The history of the Hawkwood family (experts in the use of artillery and gunpowder) is traced across five generations, following its successes and misfortunes, loves and disillusions, triumphs and tragedies through 120 eventful years, from that first fateful landing in the Golden City (Constantinople ), up to a catastrophic naval battle (The Battle of Lepanto (1571) in which the Turkish navy was defeated in the Gulf of Corinth) which changed the course of history.