When he was a boy, he couldn‘t protect his family. When he grew into a man, he tried to protect his people. When he protected Europe, he became a legend.
Elizabeth fights bravely for her family and country on the home front while Hunyadi is away, and even joins him on the battlefield, breaking with the conventions of her time. Elizabeth‘s passion knows no bounds.
After Mara is sold to Sultan Murad as a pawn in the noblemen‘s schemes, the strong-minded woman is determined to take her life back into her own hands – but her blossoming love for the sultan causes her allegiances to waver.
He is a nobleman with numerous connections and great influence. Power-hungry and ambitious, he is also one of Hunyadi’s fiercest enemies. Aware that he can never sit on the throne, Cillei manipulates state affairs through his family connections.
A member of the wealthiest and one of the oldest families in the Kingdom of Hungary, he is a true oddsmaker who always chooses sides or allies according to where he can expect to make the most profit.
As a Hungarian, German and Czech king, Sigismund is one of the most important figures of late medieval Europe. He wields his power in a hedonistic manner, collecting titles and acclaim, spending his wealth recklessly, yet he is constantly short of money and thus in debt to everyone.
Daughter of King Sigismund, wife to Albert Habsburg, then of King Vladislaus, Elizabeth is a spoiled beauty who is impetuous, passionate and easily manipulated.
Sultan Murad of the ever-imposing Ottoman Empire has his sights fixed on expanding his territory, but as Hunyadi‘s childhood love Mara enters his life, his determination begins to fade.
MOHAMMED Murad’s second-born son, he comes to the world condemned to death, as the harsh Edirne court inheritance system dictates that upon the death of the Sultan, the first-born heir to the throne must murder all his brothers and sisters.
VLAD DRACUL Vlad is the ruler of Wallachia and vassal of King Sigismund of Hungary, whose country is under constant threat from the expanding Ottoman Empire. In his country, he seeks to crush the resisting nobility with an iron fist, and his method of torture is famous far and wide: he is fond of impaling his opposition.
GIOVANNI DA CAPEASTRANO A Francisan monk, whose life takes a crucial turn when experiencing a vision in a dream. When he meets Janos Hunyadi in Rome, Capistrano recognizes the young Hungarian as the white knight from his vision.
GIULIETTA DI BRIENZA Visconti’s beautiful niece, the secret weapon to keep Hunyadi in Milan. Giulietta is tasked with fulfilling Hunyadi’s every desire during his life in Italy, at Visconti’s behest.
JÁNOS VITÉZ János Vitéz, one of the most loyal supporters of Hunyadi, comes from low ranks. From a talented clergyman’s apprentice, he comes to be an influential statesman. A brilliant politician with a sharp mind, a sharp tongue and a dry sense of humor, he shares Hunyadi’s goals – he wants to protect
FRIEDRICH HABSBURG The head of House Habsburg with enormous political influence, uncle of Albert Habsburg, who always pulls the strings to get what he wants, his power is unquestioned.
VLADISLAUS The Polish king, Vladislaus, arrives at the invitation of the divided Hungarian nobility to take the throne in place of Ladislaus V, who was crowned as an infant. By accepting the crown, Vladislaus becomes the joint ruler of Hungary and Poland.
DUKE VISCONTI The wealthy Duke of Milan with enormous political influence. Visconti’s support is an inescapable condition for Sigismund’s claim to the Holy Roman Emperor’s crown, so the Hungarian king is willing to make any deal for him.
POPE EUGENIUS IV. Eugenius follows the career of Janos Hunyadi from afar. He authorises the Edirne Crusade of 1444, and on Hunyadi’s death, Eugenius orders the triumph of the Hungarian general at Nandorfehervar to be commemorated by the whole Christian world with the tolling of the noon bell.
GEORGE BRANKOVIC The Despot of Serbia, father of Mara. As a vassal to the Hungarian king, his duty was to defend the castles on the Serbian- Hungarian border, strengthening the defence against the Ottoman invasions. It’s not only his allies Brankovic betrays, but his dearest daughter, Mara as well, by giving her away to the Sultan’s court as a safeguard to preserve peace.
ALBERT HABSBURG The first Habsburg ruler in Hungarian history, nephew of Archduke Friedrich Habsburg. Married to King Sigismund’s daughter Elizabeth of Luxembourg, Albert is crowned following Sigismund’s death, although his reign turns out to be short-lived.
