France, late 12th century. Balian, a blacksmith, discovers that he is the illegitimate son of Sir Godfrey, a crusader. After the death of his wife, nothing keeps him in France, and Balian joins his father’s campaign to the Holy Land, although he is not distinguished by his fervent faith in God. Unfortunately, Godfrey dies on the way, barely in time to knight his son. When Balian arrives in Jerusalem, he realizes that in addition to the estate, he has been given the responsibility of participating in the tangled local politics. Conflicts of interest are tearing apart the weak state, and the Muslim ruler Saladin is preparing to reclaim the Holy City.