Peter the Great takes a Russian man of African heritage - Ibrahim Petrovich Hannibal - under his wing as the tsar builds his grand navy. After having a disastrous affair in France, Ibrahim vows to never fall in love again, until he sees the daughter of a wealthy boyar. Peter the Great insists the two be married, but Ibrahim goes against the tsars wishes, refusing to force her to marry him since she doesnt consent. When another man tries to marry her, however, Ibrahims loyalties and generous nature are put to the test.