It takes the form of a comédie héroïque (a type of opéra comique) in three acts, and was a founding work of rescue opera.

It was so popular that it was revived again at the Feydeau in 1819 and was performed frequently in the Germanic countries in the early 19th century, including a production in Vienna in 1805, while Cherubini was there.

A group of Tartar warriors, led by Titzikan, are approaching the castle of a notorious baron named Dourlinsky.

But Titzikan says that a sneak attack would be underhanded — he wants to defeat Dourlinsky in a fair contest.

So he cancelled the wedding, denounced Floreski and hid Lodoiska in a secret location.

Titzikan is impressed by Floreski's honorable way of battle, and the two men form an alliance.

Dourlinsky's henchman Altamoras has taken Lodoiska from the tower to a dark hall deep inside the castle, along with her nurse, Lysinka.

There's a vehement confrontation and Dourlinsky orders his men to take her to the darkest, most secret part of the prison tower.

To buy some time, he says that he and Varbel would like to stay the night, to rest up before their journey home.

Varbel then joins him with disturbing news: He's overheard a couple of Dourlinsky's men, who are planning to offer them some refreshments — two glasses of poisoned wine.

Not knowing what's happened back at home, Lodoiska pleads a technicality: She can't be married unless her father is there to give her away.

In a spectacular scene that helped to make the opera a hit in Paris, one of the castle walls is blown up, then crumbles to reveal the battlefield outside.

The resourceful Tartar also manages to save Floreski — snatching a dagger from Dourlinsky's hands in the nick of time.

With his castle in flames around him, Dourlinsky admits defeat — while Floreski and Lodoiska celebrate their reunion.