.

My mother got married again. To a saddle maker.

As his apprentice, I accompanied him here to the count's estate.

Because I knew how to read and write, thanks to you,

he invited me to stay on the estate and help his steward.

The steward died two years ago and now...

And now Arn is the count's best man.

I have no doubt.

Please, eat.

Thank you.

When you have regained your strength,

you must tell us your whole story.

We are burning with curiosity.

If with that I can reward your family's kindness,

then I will gladly tell you everything.

This wheel needs attention again.

It's going to come off.

Johanna: And what is that? Arnalda: An oak.

That is right.

They grow to be hundreds of years old.

And if they could speak,

they would surely have hundreds of stories to tell.

Just like you.

Now something harder.

8 times 7.

How many fingers did you fold down?

Five.

And 10s? 50

and?

Six and 50 - 56.

Good!

What is that?

That? Yes.

Catherine was so wise

that the heathen emperor and his greatest scholars

could not turn her from her faith.

Instead, she convinced the scholars that god exists.

And she spoke so wonderfully of his acts and of paradise

that they all became christians on the spot.

She did well, then.

But she paid for her courage with her life.

Many were afraid of her wisdom.

But now she's in heaven and she watches over you.

And she taught us something important.

We have to stay true to our convictions

no matter how high the price.

Woman: I can help you in a moment.

Woman 2: Thank you.

Crisus, not too near the edge.

Are you coming to help me?

A pilgrimage? To Rome?

Thanks to you, I'm healthy again and strong enough

to go out and see the world.

But that is far too dangerous.

Not if I travel with other pilgrims disguised as a man.

We thought perhaps you would stay with us.

As you can see, there's always work to be done.

And here you would always be safe.

I appreciate your kindness, but...

I have lived so long as a man

and I'm afraid I would not be of much help to you.

But... bona: Let her.

She is meant for a different path

and we have no right to divert her from it.

I will miss you terribly.

A gift from the count.

And if you do not take it, I'm going to send you back to the monastery.

I do not know how to thank you.

Your father promised me that he would teach you.

Maybe one day you will even have a tutor.

Saint Catherine...

Will help you learn and use that knowledge for the benefit of others.

So take good care of her.

Despite poverty and overcrowding,

Rome remained a powerful attraction for people from far and wide.

For pilgrims and other travellers from abroad needing help or lodging,

a schola was always a secure haven.

Thanks to her name, anglicus,

Johanna was welcomed to the schola anglorum with open arms.

Before three years had passed,

Johanna's name was known to all Rome.

All: Qui es in caelis sanctificetur nomen tuum...

We must use this day before the moon passes into gemini,

an inauspicious time for blood-letting.

His condition worsens every day.

Must I? You must do something.

What if it's god's will that he die?

Your confidence is misplaced, my son.

You're still too inexperienced to be elected pope.

You underestimate me, arsenius.

For weeks, I've been the pope's proxy. Everyone seeks my council.

But the people of Rome do not know

what goes on inside these walls.

If sergius were to die, they'd choose another for their pope

and st Peter's throne will be out of our reach for years to come.

You're destined to be pope, my son,

to add this last and greatest Jewel to our family crown,

but we must not act rashly.

So, what if you were the one to save pope sergius?

My name would be on everyone's lips.

In the streets, there is talk of a healer from franconia.

A foreigner? Physicking a pope?

They say that he can diagnose a disease

by examining the patient's urine.

It's said that he's cured even lepers.

Man: Johannes anglicus.

Are you Johannes anglicus?

I am.

Ah, the famous miracle healer.

We are all burning with anticipation.

This urine from the pope is only an hour old.

Would you care to tell us what you can read in it?

It's a miracle!

Our holy father will give birth to a child.

Ennodius, you gave him a pregnant woman's urine?

I had to be sure

the pope was not falling into the hands of a charlatan.

He is a charlatan, just like all the others.

I don't trust them.

I'm anastasius, papal homenclator.

I sent for you to hear your opinion on the pope's condition.

Your reputation precedes you.

All: Pater noster qui es in caelis sanctificetur nomen tuum...

Ahh!

The pain!

I can bear it no longer.

Waldipert, more wine.

More.

Ahh.

Anastasius: Holy father...

This is Johannes anglicus, a healer of great renown.

Another doctor! To hell with him!

Where is that wine?!

No wine. Bring water.

I want wine!

Forgive me, holy father.

At least this one doesn't have the hands of a butcher!

Another blood-letting could kill him.

Will you prevent this from happening again?

What are you giving him?

His holiness suffers from gout...

A sickness widespread in my country.

He shows all the symptoms as described by hippocrates.

God would never allow such heathen teachings to cure the pope.

Continue.

I'm giving him root of colchicum and henbane to help him sleep.

The worst pain should be over soon.

Good.

Drink this.

His holiness needs rest.

Surely god can still hear our brothers' prayers

if they are spoken in the hallway.

Anastasius: He's old and weak, aio. He won't live to see another winter.

Aiqo: It is tempting indeed. But you are asking for only a small sum.

Well, should I one day need, say, your influence with the people of Rome,

I may ask you for a return of this favour.

But what if the pope refuses to make me a bishop?

Rest at ease, alo, papal decisions have not been made by the pope

for a long time.

How do you feel?

The pain is gone.

The pains... are gone!

I feel new-born.

And I am hungry.

Bring me some wine. Absolutely not.

A plate of vegetables and a jug of water.

The devil must have sent you.

I will not permit you to undo a week of recovery with a single meal.

What? An entire week?

Johannes anglicus never left your side, holiness.

Then it must have been god who sent you.

How can I thank you for your services, Johannes anglicus?

Allow me to return and see to your recovery.

No.

I wish for you to remain here.

There's something unusual about you, something missing from these walls.

If you wish it, holiness, I'm your humble servant.

Then it is settled.

Holiness, the papal court is meeting.

Would you care to preside?

Please, arighis, anastasius has been leading these meetings

for quite some time now.

Forgive me, holy father,

but the people did not choose anastasius as their supreme Shepherd.

They chose you.

And didn't you just say you felt new-born?

Did I?

It would be a sign.

And how long will this take, mamertus?

Construction could be completed by year's end.

I've secured the services of the best craftsmen in Rome.

And how expensive is this undertaking?

With the pope's support, it would...

His holiness!

Your holiness. Is this wise?

You should not put your recuperation at risk

just to observe this meeting.

Your concern for my health does you honour, nomenclator.

However, I am feeling quite well, thank you.

And I am here not just to observe,

I am here to preside.

I rejoice to hear it, as does all Rome.

Well, proceed.

Holy father, I was requesting permission

to rebuild the old orphanage into a hostelry for pilgrims.

And what will become of the orphans?

There are poorhouses that can take them.

This hostelry will be the pride of Rome.

Counts, Dukes, even kings, will seek to stay there.

Orphans are no less dear to god than kings.

Your request is denied, mamertus.

I've already made a deal with the nomenclator.

We have an arrangement, and payment has already been made.

Payment?

Well, holy father, mamertus offered a generous donation to the church

in order to expedite the success of his undertaking.

Ah! Blessed are all the merciful, for they shall find mercy.

We thank you for your generous donation, mamertus.

It will be used to help the orphans.

God will repay you.

Next.

Oh, tell me about yourself, Johannes.

You come from franconia, yet you are called anglicus.

My father came from britannia to preach god's word to the saxons.

Ah, the saxons. A godless people.

Most are christians now,

as much as any can be who are brought to the faith with fire and sword.

It is the church's duty to convert the heathens.

What value has any pledge exacted by force?

Yet Christ commands us to spread god's word

among all the races of the earth and baptise his people.

But consider the order of the commandment.

First teach the people, then baptise them.

How can we offer the sacrament of baptism

before faith is lodged in the heart?

You reason well.

Where were you educated?

A Greek schoolmaster by the name of aesculapius taught me.

Then I went to the schola in dorstadt

and later I joined the brotherhood at fulda.

Fulda.

The Abbot there recently presented me with a beautiful psalter.

When I thank him, I shall mention your skilled service.

I fear he would not speak well of me.

Why is that?

He holds obedience to be the greatest of the religious vows,

yet to me it has always come the hardest.

Is that so?

What about the other vows?

I was born into poverty and am accustomed to it.

What about chastity?

I have always resisted the temptations of women.

I'm glad to hear it.

Soon after, ennodius was expelled from the palace

and sergius made Johanna his personal physician.

He included her in political decisions as well.

Over the next few years,

Johanna became one of the pope's most trusted confidants.

Nicephorus would make a good bishop, holiness.

Yes?

He is not Roman, so many will be opposed to his appointment,

but he is a man of god and will remain true to you.

So it will be. Today I shall...

Holy father, the bishops need to see you urgently.

What's all this?

Emperor lothair is on the march to Rome,

recruiting troops in every city.

And he will be here in 10 days.

He has sworn revenge against Rome for our insult to him.

I predicted it.

Not to wait for the emperor's approval of your consecration was a provocation.

It was a sign of strength!

The frankish throne needs us more than we need it.

But now he's marching on Rome.

Spare me your counsel. I do not wish to hear it.

What is so important, count gerold?

There's been another incident.

Five soldiers pillaged a farmstead and nearly beat the farmer to death.

Have them whipped. Anything else?

Man: Radmus! Report for sentry duty.

You didn't disturb me just for this trifling matter?

My lord, with respect,

this entire campaign is irresponsible.

Instead of protecting our coast from the norsemen,

we're recruiting peasants

who don't even understand why we're marching against the pope.

Sergius publicly defied my royal authority.

But he has no army. So why are we gathering nearly 5,000 men?

The more impressively we march to Rome,

the more quickly the pope will surrender

and the sooner these blockheads can get back to their squalid homes,

where it seems you would rather be yourself.

As you know, I have no home. The army has become my home.

Still... enough.

Instead of lecturing your emperor,

you should be tending the black sheep in your ranks.

You may go.

By the way, gerold...

A bishop from Rome arrived a short while ago...

And seeks an audience with me.

Apparently, I was right to march with so many men.

Follow me, please.

Arighis?

What can I do?

The city's best engineers.

Can you summon them at once?

Man: They're here!

Emperor lothair,

before this holiest of shrines,

tabernacle of our lord Jesus Christ

and his earthly representative...

Kneel and show due respect.

It is you, holy father, who owes me a sign of respect

and I am here to demand it!

Lord!

Give us a sign!

Is seeing us not sign enough?!

Behold the hand of god which has bared

this holiest of his altars against you.

God has revealed himself to you, lothair.

If you respect him, his power, and his anointed representative,

then you are welcome in Rome.

However, if you dare show your sword at the tomb of the apostle,

the wrath of god will descend upon you

and your soldiers!

Man: Lay your swords!

Johanna: Can you be so pitiless, lord?

I thought I had banished him from my heart.

Must you test my resolve again?

Gerold: Johanna?

It really is you.

I never thought our apparatus would work on such heavy doors.

My men and I returned one day too late.

I searched for you for days,

but I also knew the norsemen to be merciless creatures

who often abduct women.

I buried your brother next to my daughters.

And after many weeks, when we still hadn't find a trace of you, I...

Forgive me, I buried you in spirit.

But you're alive.

How did you come to this?

God led me here on an unusual path.

Why did you want to marry that boy?

But you...

You yourself ordered it.

What? You wanted to marry me off.

Richilde told me everything.

She knew about us.

About what happened at the river.

How could she have known if not from you?

No, I swear to you, Johanna, I never.

She said I was just another one of your many conquests.

And you believed her?

Even then, I wanted you more than I have wanted any woman before.

But I didn't want you as my lover.

I wanted you as my wife.

Finally, the saviour of Rome shows his face.

We owe you a debt of gratitude, Johannes anglicus.

I have decided to name you papal homenclator.

But anastasius, he has held that position for years.

God has chosen you as his instrument

and I mean to obey his will.

You are too gracious, holy father.

Johannes, it is an exceptional position

and exceptional honour.

You will be first secretary to his holiness.

Surely we can allow the defender of the papal throne

a night to consider.

That cannot be!

Word has spread throughout the entire palace.

A foreigner to assume your position?

It will be a disgrace to our family!

I have distrusted this priest from the very beginning.

If only I had not listened to you.

I have to wonder,

the entire evening, the pope doesn't touch anything but fruit and water.

I was told he is a lover of rich food and wine.

For years, his physician has barred such pleasures.

Sergius eats like a penitent. He doesn't behave like one.

Instead of bowing to my power,

he frightens my soldiers with his cheap trickery.

Preventing this would have been a welcome proof of your loyalty.

Not even the inner circle knew of the scheme, my lord.

We thought the work being done on the cathedral

was merely to strengthen the doors.

And from what we can glean,

the physician had a hand in this as well?

A Medicus was behind this large a plan?

I admit we underestimated him and his influence.

Well...

If he is so influential...

Then perhaps he should be made to disappear.

Why chop off only a branch...

“When we can fell the entire tree?

I see you were not exaggerating when you called yourself ambitious.

I'm sure you understand, however,

that I will have to leave Rome as soon as possible.

If something, well, were to happen to the pope while I'm still in the city,

suspicion would fall on me and on every successor I might support.

Not to mention it is costing me a fortune

to keep these worthless soldiers.

Given the upcoming election of a new pope,

my money could be put to better use.

The vote of the people can be expensive.

My lord.

Johanna: I've heard that lothair is about to depart Rome.

I'm no longer going to serve the emperor.

Not now that I know you're alive.

You will lose villaris.

Yes.

But I've some good friends outside the army who will stay by me

and they need good men to work for them.

We could start a life together, Johanna.

Sergius has asked me to become nomenclator.

I can do so much good at his side.

But you're in grave danger at his side.

If you are discovered, you'll be killed.

I've learned to accept that danger.

You're that attached to the pope that you'd run such a risk?

I'm that attached to life as a man.

I'm independent, free to act and think as I wish, and I can be useful.

I have means here that other women never dream of.

You want me to give all this up

to live the confined existence of a wife tied to daily chores and duties?

I have no desire to tie you to anything.

I would honour you and care for you.

I have long cared for myself.

Forgive me.

I love you.

But my place is here.

Even if I have to accept your decision...

Still, you're in constant danger and I will not forsake you again.

Man: Heavenly father,

today the people of Rome are gathered

to choose a new lord pope.

According to law,

every Roman citizen, clergy and layman alike,

may raise his voice to tell us what god has inspired in him.

I nominate mercurius, bishop of Siena.

A wise man and a devoted servant of the church.

Mercurius is a candidate.

Romans, I submit the name of anastasius,

bishop of castellum,

son of noble arsenius.

He will defend not only the Christian faith,

but also the interests of the Roman people.

Your interests, you mean!

Crowd: Ohh!

Anastasius...

You bought your bishop with aio!

The man is right! Anastasius conspired with aio!

Let me through. The people need to hear this!

Anastasius is also a candidate.

Would anyone else like to nominate a worthy contender?

I nominate myself!

I am also from a noble house.

I donated my property to the church!

He had a knife. Did you see that? Now do you see the danger you are in?

Whoever would like to nominate someone else, come forward now.

No-one? So, then it's these two candidates.

Wait!

Romans, you know I have served the holy throne for many years

and I want only what is good for Rome.

Anastasius.

And surely his father too.

Their plan is working -

anastasius is being elected pope as we speak.

This is Rome, Johanna.

Here, inconvenient people are killed

no matter how good or powerful they are.

Then I must leave Rome.

I only want you to live, Johanna,

with or without me.

You deserve to be happy and do good,

but for that you don't need to be in Rome.

If you stay here, you will die.

If this is the true face of Rome...

I will go with you.

Once he is elected, anastasius will move against you immediately.

We must leave.

Through the will of almighty god and the people of our holy city...

You have been elected our new lord pope

and supreme bishop of Rome.

Johanna: Merciful god, is it truly your will

that someone such as I should sit in st Peter's chair?

Or will your just wrath strike me down

the moment the papal crown is placed on my head?

But then, why would you have led me here?

Why would you have tolerated me in your garden all these years?

Hold your hand over me, lord,

and I will be a faithful servant unto you.

Long live Johannes anglicus,

by god decreed

our chief bishop and universal pope.

Long live Johannes anglicus,

by god decreed

our chief bishop and universal pope.

Long live Johannes anglicus,

by god decreed

our chief bishop and universal pope.

Arighis.

Holiness.

May I too benefit from your experience,

your competence and your good heart...

As my nomenclator?

It would be an honour to serve you.

Then it shall be.

From what I have heard, I have you to thank for this heavy burden.

Leave me alone for a moment with the count.

You summoned me, holiness?

Will you ever forgive me?

The almighty and I seem to be in contest for the same woman.

Believe me, she wishes she could split herself in two.

Because I know I would have had a fulfilling life at your side.

But, apparently, this is my calling.

Please understand.

I will try.

All my life, I have searched for god

and now I have found him.

He's in the hope that people put in me.

He's in the good that I can do for them.

When I am doing god's will, I can feel him in my heart.

Anastasius will recover quickly from his defeat.

Then he will do everything in his power

to trouble you and depose you.

You know exactly what he's like.

Then stay with me

as superista, captain of the papal guard.

I'm stronger when I know you are near.

You're playing with fire, Johanna.

Johanna began her papacy full of purpose and zeal,

and she was determined to keep her promise.

She knew the suffering of the Roman people better than anyone

and she did all in her power to alleviate it.

She sent physicians to the slums

and decreed that collections from every third Sunday

were given to the poorhouses.

Soon, the romans named her papa populi...

The people's pope.

But Johanna wanted to be more than just a merciful bishop of Rome.

After all, she was spiritual head of the entire Christian church.

She summoned all the bishops fo Rome for a synod.

Many church doctrines were reviewed and reconsidered

and more resolutions passed than ever before.

Thank you. You may go.

Thank you, selestinus.

I won't be needing you any more tonight.

Merciful god.

Now we must leave Rome.

If you are discovered, they will torture you to death.

Johanna...

I understand you better than you think.

I know your heart is torn,

but now you are with child, the decision is out of our hands.

Give me until easter.

That is more than three months away.

I can do so much with that time.

Yes, but whatever you do, your successors can easily undo.

Not when they see that it is good.

If need be, I will get you out of this city,

even against your will.

Man: Holiness, this cannot truly be your intent!

It is. Why else would I trouble you with it?

A school for girls?

Never before...

Never has there been such a thing!

You mean we should abandon the idea just because it's new?

We can only be sure of one truth,

the truth that has been handed down to us through the ages.

Everything that is old was once new.

Holiness, as I'm sure you know,

the more a girl learns, the smaller her womb becomes.

Where did you read that?

It's... it is commonly knowledge.

So common that no-one has bothered to write it down?

You do not need books for what is obvious to all.

No-one has written that wool comes from sheep,

but yet it is known to all.

Then how do you explain the extraordinary fertility

of educated women like laeta?

She exchanged letters with st Jerome,

who reports that she brought 15 children into the world.

An aberration. Mm-hm.

A rare exception to the rule.

Jordanes, if I remember correctly,

your sister Julia can read and write.

Just enough to keep the household books.

Nonetheless, according to your theory,

these abilities must have had their effect on her fertility.

How many children has she birthed?

I haven't counted them.

Is it not 127

another aberration?

I promise, if in 20 years there aren't any children left in Rome,

I'll close the school.

I thank you all.

Anastasius: His holiness does not understand

that he needs strong allies.

He's not learned that even a pope must show gratitude.

Well, what do you expect from a stranger?

Maybe we should build a school for him.

Let me put it bluntly, my friends,

the church does not need a glib charmer of the people.

It needs a man of influence.

A man whose family has shaped Rome's destiny for decades.

No doubt you mean a man like you?

Who's not afraid to show his strength.

You want to take the papal throne by force.

Let us call it... liberate.

Man: Are you sure it can be done?

Such a bold plan requires the support of influential people.

It seems I have that already.

Still, is that also true of the papal guard?

They are devoted to their captain.

So he seems to be the key to our success.

Are you feeling unwell?

It's nothing. I'm fine.

Holy father, show mercy and give me your coat - mine is old and dirty.

With that ring on your finger, I could feed my family for a year.

We don't need a procession. We need bread.

Here, look what we have to eat.

Come on!

Arighis, what if it's a trap?

Calm yourself, holiness, no-one threatens the superista.

Watch out!

Ahh!

Arighis, stop them. Now!

I command you to help your superista.

Holiness...

Arggh!

Arggh!

A.

Arggh!

Arggh!

Lean on me.

After Johanna's death,

anastasius occupied the lateran palace

and claimed st Peter's throne for himself.

But the romans, horrified by this violent grab for power,

refused to accept him.

Soon word spread

that it was anastasius who had ordered gerold's murder.

Even his own supporters turned against him.

And anastasius was deposed and sent into monastic exile.

But hatred festered within him.

And after many years,

he finally found a way fo take his revenge on Johanna.

He wrote the 'liber pontificalis',

a chronicle of all the popes.

All except Johanna.

He concealed her papacy

and erased her entire existence.

Rome and the church were delighted with the book

and made sure fo circulate it widely.

It helped them forget this most shameful chapter in their history.

40 years after Johanna's death,

I too heard about the suppression of her papacy

and made my way fo Rome.

So extraordinary a life must not be forgotten.

There should be at least one manuscript

where the truth can be read.

My father, Arn, my entire family

have so much to thank her for.

This act is the very least I could do for Johanna.

Following in her footsteps,

I wonder if I have met other sisters over the years

without recognising them,

other women who chose the same arduous path as I did.

How many of us are there?

With this book, a debt is paid and something new begins.

One day, someone will read these pages

and once again Johanna's story will be told.