The Song of Roland . So it means that one when it comes without qualification of the Chanson de Roland. The author of this epic poem is still unknown. The Song of Roland contains about 4000 verses (in its earliest version, it has a 9000 manuscript from the late ^thirteenth century ) divided into Old French leashes assonance, transmitted and distributed by singing the minstrels and jugglers. It tells three centuries after the fatal battle of the knight Roland (or Hroudland), Marquis of marches of Brittany and her faithful knight against a powerful army Moor to the battle of Roncesvalles and the vengeance of Charlemagne.

This is a classic example of epic poem (from Latin gesta "action adventure") by the shift from history to legend, and the celebration epic virtues of chivalry , honor feudal and faith.

Summary A historical basis 2 The four parts of the song 3 Synopsis 4 Scope historical 5 Characters 6 Posterity 7 Notes and references 8 See also 8.1 Bibliography 8.2 Internal Links External 8.3 Links

Historical foundation

After a campaign in Spain , the rearguard of Charlemagne, led by the governor of Britain's march, Roland , is faced with a surprise attack to pass of Roncesvalles in the Pyrenees on 15 August 778. According to the chronicler Einhard , Franks are slaughtered to the last.

Most historians now agree that at the battle of Roncesvalles , the knights Carolingian have actually confronted the militia Basque , not the Army Saracen.

In the middle period of reconquest of the Europe and conquests in the East , it is quite possible that the text of the Chanson de Roland was written to provide a historical foundation to the Crusades , and transform a turf war in a holy war.

Joseph Bedier (1864-1934) also speculated that the main passages of the Song of Roland were composed on the roads of St. Jacques de Compostela through the pass of Roncesvalles by troubadours who recited fragments to halting sites. Similarities exist with the Poema del mio Cid, a poem of the Cid , written long before the Song of Roland, with influences from Arabic poetry of al-Andalus, the muwachahat. It is also mentioned in the codex Calixtinus or Liber Sancti Jacobi (Book of St. Jacques) (the ^Fourth Book, Historia Karoli Magni and Rotholandi.)

In Catalonia , where his name appears in many place names , Roland (Rotll) is a powerful mythical giant. In Basque country , to Itxassou and in the northern department there are two places called Pas de Roland. If in the Basque country there is a hole in the rock, round, vertical, resulting according to the legend of a blow given by the horse hoof Roland who opened a passage to escape the Basques in the north, it means a place supposed to be a huge track of the horse hoof.

The four parts of the song

The song can be divided into four parts:

1. The betrayal of Ganelon: Ganelon, brother of Charlemagne and Roland's stepfather, jealous of the preference of Charlemagne to his nephew, whom the emperor entrusted the rearguard of his army, betrayed Roland. It intrigues with the caliph Marsilius, the Saracen king to ensure the death of Roland. This part goes from 1 to 79 leads into the song.

2. The battle of Roncesvalles: Roland the Knight and his companion Olivier die in battle and a great number of Saracens and the Franks. This part goes from 80 to 176 leads.

3. Charlemagne's vengeance on the Saracens: Roland had sounded his horn to warn Charlemagne but when his army arrived to relieve the rear, the count is already dead. Charlemagne then avenge his nephew by beating Saracens with the help of God. This part goes from 177 to 266 leads.

4. Ganelon Ruling: After the battle, Charlemagne Ganelon judge who was condemned to die quartered. This part goes from 267 to 291 leads.

Synopsis

Marsilius , king Moor wishing to save his city Zaragoza 's advancing army of Franks , agrees to a peace treaty with Charlemagne. The latter application will be sent as envoy to Marsilio, who has a great reputation for treachery. One that will be sent will therefore run a great danger. The Emperor refused his favorite knights take that risk. We finally decided on a proposal from Roland, send Ganelon. But Ganelon, corrupt and hateful toward Roland, Charlemagne decided to betray and proposes a plan to Marsilius. Marsilio will pretend to make peace with Charlemagne, who will retire. Roland command the rearguard. The Saracens attack by surprise when the rear alone. Once Roland, the bravest knights of Charlemagne, killing, Ganelon believes that Charlemagne's army will not be worth anything. Marsilio approves the plan. Ganelon joined Charlemagne, who retired with his army. Roland takes as planned towards the rear, while Ganelon remains in the company of the Emperor.

The Saracens attacked Roland in the pass of Roncesvalles. The knight Olivier , a great friend of Roland, said a large troop Saracen approaching the rear. He asks Roland to blow the horn (or Oliphant) to warn Charlemagne. Roland prefer to die as a warrior rather than dishonor himself by calling for help (he had a saying that said, we must always move forward and never backward). Roland men are fighting against a force (controlled by Marsilio) twenty times greater than theirs, and despite the bravery of his men, the rearguard of Charlemagne is exterminated. When there is more than sixty combatants, Roland sounded his olifant so strong that it "explodes" (his veins burst). Charlemagne, meanwhile, continues to move away with the main army, persuaded by Ganelon the sound of the horn, he hears, is not a call for help.

But Charlemagne eventually suspect the worst and rides to the scene of the ambush. Meanwhile, all the knights of the rear die, but Roland and the Archbishop Turpin wounded arrive to scare the Moorish army before collapsing both.

Roland still has the strength to try to break his sword Durandal against a block of marble , without success, the blade glows and flares without chipping. He lies against Spain to die and that's when St. Michael , Cherubino and St. Gabriel outweigh his soul to paradise.

When Charlemagne returned to his rear, it is too late, Roland is dead and the battle is over. Marsilio's army suffered heavy losses, but it is reinforced by a vast army representing all Muslim peoples. That army faces army of Charlemagne.

He then undertakes a second battle, staffing huge (and totally unbelievable for the time), but literally less famous than the first. Charlemagne destroyed the Saracen army before returning to Aix-la-Chapelle. There he must learn the sad news to the beautiful Aude, Oliver's sister and fiancee of Roland, who died instantly in the ad. Ruling Ganelon can begin. Lords take part in its cause and commit bloody duels. They will die and Ganelon hanged and quartered.

Historic significance

Taillefer, fighting alongside William the Conqueror at Hastings would have sung the Song of Roland to galvanize the troops in Normandy. According to many historians, throughout the ^eleventh century and ^twelfth century , French troops have regularly recited this song Carolingian before battle. It is also said that King John once asked his soldiers: "why sing if no more Roland Roland? "This is what a man said" there would still be if there were Roland Charlemagne. "

Characters

• Aude, Roland's fiancee and sister of Oliver.
• Baligant , Emir of Babylon ; Marsilion urges his help against Charlemagne.
• Bashan , Baron frank , murdered while he was ambassador to Marsilius
• Brengier , one of the twelve paladins killed by the troops of Marsilio; Estramarin he kills and is killed by Grandoyne.
• Besgun , chief cook of Charlemagne's army, he keeps Ganelon after the discovery of his treachery.
• Bramimund , Queen of Zaragoza; captured and converted by Charlemagne after the fall of the city
• Briou , Bishop Courtechapelle, help Ganalon
• Charlemagne , king of the Franks (not emperor) and Germanic peoples , and his army fighting the Saracens in Spain.
• Ganelon , treacherous lord who encouraged him to attack the French Marsilio
• Geboin , keeps the Franks dead, became head of the second column of Charlemagne
• Godfrey , Barber of Charlemagne; brother of Thierry, Charlemagne's defender against Pinabel.
• Grandoyne , fighting for Marsilius, the king's son Cappadocian Capuel; kills Gerin, Geri, Brengier, Guy St. Antoine, and Duke Astorga, killed by Roland.
• Hamon , commander of the Eighth Division Charlemagne
• Lorant , commander of one of the first divisions cons Baligant; Baligant killed.
• Marsilio , Moorish king of Spain; Roland mortally wounded.
• Milon , guards the French dead while Charlemagne pursues the Saracen.
• Ogier , a Dane who leads the third column against the forces of Baligant.
• Oliver Knight , a friend of Roland; fatally Marganice.
• Othon , guards the French dead while Charlemagne pursues the Saracen.
• Pinabel , Ganelon fight for the legal fight.
• Roland , the hero of the Song, nephew of Charlemagne, leader of the rearguard of the Frankish forces, killed by Basque mountaineers during the battle of Roncesvalles.
• Thierry , fights for Charlemagne in the legal battle.
• Turpin , Archbishop of Reims.
• The angel Gabriel , angel committing many miracles for the Franks.

Posterity

The Song of Roland inspired several poems in early Europe. It was soon translated into High German in 1170 by Father Conrad ("Rolandslieds). The poet Matteo Maria Boiardo wrote a love at Roland XV ^century;Ariosto made in a series under the title of Orlando Furioso (" Orlando Furioso "), published in 1516 , which in turn inspired several operas, including the Jean-Baptiste Lully , Roland (1685).

Notes and references

See also

Bibliography

• Adriana Kremenjas-Danicic (Ed.), Paths of Roland Europe. Eurpske dom Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik 2006, ( ISBN 978-953-9533-80-7 ).
• Aline Laradji, The Legend of Roland: the genesis of French to the depletion of the figure of the hero in Italy, L'Harmattan, 2008 ( ISBN 978-2-296-07027-1 ).
• Hans-Erich Keller, Autour de Roland. Research on the epic poem, Champion 2003, ( ISBN 978-2-7453-0948-8 ).
• Robert Lafont, La Geste de Roland. Spaces, text, powers, L'Harmattan, 1991 ( ISBN 978-2-7384-0675-0 ).
• Jean Claret, The Unarde, the mystery of Roncesvalles, Rabiou Publisher, 2010 ( ISBN 978-2-7466-1919-7 ) 43 pages.

Internal Links

• Chanson de geste
• Orlando Furioso
• Battle of Roncesvalles
• Anglo-Norman
• Breach of Roland
• Durandal
• Cathedral Saint-Pierre d'Angoulme

External Links