2025- · TV Series
El Turco
The westward expansion of the Ottoman Empire into Central Europe, especially into the lands of the Habsburg Empire, came to an abrupt end in the Battle of Vienna in 1683, the second siege of the city by Ottoman forces. For a Janissary who took part in the siege, this marked the beginning of a completely new life. Before the Ottoman army loses the battle, Hasan Balaban is betrayed and sentenced to death. In his attempt to escape execution, he is seriously injured. He is nursed back to health by a woman from Moena, a remote village high in the Italian Alps. Many of the villagers of Moena are friendly towards him and he decides to make this Italian village his new home. Knowing his connection to the Ottoman Empire, the villagers call him El Turco. Balaban helps the villagers to defend themselves against the high taxes levied by their feudal lord and becomes their protector. The hostility between the villagers led by Balaban and the feudal lord escalates when Marco Benedetti di Vicenza, Balaban's old enemy, appears as the overlord's knight and Balaban is forced to assemble a team of soldiers for the final battle. A one-armed blacksmith becomes Balaban's most important ally, a witch transforms into a healer and a homeless girl becomes the first female Janissary as they fight to protect Moena.
