The Death of Roland
"The Death of Roland" is a pivotal narrative from the epic poem "The Song of Roland," which is regarded as one of the earliest major works of French literature. Set during the reign of Charlemagne in the late 8th century, the story centers on the Battle of Roncevaux Pass, where Charlemagne's rear guard is ambushed by Muslim forces. Roland, a noble warrior and Charlemagne's vassal, leads the rear guard, displaying great courage and loyalty despite overwhelming odds. When faced with defeat, Roland initially refuses to summon help through his horn, viewing it as an act of dishonor. The tale culminates in his martyrdom, as he valiantly defends his men and ultimately succumbs to his injuries after making a heartfelt prayer for mercy.
The poem captures themes of duty, loyalty, and the struggle between good and evil, portraying the Franks as champions of Christianity against perceived enemies. Roland’s character exemplifies the ideal Christian knight, willing to sacrifice everything in service to his king and faith. His story not only reflects historical events but also serves as a lens through which medieval values and the heroism associated with chivalry are explored. While the historical figure of Roland is somewhat obscured by legend, his legacy endures as a symbol of bravery and devotion.
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Subject Terms
The Death of Roland
Author: Traditional
Time Period: 1001 CE–1500 CE
Country or Culture: France
Genre: Legend
PLOT SUMMARY
Emperor Charlemagne of France and his army of Christians have conquered all of the Muslims in Spain except for those in the city of Saragossa. The Muslim king of that city, Marsile, sends ambassadors to the emperor with offerings of peace. The men tell Charlemagne that Marsile is willing to convert to Christianity if the emperor leaves Spain. Charlemagne consults his council, chief of them the great military leader Roland. Although he advises his emperor not to trust Marsile, Charlemagne believes the Muslim king is asking for mercy.
Roland’s stepfather Ganelon is nominated against his will to be the messenger to Marsile. Roland volunteers to lead the rear guard back to France through the mountain passes. With him is the knight Oliver and the archbishop Turpin. Angered that Roland selected him as messenger, Ganelon rides toward Saragossa and overtakes Marsile’s ambassadors. He plots with the Muslims to get revenge on his stepson. They make a plan to ambush Roland and the rear guard as they pass through the Pyrenees Mountains. Ganelon lies to Marsile, telling him that Charlemagne intends to conquer Saragossa and split Spain between Roland and the Muslim king.
Roland leads the rear guard, which is made up of twenty thousand Franks. He rides his horse Veillantif and take his sword Durendala and his magic Olifant horn, which he can blow to summon reinforcements. When the troops reach Roncevaux Pass in the mountains, the Muslims ambush them. Despite pleading from Oliver, Roland refuses to blow his horn because he sees it as a dishonor to France if they cannot defeat the Muslim army themselves. Roland rallies his troops and rouses them with the war cry of their emperor.
The battle is fierce, and both sides fight viciously. Roland kills the nephew of King Marsile, who had boasted that he would behead Roland. Wherever the fighting is fiercest, Roland swings Durendala and turns the tide of the battle. Thousands of men on both sides lie dead, and the victorious Franks mourn their fallen comrades. This is when King Marsile rides in with his main army and the battle begins anew. As this second battle rages, the weather in France turns violent; the citizens know that the death of Roland is near. The Franks fight hard, however, and the second army of Muslims is defeated. After the second battle, only sixty Franks remained.
The third Muslim army then appears, and Roland knows he must blow the horn. He knows that the emperor will not get there in time to save them, but at least their deaths can be avenged. Roland blows the horn three times. The second time he blows so hard the veins in his temple burst. The third blow is so faint that Charlemagne knows that Roland is in real peril.
Accepting that he and his troops will not survive the day, Roland rushes into battle and slays the only son of King Marsile. When the king counterattacks, Roland cuts off his right hand. Roland feels death drawing near and begins praying to his guardian angel Gabriel. He climbs a small hill and falls under two pine trees. A Muslim soldier creeps up and tries to steal Durendala. This rouses Roland, and he smashes Olifant over the soldier’s head, killing him. He then makes his confession and prays to heaven for mercy. He dies with his head bowed and hands clasped, awaiting deliverance to paradise. Charlemagne later finds Roland’s body, which is brought to a great cathedral in France for burial.
SIGNIFICANCE
“The Death of Roland” is taken from Chanson de Roland (The Song of Roland), the oldest surviving major work of French literature, and the Matter of France, which is a body of stories concerned with the history of the country. It is also considered the greatest medieval poem written in French. Although no exact composition date is known, scholars estimate that the poem was written sometime between the late eleventh century and the middle of the twelfth century; the first English translation was published in 1880. The poem describes historical events that occurred in 778 during the reign of the French emperor Charlemagne, who was one of the first Christian kings. The summary above specifically details the Battle of Roncevaux, when Spaniards defeated Charlemagne’s rear guard in the Pyrenees Mountains on the border of France and Spain.
The Battle of Roncevaux did actually occur, although The Song of Roland presents a romanticized view of Charlemagne’s reign. Also embellished is the historical figure of Roland. In real life, Roland did serve under Charlemagne as the military governor in charge of defending the border frontiers between France and Britain at the time. The only historical account of Roland is in the ninth-century work Vita Karoli Magni (Life of Charlemagne), a biography of Charlemagne written by his courtier Einhard. According to the book, Roland did die during the ambush in the Pyrenees. Besides his appointment and the date of his death, few details about the real Roland exist.
In The Song of Roland, his character represents the embodiment of the noble Christian warrior who is conscious of his responsibilities to both God and his king. When he knows he is going to die, Roland courageously defends his men and then leaves the gruesome battlefield to give his confession to Christ. He admits being too proud to blow the horn for reinforcements, but he does not see his sacrifice as being in vain, for he was fighting for Christianity and died a martyr. Pride and impetuousness were his only flaws.
The themes present in The Song of Roland focus on duty and the conquering of good in the face of evil. Read as a precursor to the Crusades, the Franks are good because they are fighting for the spread of Christianity, while the Spanish Muslims represent evil. The sense of loyalty and duty Roland possesses for both Charlemagne and God is powerful and drives the character through battle and prayer. Roland was Charlemagne’s vassal, meaning he would be completely loyal to him in exchange for protection and vengeance should he be killed in battle. For his devotion and service, angels carry Roland to heaven at the end of the story.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Brault, Gerard J. Song of Roland: An Analytical Edition. Vol. 1. University Park: Penn State UP, 2003.
Einhard. The Life of Charlemagne. Whitefish: Kessinger, 2010. Print.
Heer, Friedrich. Medieval World: Europe 1100–1350. New York: Welcome Rain, 1998. Print.
Smith, Nicole. “The Song of Roland: An Analysis of Medieval Lord and Vassal Relationships.” Article Myriad. Article Myriad, 6 Dec. 2011. Web. 22 May 2013.
“The Song of Roland.” Trans. John O’Hagan. Internet History Sourcebooks. Fordham U, Aug. 1998. Web. 22 May 2013.