I Normanni (1962)

At the beginning of the 9th century, the feared Normans landed on the shores of England. One of their tribes was pacified by Count Oliver d’Anglon and settled on the count’s lands under the leadership of Olaf the Norman. Many years later, Duke Wilfried has King Dagobert ambushed and captured by soldiers disguised as Normans, hoping at last to seize the English throne, the royal treasure, and the king’s wife. He pins the deed on Count d’Anglon, who is consequently sentenced to death. The Normans, driven from their land, help the count escape, however, and together with him go to war against the duke. Meanwhile, Svetiana, Olaf the Norman’s daughter, and the count fall in love. The Norman leader then tells them that Svetiana is actually King Dagobert’s daughter, whom he found during a ship raid back then and adopted. When Svetiana is captured by Duke Wilfried after a traitor betrays her, the duke intends to use her as leverage to make the king reveal the hiding place of the royal treasure. The count and the Norman Thor set out to rescue her. Their plan succeeds, but afterward the daring rescuers and the king, who has also been freed, are trapped under siege by their enemies in the ducal castle. Svetiana manages to escape and alert the Normans. She also tells the queen about the duke’s evil deeds. The Norman forces and the queen’s troops then join in storming the castle, whereupon the count kills the treacherous Wilfried with a stab in a final duel. As a reward for his deeds, the king makes him a duke. In gratitude, the Normans are granted the same rights as English subjects.