"BATTLE OF CÃLUGÃRENI" "For over a 100 years, Europe shudders from the Ottoman army strikes." "In 1593 A.D, sultan Murrat the 3rd urges his troops led by Sinan Paºa towards Vienna, ...the last obstacle towards a disunite Europe." "Like a miracle that was repeated along the centuries, in the way of this armies, three insignificant countries:" "Valahia, Transilvania and the Moldova country, were going to play a decisive role." "Facing this hard time, a man appeard to be where it supposed to be, and to fulfil his fate." "The son of Pãtraºcu, came to perish, to flee or to win reigning." "MICHAEL THE BRAVE" "Eat, noblemen..." "Feed yourself my dears..." "'Cause you're weak..." "Or, you don't like my meal..." "Yes we do it's good food..." "Good?" "Good milord, good..." "You hear me Partenie, let it be lesson for you to be against me, next time." "Pull him !" "Nooo... !" "Eat...or you don't like it." "Yes we do like it milord." "I know, you're afraid..." "But in this times, there's no other way." "I am faithful to you guys, Selim Paºa..." "Tell that to the great sultan." "I gave you as a gift two waggons of stout children though, because of the custom, I'd give you..." "two waggons with gold, ...if you'd give me..." "the head of you know who..." "And what if..." "he deserves much more ?" "Alexander Vodã has forgiven you..." "No, and neither do I." "Michael, I followed you like a shadow and I always was the way you wanted me to be." "But now there's not even ashes out of our house..." "And we hide in the strangers." "The lord of the country made a price for your head." "Where do you want to get ?" "At the end, Stanca." "Wherever this end may be." "Alexander Vodã's men are on my trace." "I've stopped only for a moment." "Where is Nicolae(Nicholas) ?" "I've hid him." "Where ?" "I'll take him with me." "No !" "His life is in danger." "Alexander will look for revange seeing that I've speared them." "No." "I won't give it to you." "I'm not used to speak to me like this." "Then get used to it." "You took everything Michael." "And even you will succeed to get where you want." "You won't have to give me back the peaceful happiness that lasted so short." "Don't worry." "Nobody will put their hands on my son." "Neither you !" "Especially you !" "For rebellion, by Alexander Vodã's order, you're caught, Chief of Craiova." "Not in the church." "I'm afraid for a trap." "You are handsome and stupid Hasan." "Don't you understand that I've promised him ?" "To much silence." "And they feel something too." "Selim Paºa !" "The Buzeºti (buze=lips) brothers." "You came in time Michael." "How did you escaped ?" "Easy Selim, easy." "Radu, priest Stoica, brothers let them pass this time." "This time..." "But without children !" "No one moves !" "For the love you have towards me, let them pass the way they are." "They are children from our lands." "Why, Michael ?" "Because without his help, I cannot get to Istambul...." "And as know him, he never let his loot to escape out of his hand." "It's Selim, my friend from childhood..." "Please, let him pass." "Make way !" "Let them pass !" "Michael !" "Mother..." "You' re sold to them too..." "You, the son of Pãtraºcu Vodã." "You endure and care about nothing..." "Only to become lord, in anyway with all costs, with the shame cost !" "You be cursed forever, 'cause you stay and wach how the enemy mocks your nation !" "Do not slander, don't curse mother !" "Great is the teaching of the prophet but I do not understand :" "What's your need for being the lord of this poor country ?" "I want to be the strongest in this country." "Michael my friend..." "Here, we are the strongest." "Look at me." "Wich one of you is the strongest ?" "No one dares to fight with him ?" "You..." "Come here." "Do you want this knife ?" "I want sir." "You have to deserve it." "I do deserve it dear sir." "Punch him." "Beat him." "Do what I say." "Stop Now, you punch him." "Enough." "Rise." "Kill him !" "The children are mine, Michael." "What's your name ?" "My name is Hasan." "Tell the truth." "Before, when I was ugly and dirty I was called Ionicã." "Now, my name is Hasan and you can kill me dirty ghiaur(not muslim but christian)." "You learned how to restrain yourself..." "...But not enough." "If I wouldn' t love you I would' ve killed you." "Don' t be sorry you haven' t done it." "You are the same man, Michael." "Selim, I want to ask you something:" "Say." "Why you entered in Sinan Paºa's army ?" "Allah whispered to me that one day I might become great vizir(prime minister)." "Dreams Selim, dreams." "Michael, your uncle Iani will give you the money ?" "I don' t know." "A few days ago Alexander tried to give me two waggons of gold for your head And now I lose mine, beside yours." "This means that Allah didn' t gave me wisdom as much as my mother wanted." "We are getting rich with this one." "If he pays that, how much would he gain ?" "Alexander came." "Michael, Alexander came." "Give Iani, give as much he asks." "Think well Michael, there are a lot of money !" "No, we give him as much he asks." "Let's go, let's go !" "Out !" "Out !" "Go !" "We need another 300.000 ." "All my wealth I gave it to you." "On my " beard " is all standing." "I'll give it back to you." "Yes, but you know the holy saying :" "Brothers like brothers but 520.000 in total." "543.000 with my interests." "But it's not enough, I told you once." "Sign." "I spoke with Diventini, the richest banker, out of Genova." "He's waiting you." "Diventini ?" "You won't get a gold coin from him." "What are you saying Selim Paºa ?" "!" "How do you know ?" "!" "Not even a sob." "I regret mister Michael, but I have to say :" "No." "Aah, Rossana..." "Prince Michael." "In any other problem, sir, I am your humble servant..." "Rossana, entertaint the prince." "My brother Carlo is the live image of our italian impetuousity." "I am Rossana." "Would you tell me too, by a simple feminin curiousity, the subject of your discussion ?" "I am sure you heard all, countess." "There's so much passion in seeing men fighting to obtain something..." "Then comes their weak side...emotional...." "You didn't pleaded very well your cause." "I don' t know how to ask." "How you want to obtain, then ?" "I live for many years here." "It's a strange world where the shortest path it's never the right one." "A smile could mean death and a frown of brows could mean life." "Let me have a question :" "How old are you, contess ?" "Prince..." "The Diventini house is your last solution ?" "Yes..." "So what happens if you don' t obtain this money ?" "Death..." "You don' t seem to be the man that judges so simple..." "Have you ever thought contess Rossana, that there are men that waits for the moment when they'll be able to wach closely the sun ?" "Maybe this moment will never come..." "...But still, they try." "What did the lady say ?" "'Cause that's the business key !" "What did the lady say, tell me word by word !" "She said that here it's a strange world." "Is she giving you the money ?" "!" "I don' t know." "She did not say neither yes or no." "Is she beautiful ?" "Why ?" "!" "Then your time passed quicker than mine." "Michael, think well..." "'Till tomorrow we' ll all be able to go with the heads on our shoulders." "My money, my money..." "Welcome sir count." "Miss countess I am your humble servant." "My sister was so curious to see an authentic oriental interior, that she conviced me to take her with me." "I' ve tried today too, looking at the sun..." "...It' s hard." "My eyes filled with tears." "Thank you countess." "Sir prince, our house agrees with the proposal you was willing to honour us." "Our easy doubts were not referring to your person." "Last night I was agitated, I thought I' ll die !" "If Alexander gives to Sinan Paºa a fatter present, the high sultan will cut off your head, nephew !" "There's the pig, woe on us !" "Sinan Paºa ' recieved ' ." "He wants to see you..." "Speak as less as you can..." "He' s fast on anger and shifty." "Infelice(italian for unhappy), you imbecile !" "Is it him ?" "Young man, where do you think you are, at the Rome palaces ?" "!" "?" "In front of the great sultan you bow to the dirt and kiss the shoe !" "Let me see it !" "Like this..." "Yes, this way..." "Stand up !" "At first sight, I like you..." "I heard good things about you:" "You are faithful, rich..." "About your rival Alexander, I found out very bad things..." "Proofs of his betrails were faced to the master." "But, you might not like him neither." "But, you highness we did all so the high-shining sultan would be pleased." "Did someone asked you something ?" "!" "?" "Let us go !" "He is am man that we don' t know his thoughts, but Alexander proved always submition." "There's Alexander..." "Lord Jesus Christ please help us !" "Only Allah can help you here." "Mercy, great sultan...no... !" "Mercy, great sultan !" "The reception is over !" "Hold..." "Stay." "Leave us..." "I like you." "But it could've happened to not like you." "How come you had courage ?" "Man lives once, my shining lord." "Yes..." "Pity." "Master !" "Have pity...mercy !" "Great sultan !" "Murrat, you'll be sorry !" "You'll be sorry that you choosed him !" "You'll..." "Michael,what do you think: what's the most precious gift, that Allah made to man ?" "Life." "Hmm,there was no way for you to give a different answer..." "You're too small." "You will reign over a small country." "One day,the noblemen will bribe my men... And I, I will order." "The biggest gift of the man, Michael..." "It is power." "The most expensive and the most weary." "Listen...(I am, you shining lord)..." "You will leave from here as a poor prince in an unknown country..." "Your neighbours will humiliate you,I will tremble..." "Stay here." "Sinan was a christian in his youth..." "I'll give you an army, and then you will know the power." "What do you say ?" "I do not know the trade of weapons and I do not want to disappoint you." "I care too much for my head." "Pity..." "Allah sometimes puts small souls in strong bodies." "Why ?" "What did Alexander shouted a few moments ago ?" "That you'll be sorry for choosing me." "You do not care that much for your head..." "I might indeed,to regret one day, that I picked you." "Why don't you come in prince ?" "Everyone want to know you." "I came to thank you..." "I must leave." "I'm sorry." "Why did you helped me ?" "Because you are not like those men that usually come to us for asking." "I was disturbed for the way you don't know how to humble yourself." "Do you know where my country is ?" "Yes, now I know:" "East of Transilvania." "Soon, I will travel there, at Alba-Iulia." "One of my friend, Cristina Von Habsburg gets married with prince Sigismund." "I'll be close to your country, and it's natural to look for the fate of my money." "BUCHAREST DECEMBER 1594" "We've been stolen !" "They robed us !" "The money, give the money !" "We've been stolen !" "Pay the debts !" "Why do you laugh ?" "So rare I've seen my father..." "We,always hidden and he was gone." "I don't know even if I would recognize him in clothes of a lord." "He got to be a lord with our money !" "Pay the debts !" "Give the money !" "You robed us, you thiefs !" "Give us the money, you thiefs !" "Let him pay the debt !" "..." "I am happy to find you well, milord." "(What a lord, he ain't paying his debts !" ") (He's hiding !" ")" "What's happening here Michael ?" "Nothing." "Who are these ?" "!" "Why do they yell like that ?" "!" "It only seems to you, Stanca." "Nicolae(Nicholas) !" "Preda !" "I am so happy to see you !" "Welcome." "Come." "Preda, show our son the settee." "Wait..." "You don't need these fripperioes." "Aren't you saying nothing to me ?" "I missed you, Stanca." "I've waited you." "Thank you..." "Just because it's not true." "Into this kind of lordship you put your life in danger, Michael ?" "Was it worth to..." "Lady, the rooms where you will live, are prepared !" "Radule..." "That's it !" "Shut up at once, enough with the wailing !" "I want to know:" "Are you giving the money, or not ?" "!" "We gave one time milord !" "We are thinking how..." "Thinking what Filimoane(Philemon) !" "Do you have what to pay the turks, or not ?" "!" "What about the golden coins that we gave you ?" "Where are they ?" "You do buy weapons, but you dont't pay the tribute." "Ask in a church for God to forgive your sins, but don't ask the turks to forget asking the tribute !" "We are a poor country milord, we've got empty." "What did you decided ?" "We agree milord !" "Sit straight Nicolae." "Well, what do you say ?" "Buzeºtii, Selim has free entrance everywhere !" "..." "To see how faithful we are to the great sultan." "Faithful ?" "!" "The tribute was not paid for 6 months !" "Our soldiers that protect your throne didn't got paid !" "Sinan Paºa is upset and that's why I'm here !" "The country is poor, Selim." "Didn't you knew that when you asked the rulership ?" "!" "Selim Paºa, though some noblemen don't want to pay, still,all my debts and the country's will be paid today !" "The money are gathered in the house of our faithful Buzeºti." "We'll do like this so we'll all be pleased." "Declare outside so they will have time to enjoy." "You rode the horse for long time Selim." "Very long, Michael." "I know how much you care, and those words I said to the lord(Michael) not to the friend(Michael)." "I know Selim..." "And I thank you." "Stroe !" "To the waggons !" "Michael !" "This, I liked it." "Now I do recognize you." "Like in the old days." "Jump Selim." "Selime, take your horse, go to Sinan and tell him what you have seen here." "You are free." "You spoke to me in two ways." "I answered you the same." "What is it, Radule ?" "It's the house where we've been born, milord." "Yes, it's good to us." "Leave it, it was kind of old." "Forgive me my son, that I was doubting you." "Forgive me." "What are you thinking mother ?" "That's how you knew me:" "That I could sell my country to strangers ?" "And you,what were you thinking ?" "!" "That I, Michael Voievod will drink the cup of shame to the end ?" "!" "Starting today, I set myself free in front of God and you by all debts and bows !" "... ...And the same, I will set free those submissives that will follow me !" "Forming a wall between us and the Ottoman Empire it's an absolute condition." "I do consider that the territory of those three countries must become the object of our attention." "Appreciating the decision and the noble courage of prince Sigismund Bathory, prince of Ardeal, to break from Ottoman yoke and become our loving and precious vassal,we have chosen our niece, the duchess Maria Cristina de Gratz,to become the wife of the curageous prince." "(Control yourself Sigismund.) Through this marriage, will show to the entire world our decision to make a champion out of the prince..." "My dear cousin, if my joining to the christian cause forces me to the "martyrage" of this marriage The general Basta will assure through the presence of our troops the independence of the Ardeal." "I ask the general to lay out his strategic plan for Valahia and Moldova." "Herr general." "Your highness majesty, gentlemen, I am happy." "I've always dreamed to become a humble defender of the cross." "To lay my life for revange of the sacred wounds of our Saviour." "This day is the holiest day... (..." "My dear, the coalition's destiny is sealed...) Fate of the two neighbour countries is my main concern." "Here we have the messengers of the prince Aaron of Moldova and they bring the recognition of their vassality towards Ardeal." "(You " become brother with the devil, while you cross the bridge ".)" "I will solve the Valahia matter as it is proper." "This young man gets on my nervs." "Prince...you must not forget that Valahia is ruled by Turkey, and closest to them." "Your majesty thinks that Murrat would intervene in Valahia ?" "Wouldn't we do the same ?" "What do you know about the new prince ...Mihai Pãtraºcu ?" "He is a man with the most high uncertainty, your majesty." "With tricks and money, he bought the throne from Sinan Paºa, his friend as it seems to be." "And now, not too long ago he paid his creditors by setting them fire,parching them like wild hogs." "What guarantee can show a man that respects his commitments like that ?" "He's a buccaneer Who only wants to collect money and after, to disappear into a quiet corner of Europe." "Your highness, we are happy that you are so well and precisely informed." "What other statements you bring us, general Basta ?" "Your majesty..." "I understood that prince Sigismund wishes for Valahia, to become our fighting ground." "We must protect the settlements of the civilized world, your majesty !" "Valahia is a country that exists only with it's name." "A country without master." "Get up, get up Preda, cause there's still road to make up to Istambul !" "Put down your weapons !" "On your knees !" "Predo !" "'Here milord." "Preda, do you know any more Latin ?" "I do..." "I've learned in Padova." "Let me hear you Good." "Prepare yourself for a long road, tonight." "Milord, why now, when we just..." "Preda Buzescu !" "Tonight you leave for Rome." "Your acts are trustworthy for your Roman ancestors." "Send from us to the brave prince Michael, that he is not alone in facing the heathens." "Could we rely on help from the holy church ?" "Romans were famous by their practical spirit." "I am happy to see that this virtue is not lost." "Tell prince Michael that the holy church will support his actions not only by prayers, but by it's entire financial force." "How can I understand these most-high words ?" "I understood this statement." "The army of Rudolph of Austria will be in the shortest time with you." "And us, my son, big words and small interests." "I can assure you that I meet the greatest burdens." "I've bearly managed to stop the clean ardour of prince Sigismund,but the ambition of general Basta..." "Intrigues and always the same childish vanity !" "You've traveled anywhere but you told me nothing about this prince of Valahia." "All the accounts were showing that he is a faitful submissive of the turks,as an insecure man." "This insecure man opens alone his way to Istambul !" "With the sword." "You will go to his majesty Rudolph, ...And ask that the army of general Basta, to set out helping prince Michael." "Forward !" "What's this ?" "Selim Paºa's coming." "Selim Paºa ?" "!" "He dares ?" "!" "You do have the courage to come and face me ?" "!" "You scamp !" "Only if you would've had the guts to tell me that you know him." "Didn't you guessed something about it ?" "No." "You are an idiot then." "What do you think he'll do ?" "He's tenacious and very fast." "He'll fight against us to the end..." "...And if he gets help..." "He'll conquer the Istambul before I get there." "And I wander in these sands.It's only your fault !" "Who sent you ?" "The great sultan waits for you in the shortest time at Istambul." "And you ?" "His shininess named me the commander of the troops that fight in Persia." "Forward !" "After them, brothers !" "Prague 1595" "The moment was excellently chosen because Sinan Paºa is engaged in the fights from Persia..." "...And the attack of the Valahians surprised the turks." "General, you do explain things with so much simplicity." "Strange, and you didn't call this prince to the council tabel." "Personal, I can't trust this prince..." "...And his victories are a game of chance." "Your majesty, what do you think ?" "The paths of the Lord are hidden." "Indeed, this uncertain man and bowed to the turks and unknown yesterday,amazaes Europe today." "We must help him." "Allow me to go(retire), your majesty." "A genius strategist but haughty like a child." "The simple idea that he has success, makes him to hate him even if he doesn't know him." "What advices you bring me from the pope Clement?" "Your majesty, this time I brought you the gold promised to the holy league for creating an army against the heathens." "You should bring this kind of news at the begining of the reception." "I must admit the pleasant surprise you made me." "I am happy that I can be useful with something, your majesty." "Still, I am worried." "I'm listening." "Do you think we could give to this stranger the gold that the Roman church wishes to give for the crusade ?" "I was thinking that prince Sigismund is the most..." "Let's not understand each other wrong, cardinal." "No, this no." "I am not that fool to ensure this so much waited money to the first arrived." "This, no." "We'll organize an army." "Your highness will go to know this prince Michael." "You'll get into his soul, primitive probable..." "You'll inform us in detail and then after we will take a decision." "I can't wait to see prince Michael, between so many heros." "I have a feeling that I see again scenes from Iliada(greek tales)." "Serene prince, our holy father sends you this cross in the name you do fight." "When is the army coming ?" "The preparings are almost ready." "The pope and the emperor Rudolph have decided to give you all the support that you've asked." "The well known general Basta will have the honour to join his sword by your invincible army." "When ?" "In five months." "Five months ?" "!" "You are a to big strategist not to realise that an offensive like the one we prepare, needs time." "Look there, your highness..." "...And there..." "Do you know what are all these warriors waiting for ?" "To raise my arm and say that 10.000 good soldiers came to help And then, because of the joy, they would shout and bring down the walls of Istambul !" "With or without Basta, in a week we would've been there." "Preda !" "Order milord." "Call the rally up, we're returning home." "Very well milord, but why ?" "If you say another word I'll blow your brains !" "Your highness, maybe I was wrong." "I called for help from too far away." "You are the cousin of prince Sigismund You think that he could give me a military help to keep the turk at the Danube, until the christian army gathers ?" "Prince, your thought towards the brother from Transilvania is the right road." "It would be good that you should do this thing by yourself and I will bless this friendship of two princes that rule over two neighbour countries." "We'll leave together then." "The noble count Gashpard Cornysh, extraordinary champion of the husars(hungarian army), have the honour to meet in battle the prince of Ardeal, count of the secui(hungarian mixture), lord of a part of the Hungarian country, Sigismund of Bathory !" "I dedicate this fight to the noble lady duchess Christina Maria of Austria, beloved fiancee." "I declare her the most beautiful, most pure And I will fight to prove this." "I hope that after the wedding, the prince will find a better way to spend his energy." "Do you love him ?" "He's pretty, but he's a child." "Make conversation to your prince, terrible, do you think he know how to talk ?" "Anyhow, he knew." "My dear count, I am happy to see you at the court of Transivania..." "Prince, there's sun, lihgt, there are beautiful colours." "Don't you wanna smile ?" "Yes indeed, I was caught in my thoughts, countess." "Forgive me, I didn 't wanted to disturb you." "I have no right to get angry, Rossana..." "...I'm your debtor." "Tell me, if I would've been in Bucharest you were setting me on fire too ?" "What kind of man is Sigismund ?" "As you do see him." "If I would've hit him with a stake, he would've stayed down for good..." "What're you laughing ?" "Applaud" "Michael of Valahia, I call you to seal our friendship with a contest for knights." "Do not agree." "Don't do it." "My dear friend..." "...We're not here to play fighting." "Prince, the fight with spear is a knight's honour." "I do thank you, for giving me this honour, Sigismund." "(No Michael.)" "Prince Sigismund of Bathory undefeated champion, calls to the tournament, the prince of Valahia !" "Lord, help him Lord." "Who's that one ?" "Michael Vodã, the one that beats the turks." "Without helmet it's not allowed." "It's against the rules." "Let's hope that the providence will give him a lesson." "It would be better for everybody." "It's not allowed, it's against the rule." "Go ahead, prince." "He asked for it." "Rossana Diventini, and told me nothing ?" "Are you well, something happen to you ?" "No, I'm well." "You're a fool, don't you know that he did it for you ?" "Auch milord, you slamed him bad." "He bit the dust, well that's because he wanted." "Prince, allow me to tell you that no matter how much I would suffer because of the defeat, I am honoured to shake your hand." "You deserved the victory." "It was a chance." "Oh no, please You showed an admirable skill of fighting with a spear." "Prince..." "We have no time to fight between each other..." "With the turks, we do have." "And I can tell you something else:" "The turks handle the spear very well." "What a subtle politician." "Brave like Achile and ugly like Ulyses..." "I understood..." "I understood even though my cousin the cardinal, says that the undertones..." "I lack them." "You know what ?" "Let's talk here." "Here is good." "Smells like horses do smell." "Like strong men." "I feel we'll be friends and that's why let me talk to you like to a friend:" "I've studied your opinions..." "...I agree." "Let it be good for us." "Sigismund, I can tell you a thing you all don't know:" "The turk can be beaten." "My beloved friend..." "Always the same..." "Right to target." "I'm asking you: can you beat him by yourself ?" "No." "That's why I'm here." "Prince, I wouldn't want to offend you..." "But in the face of those that could help you, what are you ?" "Myself." "No, my dear And I will tell you to the end, even if we'll have to fight one more time:" "You are nothing !" "The ruler of a country that most didn't even heard about." "I know you would kill me for these words." "What connection you do have at the courts of Europe ?" "I, Sigismund of Bathory, to count on Rudolph help I must take his niece as wife." "A young lady that Lucreþia Borcea is a holy one compared to her." "What army you have?" "All the country." "Oh please, please let's put away the big words." "I know you suffer.You are haughty But I'm asking you:" "Did you recieved any help besides the cross that my cousin, the cardinal, asked me to send it to you ?" "From you was it ?" "We all ask ourselves who's this Michael, where did he appeared from ?" "How does he looks..." "...Is he a man, is he half bear...?" "The king of Spain doesn't know even his own empire How do you expect to know you ?" "So ?" "Understand the reality." "Your action must gain the guarantee of a name that by itself is a key to the courts of Europe." "Your name Sigismund." "Yes, yes..." "In the face of the entire christian world, the house of Bathory soon united with the house of Habsburg, is your only guarantee But if your pride is stronger than the interests of your country Think more about it."