Rooted in the Middle Ages, he opens the gate to the Renaissance: Maximilian I of Habsburg - the last knight of the West, the first emperor of the modern age. Bestselling author Peter Prange vividly portrays the man whose ideas and actions continue to shape Europe today, yet he is a torn figure - caught between love for two very different women and the conflict between power and passion. He will one day rule over half of Europe - but when he meets his true love, Rosina of Krain, he is still a beggar prince longing for fame and honor at the impoverished Viennese court. Driven by his vision to restore the old Holy Roman Empire, he seeks the hand of Maria, the heiress of Burgundy. From then on, he will be torn in love between two very different women and in the conflict between calculation and emotion. As a ruler, he pushes forward in his realm.