The sword decides : A chronicle of a queen in the Dark Ages, founded on the story of Giovanna of Naples

In the fading light of a June evening in 1343, a Hungarian prince and his retinue pause on the shores of the Adriatic, the air scented with olives and wild cherries. Tents unfurl beneath chestnut trees, soldiers and courtiers share laughter while the sea glitters beyond, setting a vivid stage for a tale rooted in real medieval history. Into this tranquil encampment steps Konrad, a hulking friend of the prince, whose sudden arrival signals that the calm may be only a prelude.

The prince, barely twenty, lies upon bear‑skin cushions opposite a slender peasant girl named Hippolyta, her basket of oranges and lemons a stark contrast to his ornate armor. Their quiet conversation, punctuated by Konrad’s urgent demand to “send the girl away,” hints at a looming marriage alliance and the fragile balance of power between Hungary and Naples. As night deepens, listeners are drawn into the personal and political stakes that will shape a queen’s destiny in a world where swords often decide more than battles.