It is a famous historical novel, written by Walter Scott set in the late 12th century, and deals with the hostility between the successors of the Norman conquerors of England and the native Saxons.
The old gentleman Cedric de Rotherwoos , is guardian of Lady Rowena, daughter by direct line of the last king. This nobleman wishes to put a Saxon back on the throne of England. Cedric has a plan to achieve his purpose, which is to marry Lady Rowena to Athelstane of Coningsburgh , the last Saxon descendant of kings. However, Lady Rowena wants Cedric 's son , Wilfred of Ivanhoe, deprived of his inheritance and thrown out of his father's great house, for daring to woo Lady Rowena, whose destiny Cedric had conceived to gird the crown of England.
Ivanhoe finds himself in the Holy Land, fighting alongside Richard the Lionheart. Landless John, the king's brother, is alderman of England until Richard's return. Everyone wants Richard the Lionheart to unite the Normans and Saxons forever into a single kingdom. Meanwhile Juan (without Earth) opts for the Normans as faithful allies, to subdue, subdue and humiliate the legitimate Saxons.
In Ashby's tournament, Ivanhoe surrenders all the knights in Juan Sin Tierra's party. Some time later, Sir Reginaldo Front-de Boe - ugh seizes Cedric , Rowena, the Jew Isaac of York and his beautiful daughter Rebecca, and Ivanhoe (wounded) to confine them in a fortress, Torquilstone
Then, Ricardo Corazón de León, attacks Torquilstone , and will be conquered thanks to the support of a thief named Locskley (Robin de los Bosques). All the prisoners are released, except Rebecca, as a Templar chief Sir Brian de Bois- Guilbert , who had fallen in love with the girl, flees taking her with him.
Rebecca does not give in to the Templar's claims, for which she is accused of witchcraft. Ivanhoe arrives in time to rescue her from the stake and kill Bois- Guilbert .
The novel ends with Ivanhoe's happy marriage to Rowena and Rebecca (who was in love with Ivanhoe) and her father leaving England forever.