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