In 1220, barbarian leader Genghis Khan leads the most ruthless military force in history, known as the Golden Horde, on a rampage through Persia to the ancient nation of Samarkand. Khan, ignoring a prophesy decreeing that anyone who tries to destroy Samarkand will himself be destroyed, sends both his son Juchi and his ally, Tugluk, the Kalmuk king, to burn and pillage the city. Simultaneously, a group of English Crusaders, led by the fearless Sir Guy, arrive to warn Khan that their Christian god will triumph over his evil ways. On their way to the city, they meet Samarkand military captain Herat, who presents them to the city's ruler, Princess Shalimar, and gives them the unhappy news that the Horde has defeated their army. Although Shalimar, who is scheming to embroil Juchi and Tugluk in a romantic rivalry that will destroy them both, banishes Guy to the hills with the rest of the palace inhabitants, Guy believes she is weak and silly and insists on staying to protect her. Soon the Horde leaders arrive and Shalimar has her astrologer fabricate a prophesy that a conquerer who comes from the East will marry the princess and rule the world. This, together with Shalimar's beauty, enthralls the combatant leaders, who are kept from killing each other only by Khan's shaman, Raven. Before Shalimar can continue with her plan, however, Guy's men attack, and Shalimar is forced to flee to her ancestors' tombs beneath the palace. Guy finds her there, and she offers to show his men the secret underground catacombs that lead into the hills if he goes there and protects her people. She is annoyed when he arrogantly kisses her, but he soon becomes indispensable to her after Raven decrees that the battle between Juchi and Tugluk will be decided by Khan himself, and sends a messenger to the leader asking for his decision. Guy's men, who are expert archers, kill the messenger on his route, and as a result, Shalimar gains a few days in which to beguile Juchi and Tugluk further. Meanwhile, Khan grows tired of waiting for word from his men and sends his own message stating he is bringing the rest of the army to Samarkand himself. Although Guy's men try to kill this messenger, he reaches Raven, who realizes that Guy's men are in the hills. Shalimar's handmaiden, Lailee, overhears Raven lie to Juchi and Tugluk that Khan wants Samarkand burnt to the ground and Shalimar murdered, and the princess escapes into the hills. There, Guy haughtily convinces her that his military plan is superior to hers, and a romance blooms between them. Desperate to save her people, however, Shalimar sneaks back into the palace that night to continue her scheme. She tells Tugluk that Raven has tricked him, and he raises his army to take over the palace, killing Juchi and wounding Raven in the process. As he feasts in celebration of his victory, Shalimar poisons his wine, but before he can drink it, Guy arrives to save her. The Kalmuks fight Guy's men, but the Crusaders fend them off, and in a final sword fight, Guy kills Tugluk. Soon after, Khan arrives, and Guy drags the dying Raven to the city's gate to warn Khan that the city is, indeed, cursed. Khan stabs Raven but realizes that a power even greater than his is at work and withdraws his army. Guy embraces Shalimar and vows to help rebuild her city.