French Title: La Chanson de Roland

Genre: chanson de geste; chivalric epic; nationalist epic

Written:11th c.

About: Battle of Roncesvalles Pass in 778 (also spelled Roncevaux)

Franks vs. Saracens:

The Franks

• Led by Charlemagne (Charles the Great), King of the Franks, King of Italy, King of the Lombards, Holy Roman Emperor (aka Karl)
• Commander on the scene: Roland +
• Charlemagne's Paladins, the 12 Peers

The Saracens

• Led by King Marsile, King of the Spanish Muslims (Saracens)
  • (often spelt Marsilius, Marsilion, Marcilie, Marsille, Marsilies, Marsilun, or Marsiluns)

The Events Leading up to the Battle

• Charlemagne was waging war in Spain, spreading Christianity; he was mostly welcomed.
• At Saragossa, King Marsile resisted, and Charlemagne sieged the city.
• Marsile promised to send treasure and to convert to Christianity if Charlemagne would return to France.
• Charlemagne agreed and retreated. He sent Ganelon, Roland's step-father to accept the terms.
• Ganelon, suspecting his step-son's treachery and afraid of being butchered by the Saracens, helped to plot an ambush against the rearguard (which he knew to be led by Roland) at the Pass of Roncesvalles in the Pyrenes Mountains.

Cast of Characters:

The Franks

Roland: nephew of Charlemagne; leader of the Paladins; commander of the rearguard; carries an olifant and Durendal (aka Durindana), his sword; rides Veillantif ; dies from a self-inflicted wound.

Oliver (Olivier): Paladin; friend of Roland; carries Hauteclere, his sword; killed by Algilif

Archbishop Turpin: fights beside Roland and Oliver; sometimes counted among the Paladins; carries his sword, Almace;  killed by 4 spears.

Walter of Hum (aka Gautier): knight of the rearguard; with Roland and Turpin, he is one of the last three Franks standing; killed by several javelins

Ganelon: Roland's step-father; traitor

Pinabel: fights for Ganelon in the trial by combat.
 

Thierry: fights for Charlemagne in in the trial by combat.

The Saracens

King Marsile: Saracen king of Spain; Roland takes his right hand, forcing him out of the battle; he dies from the injury.

Bramimonde: Queen of the Saracens; captured and converted to Christianity

Grandoyne: son of the Cappadocian King Capuel; kills Gerin, Gerier, Berenger, Guy St. Antoine, and Duke Astorge; killed by Roland.

Depiction of Islam in The Song of Roland

• Muslims are called Saracens (a specific term meaning Spanish Muslims) and "heathens" (a generic term in the Middle Ages for any non-Christian).
• Muslims are said to worship an unholy trinity:
  • Mohammed (sp. Mahound): the founder of Islam; Muslims do not, in fact, worship Mohammed, but they have been assumed to do so by Christians since the Middle Ages.
  • Apollyon (sp. Appolin): aka Abaddon, the destroyer; a demon, an angel, Jesus, or the Devil; Christian in origin; does not appear in the Koran
  • Termagant (sp. Termagaunt): a completely fictional deity made up by Christians in the Middle Ages; he appears in morality plays as a heathen god.