Turmoil hits the Roman Empire when its current emperor dies and his two sons Saturninus and Bassianus start to fight over the throne. As a matter of the dead emperor's apparent wishes, his brother Titus is offered the throne but he refuses and lets Saturninus take the coveted seat. After coming to power, the new emperor desires his brothers betrothed as his wife and Titus agrees but ends up killing one of his own children when disagreements occur as to who is in the right. The sons of Titus then plot to rape their own sister so that such a thing will not happen and Titus, her father, will be forced to take the situation into his own hands but ends up going to further extremes.