The year is 850. The early Middle Ages. Duke Mrkomir is a Croatian ruler who, much like today’s politicians, is extremely ambitious, yet at the same time naive — so his ambition often leads him into defeat. Another problem is that he is completely uneducated and illiterate, though he pretends he can read, constantly having to ask others what is written. He rules from Klis, in the hinterland of Split. His greatest problem is that he is a vassal of the Franks and desperately longs for independence. He delegates most state affairs to his advisor Slavomir, who is a corrupt schemer constantly proposing ways for Mrkomir to gain more glory, while secretly trying to amass wealth for himself. Mrkomir’s dream is to rise from Duke to King, an independent ruler. However, to achieve this he must prove himself in battle and politics — for which he is, of course, incompetent. Every plot revolves around Mrkomir’s attempts to become King, expand his power, and find a worthy heir.