Song Of Roland
The song of Roland is by far the oldest existing French poem. Up until now, they still have no concrete information or evidence on who the author is, when it was published and where its sources are from. It is still a big puzzle in the history of French history. Scholars can only come up with hypothetical guesses, based on the contents of the poem (Anonymous and Harrison).
Historical Background
The Song of Roland is based on some relevant minor chronological event, which is the Battle of Roncesvalles Pass in 778. Although scholars neither know the author nor the date of the poem’s composition, they estimate that the poem was written between early 1060 and as late as second half of the 12th century (Burgess). This puts the poem’s basis during the First Crusade’s time, which has been exemplified as propaganda for the Christians to fight against the Islam.
The poem revolves around the period when Charlemagne, a mighty Christian warrior king, reigned. Those who know the poem very well will notice discrepancies between the poem and history. According to the poem, the antagonists were Saracens or pagans, but in history itself, the Basque natives where those who fought with Charlemagne. Other chief characters as well mentioned in the poem aren’t mentioned in history, and appeared mostly in the poem itself. But then, all of those written in history is ignored, instead, it portrays the capability of Charlemagne conquering Spain. In the story, Roland is a Frankish lord and is the nephew of Charlemagne, instead of him being Lord of the Breton March. The betrayal of a single man, Ganelon, is actually the betrayal of the Basques, who are replaced themselves as the pagans.
The courage is very much similar to that of the Crusades, in which the Catholic Church has come up with determined plans for the Holy Land. Charlemagne was one of the first great Christian kings which later his heritage has made the Crusades possible. In the poem, it describes what was unattainable by Charlemagne, but attainable by the Crusades which was the downfall of the Moslems. Pope Urban II, at the council of Clermont, delivered a famous speech, in which he grants full penance for the Christian warriors who would fight to bring back the Holy Land. In the poem however, Archbishop Turpin grants penance and forgiveness for the warriors before the battle, and promises them that paradise is theirs upon the recapture of the Holy Land. The poem also uses the graciousness of Charlemagne and his believed connection with God and angels as well, as they pass on to him divine messages. The poet believed that omitting this fact is unnecessary and that it fits faultlessly the spirit in recapturing the Holy Land.
During the invasion of England by William the Conqueror, the Song of Roland was sung to the Norman troops before battle which recounts the time of Charlemagne, in which they relate to their own battle.
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