The film is loosely inspired by the events of 5th Century European history, notably the collapse of the Western Roman Empire under its last Emperor, Romulus Augustus Caesar. This is coupled with other facts and legends from the history of Britain and fantastic elements from the legend of King Arthur to provide a basis for the Arthurian Legend.   The film is narrated by Ambrosinus, native to Britain, who knows of a legend concerning the sword of Julius Caesar, which was hidden away from evil men. It begins shortly before the coronation of Romulus as Emperor in 460 C.E.   Having traveled through much of the known world in search of Caesar's sword, Ambrosinus has then become Romulus's tutor. A sort of philosopher-mystic, he at times gives the impression he is a magician, but his magic is just trickery and well-practiced illusion. Romulus's father Orestes apparently rules Rome but is not Emperor himself (historically, the  magister militum , the senior officer of the Roman army second to the emperor).   On the day before the coronation, Odeacer, commander of the Goths allied with Rome, demands large concessions of territory from Orestes, but is rebuffed. The same day, Romulus meets the general of the Nova Invicta Legion, Aurelianus Caius Antonius called Aurelius.   The night after Romulus is crowned, Rome is attacked by the Goths. Most of Aurelius's men, tasked with protecting the emperor, are killed, though Aurelius is only stunned and left for dead. Orestes and his wife are killed by Odeacers henchman Wulfila, who captures Romulus.   Next day, Odoacer, now ruler of the Western Roman Empire, plans to have Romulus killed. However, Ambrosinus convinces Odoacer to spare the boy. Instead, Romulus is exiled to the Isle of Capri along with Ambrosinus, guarded by Wulfila and his men. His prison is a villa constructed more than four centuries earlier by the emperor Tiberius Caesar.   With Ambrosinus's help, Romulus finds a hidden chamber in the villa with a statue of Julius Caesar holding a sword forged for him by a Chalybian ironsmith [the Chalybians are credited with the invention of the iron industry] after his military campaigns in Britain. Writing near the statue's feet proclaims the sword was made for he who is destined to rule.   Romulus  and Ambrosinus are rescued from Capri by the loyal Aurelius and three surviving legionaries, accompanied by a Deccan warrioress from Kerala, India named Mira. They take Romulus to a seaport where the Eastern Roman Empire's emissary (whom Mira works for) and the Roman Senator Nestor have promised safe passage to Constantinople. However, Romulus and his loyalists barely escape after they learn the Senate and the Eastern Empire have betrayed them and sided with Odoacer.   Romulus  and Aurelius seek refuge in Britain, where the 9th Legion (called the Dragon Legion) may remain loyal, being far from the events. They are followed by Wulfila and his men. The party travels to Hadrians Wall and initially find no evidence of the legion until a farmer approaches and reveals that he was the legion's commander. With the collapse of Roman support of Britain, the legion had decided to disband and settle as farmers. They also did not want to antagonize Vortgyn, the powerful warlord of Anglia. Later that night, Ambrosinus tells a crowd about the origins of the sword. Ambrosinus also says the sword serves only one cause: the Truth.   Vortgyn desires the sword of Caesar (as does Wulfila) as he aspires to rule the whole of Britain; after meeting with the Goths, he decides to either capture or kill Romulus as a gesture to Odoacer. Romulus, Aurelius, and a few supporters mount a battle against Vortgyn's forces at Hadrian's Wall which appears hopeless until the rest of the 9th Legion takes up its old Roman arms and uniforms and turns the tide of the battle. The two warring sides cease their hostilities when Ambrosinus kills Vortgyn at a temple near the battlefield. Romulus kills Wulfila with Caesar's sword, avenging his parents.   Repulsed by the deaths in the battle, Romulus heaves away his sword which remarkably pierces a large rock and becomes lodged there. Many years later, Ambrosinus, now known as Merlin, takes a young boy to the battlefield to describe the now legendary events. The boy, named Arthur, asks what happened to Romulus. Merlin, who has visibly aged little since the battle, says he became a wise ruler and adopted the name Pendragon, and the boy recognizes him as his father, and the local girl Romulus married, Ygraine, as his mother.   At the close of the story, the runes on the blade of Caesar's sword is shown partially covered in growth. The visible letters spell out E S CALIBVR, foreshadowing the transition from Caesar's sword to the legendary sword, Excaliber.   I give this film a hearty thumbs up, with but one reservation. The Germanii bodyguards commanded by Aurelius feature a sub-Saharan African member, which is historically impossible and, I presume, is a concession to the Jewish film czars who control Hollywood.