The First King 2019

In 753 BC, in the ancient region of Old Latium, a sudden flash flood results in the capture of two shepherd brothers, Romulus and Remus, who are taken as slaves in Alba Longa. In a bold bid for freedom, they lead a rebellion to liberate their fellow Latin and Sabine prisoners, taking the Vesta priestess Satnei hostage. During their escape, Romulus manages to steal the sacred fire but suffers a grave injury when stabbed by an Alban soldier. Confronted by the chaos surrounding his brother, Remus kills the Latin leader, thereby claiming the position of leadership within their tribe.

To avoid an encounter with the threatening Alban Army, the brothers’ group retreats into a dense forest. There, they engage and subsequently defeat a warrior clan, leading Remus to declare himself King over the remaining population of their pagus, which comprises women, children, and the elderly. During a significant sacrificial event, Satnei delivers a prophecy revealing that one of the brothers is destined to become a great king who will create an empire of unimaginable size, but achieving this will necessitate the death of the other brother. Amidst the ambiguous interpretation, the tribe fears that Romulus will be the one sacrificed for Remus’s ascent.

Unwilling to accept a mandate that demands fratricide, Remus extinguishes the sacred fire of Vesta, murders an aged priest, and abandons Satnei, leaving her vulnerable in the forest. When he returns to the pagus, Remus degrades his kin into servitude. Meanwhile, Romulus’s health improves, prompting him to confront his brother about his tyrannical actions. Stricken with regret, Remus sets off to rescue Satnei. However, upon finding her near death from beast attacks, she warns him that his choice to spare Romulus will ultimately lead to his own demise at Romulus’s hands.

Regaining his strength, Romulus rekindles the sacred fire and reclaims leadership of their tribe, appointing a young woman to safeguard the fire, thereby establishing the first Vestal. Desperate to defy the prophecy, Remus makes a move toward the Tiber River with a group of men but soon encounters retaliation from Alban cavalry. Luckily, he is rescued by Romulus’s tribe. However, in a twist of fate, Remus asserts control over the tribe and challenges Romulus, threatening to extinguish the sacred flame. This confrontation escalates into a fierce battle between the brothers, culminating in Romulus triumphantly mortally wounding Remus. On his deathbed, Remus reconciles with Romulus, acknowledges him as king, and urges him to establish a city on the opposite side of the river.

After crossing the Tiber, the tribe honors Remus by cremating his body on a pyre, and in his grief, Romulus vows to construct an immense and powerful city atop his brother’s ashes, naming it Rome. As the film concludes, an animated depiction illustrates the dramatic expansion of Rome’s territory, showcasing its zenith under Emperor Trajan in 117 AD.