The Song of Roland is one of the monuments of French literature in the Middle Ages ; it
is a chanson de geste, an epic material orally related to an audience, which was set in the eleventh century in its most famous manuscripts, the Oxford''s one. It is attributed to a certain Turold at the end of the song, which we know nothing except that his name is typically Norman, and has just over 4000 lines divided into 291 laisses. The song, which was probably formed gradually and orally - some theories, however, prefer to speak of a direct creation by the writing - has for theme the Carolingian period and the reign, very popular in epic songs, of Charlemagne, legendary emperor "with a beard in bloom", and more specifically the Battle of Roncevaux Pass in which Roland, the nephew of the emperor, died in 778. The battle of The Song of Roland, as the figure of its hero, is an epic and legendary amplification of the historical battle. At the opening of the song, this is a Charlemagne already been at war for seven years in Spain against Saracens - called pagans regularly in the work - which, although having won many victories against them, agrees to negotiate with
Marsilea, the Moorish king who still holds the country. Indeed the latter, fearing the Franks and advised by a knight named Blancandrin, decides to pretend to Charlemagne that he will pay tribute as a vassal and he will become a Christian at the feast of Saint Michael of Peril in Aix. At a royal council, Roland recalls the past treacheries of Marsilea, but on the intervention of Ganelon, step-father of Roland, the peace offer is accepted. However, Roland makes Ganelon designated to carry the response to Marsilea, bringing the tension between them at its height. Arrived nearby the Moorish king, Ganelon plot so much so that he and Marsilea solve the death of Roland: by pretending to surrender, the Saracens hope Charlemagne returns to France and leaves only a rear guard commanded by a Roland easier to defeat. When Ganelon returns and presents the keys of Saragossa to his emperor, this is what occurs despite the anguish and the premonition of the latter: twenty thousand Franks remain rearguard, commanded by the twelve Peers of France. Not too long is to be waited before Olivier, Roland''s wise companion, do note the arrival of an army of one hundred thousand Saracens. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Roland refuses to sound his horn on the proposal of Olivier, because he wants to meet the requirements of honor, an essential virtue in the feudal world; before the fight, Turpin, Archbishop warrior, confess and absolve the Franks. The battle will then be great, and in its course the twelve Saracen peers and many of their compatriots, thousands of them, are defeated and their souls carried away by devils. But while the Franks are victorious and have slaughtered the Saracen army, the king Marsilea arises with the main body of his army. Franks, despite a valiant resistance, then suffer cruel and heavy losses. Having met the requirements of honor, Roland finally resolves to ring his olifant to prevent Charlemagne from the ambush of Saracen; he puts so much strenght to ring, that something brokes in his head, which will make him die later. Meanwhile, the emperor warned turns back and the battle resumes; but he will come too late to save his nephew! Roland, among other exploits, cuts the right fist of Marsilea with Durendal his sword, causing his escape, but soon after Olivier falls, struck by behind. During a lull, Turpin is able to bless the deads before dying too, soon followed by Roland, who turns his face toward Spain like a conquerer; he is carried by angels to Heaven. Charlemagne occurs on the battlefield to find his twelve Peers and his Franks slaughtered. As the day declines, God gives to the Emperor to make it last for him to pursue the enemy; Charlemagne reaches them in Zaragoza, slaughters them in large numbers while many others drown in the Ebro. After that the pagans are in despair and curse their gods who have abandoned them, Mohammed, Tervagan and Apollyon. It is when occur Baliga, Emir of Babylon, and its large, fearsome army of forty kingdoms, that Marsilea his vassal had called for help. Marsilea cedes Spain to Baliga who vows to defeat Charlemagne. The latter, after paying tribute to the deads at Roncevaux, is preparing for the resumption of fighting by organizing its hundred thousand men in ten army corps. Saracens do the same with their troops, after what the barons and their men clash : the highlight is the victory of Charlemagne against Baliga on in single combat. Saracens break up and Zaragoza is then invested; Marsilea, wounded, dies in despair. The emperor and his army return to France. The promise of Roland, Aude, succumbs to the news of his death and follows his friend in death. Then in Aix is hold the trial of the traitor Ganelon. After a proposal for acquittal by the Barons, Thierry makes himself the champion of Charlemagne and defeats King Pinabel in a judicial duel. Ganelon is quartered and Bramimonde, wife of Marsilea, converts by her own will to Christianity.