Palatinate Siegfried goes to war at the call of the emperor. He is forced to leave his wife Genoveva, and leaves the management of the estate to his chamberlain Golo. The latter, secretly in love with Genoveva, tries to persuade her to commit treason, but, having received a decisive refusal, accuses her of criminal betrayal of her husband and imprisons her in prison. Thus begins the years of torment of the venerable Genoveva, betrayed by everyone, including her weak husband, who in the secret of his soul wanted to get rid of her. In captivity, Genoveva gives birth to a son, Goremir, conceived shortly before Siegfried left for the war. Many years later, the now matured Goremir meets with his father, and he explains to him what really happened.