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CHARLEMAGNE.
RONCESVALLES. ROLAND
On 15th August 778, the rearguard of
Charlemagne's army, returning from an expedition to
Saragossa and after dismantling the city walls of
Pamplona, was attacked and defeated by the Basques at the
mountain pass of Roncesvalles. This event (which was the
first time the great Charlemagne had ever suffered a
defeat) deeply affected the French nation. Subsequently
altered, mythologized and then converted into an epic poem
by the Song of Roland, this defeat has become the most
popular legend in western Europe. To summarise the song:
Charlemagne, awaiting the surrender of the city of
Saragossa, receives envoys sent by Marsil, the king of the
city, with offers of peace. In response, Charlemagne sends
Ganelón, Roland's stepfather who subsequently allies
with Marsil and plans to betray Charlemagne in order to
take revenge on his stepson, Roland, whom he hates.
On Ganelón's
return, it is decided that the Christian army will return
to France. Charlemagne gives Roland the standard
accrediting him as leader of the rearguard.
As the rearguard passes through Roncesvalles, the
Moors make a surprise attack and Archbishop Turpín
blesses his army: "If you die, you will be holy martyrs
and you will have a place in the highest paradise":
The battle does not
go favourably for the French troops. Finally, the only
remaining fighters are Archbishop Turpin, the valiant
Roland and the cautious Oliveros (or, in other versions,
Gualter del Hum). Roland then decides to blow his horn
Olifant to summon help. The message carried by this call
is heard too late by Charlemagne who is already some
distance away. The traitor, Ganelón, calms Charlemagne
and tries to dissuade him from returning. The Moors kill
Oliveros and Turpin. Roland, feeling close to death, tries
to break his sword Durandart (which, amongst other relics,
has a tooth of St Peter incrusted in the handle) against a
rock, however the sword does not break, and it is the rock
that cracks. When Roland finally dies, with his face
pointing towards Spain, God takes his soul to heaven.
Charlemagne returns and pursues the enemy army until it is
completely slaughtered (God helps him by stopping the sun
and lengthening the day). Then, to take his revenge,
Charlemagne defeats Baligant, the Emir of Babylon, in
personal combat at the gates of Saragossa. Marsil is
wounded and also dies. Saragossa surrenders and queen
Bramimonda, Marsil's wife, is taken to France where she
is baptised with the name of Juliana.
From the book
"Curiosidades del Camino de Santiago". by Juan Ramón
Corpas Mauleon. Published by Edilesa
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