Wilfred of Ivanhoe, the son of a Saxon nobleman, returns to England from the Crusades. Prince John is Regent in the absence of his brother, King Richard the Lionheart, who is imprisoned in Austria. Saxons have not accepted their Norman conquerors and there is much animosity between them.
Wilfred of Ivanhoe arrives at court just as a jousting tournament begins and bests the three Norman noblemen who have agreed to take on all comers. Wilfred is seriously injured however and is cared for by Isaac of York and his beautiful daughter Rebecca. They are taken prisoner however, along with Wilfred's father Cedric and his ward Lady Rowena, by the three knights Wilfred bested in the tournament.
With the assistance of Robin Hood, the mysterious Black Knight attacks the castle of Front-de-Boeuf, where the captives are being held. It's left to Wilfred to rescue Rebecca, however, when she is accused of being a witch.