KatherineofAlexandria,broughtupasanomadandlivinginthedesert,wasagedjust11whenEmperorMaxentiussawherwhilstoutonpatrol.Consumedbyherbeauty,impudenceanduncannytalentforlanguages,heabductedthechild,killingherfamily.Theslaughterwaswitnessedbyheryoungfriend,Constantine,whowouldlaterbecomeEmperoroftheWesternRomanEmpire.HeneverlosthopeoffindingKatherine.Asayoungwoman,KatherinerefusedtosubmittoMaxentius'offersofmarriageandshecontinuallydenouncedhisbrutalenforcementofpaganreligionuponthemasses.Stillobsessedwithherbeauty,MaxentiusbroughtKatherinebefore50ofRome'sfinestscholarsinanopencourtinAlexandria,wheresheeloquentlydemolishedtheirarguments.WhenConstantinelearnedofKatherine'swhereaboutsandimprisonmentatthehandsofMaxentius,heledhisarmyfromYorkinadesperatebidtosaveher.