Rudolf Rassendyll, a peace loving English gentleman goes to Ruritania on a secret visit. By a strange quirk of fate, Rassendyll happens to look like Rudolf the Fifth, the real heir to the throne of Ruritania, who is imprisoned in the castle of Zenda by Black Michael the evil Duke of Strelsau. Rudolf Rassendyll impersonates as Rudolf the Fifth and is coronated. He falls in love with a beautiful princess, but being duty bound, he draws up a plan to free the real king from the clutches of Black Michael and restores him his kingdom.