Max, a knight of Swabia in the 10th Century during the reign of Otto the Great, chronicles the major events in his life as they unfold against a backdrop of medieval Germany. His tale begins with his boyhood on Lake Zurich and how he develops a love for horses and his skill at training them. It also recounts his relationship with the peasant girl Verena, their friendship as children gradually growing into love. Finally, it is the story of how Max becomes a valued knight in the service of Otto l, Holy Roman Emperor, and travels across Europe as both a warrior and as an ambassador for one of the greatest kings of the Middle Ages.