At Rome, upon the death of the Emperor, the succession is disputed by his two sons, Saturninus and Bassanius. When the old General, Titus Andronicus, returns from the wars bringing as captive Tamora the Queen and three of her sons, he causes Saturninus to be confirmed as Emperor. Titus allows his sons to sacrifice two of Tamora's sons, which enflames her to vengeance. Saturninus makes Tamora his Empress, but in secret she continues to enjoy the love of Aron the Moor. Chiron and Demetrius, Tamora's surviving sons, lust after Lavinia (Titus's daughter and Bassanius's bride). By Aron's instigation, they murder Bassanius and toss the body into a pit where two of Titus's sons find it; they are suspected of being the murderers and condemned to death by Saturninus. Meanwhile Chiron and Demetrius, encouraged by Tamora,m have raped Lavinia and cut off her hands and tongue. Titus is persuaded that if he will yield his hand the lives of his sons will be spared; but the hand is returned to him with the severed heads of his two boys. Titus and his brother Marcus ultimately learn from Lavinia the names of her wrongers, and they plot vengeance. Titus entraps Chiron and Demetrius, cuts their throats, and serves them up in a pie for their mother to eat. At the final revelation of these events, Saturninus, Tamora, Titus, and Lavinia are all slain. Lucius, Titus's surviving son succeeds as Emperor.