Roland

a famous paladin of Charlemagne. In the cycle of romances of that age, Roland is one of the knightly champions who accompanied Charlemagne to war. According to tradition, as preserved in song and story, he possessed a wonderful sword won from a giant in single combat, and a marvelous horn called Olivant which might be heard for twenty miles. According to one story told of him, he fought once for five days with Oliver, Duke of Genoa, one of his companions. They were so evenly matched in arms that neither was able to gain advantage, whence the phrase, "to give a Roland for an Oliver." The story of his death is the following: He accompanied Charlemagne on an unsuccessful military expedition into Spain. As the army withdrew Roland was left to guard the retreat with a force of 20,000 men. The pagans fell upon him with great force in the narrow valley of Roncesvalles. Roland might have sounded his horn to call help from Charlemagne, but he scorned to do so. He fought on until 100,000 Saracens lay dead and only 50 of his own warriors remained alive. He then blew his horn for help; but Charlemagne, persuaded that Roland was only hunting the deer, remained inactive until it was too late. Roland blew until the veins in his neck burst. He then dragged himself to the foot of a cliff, where he sang his death song, threw his magic sword into a stream and died from his many wounds. From this engagement the vale has been called the "Thermopylae of the Pyrenees." Charlemagne was greatly incensed to lose his favorite warrior and avenged his death in many bloody conflicts with the Saracens. The song of Roland was a famous war cry among the French. It was chanted by William of Normandy's men as they advanced to battle against Harold at the battle of Hastings in 1066. In his description of Flodden Field in Marmion, Walter Scott refers to Roland and his magic horn:

See Chanson De Roland