Throughout human history, weapons have held a unique place as symbols of power in folklore and legend. From the mighty Mjolnir of Norse mythology to the Excalibur of King Arthur’s Camelot, these weapons have captured the imagination of people for centuries.
Among these legendary weapons, few have a story as rich and enduring as Durendal, the mythical sword of European history. With a legacy that spans over a thousand years, the tale of Durendal is shrouded in mystery and steeped in myth, making it a fascinating subject of study and intrigue.
Mighty Sword of Roland the Paladin
History is full of legendary swords, but Durendal is arguably one of the most famous. In epic French literature it was the sword of Roland, a legendary paladin but a real-world figure as well. Roland was the officer and nephew of Charlemagne, King of the Franks, Lombards, and Emperor of the Romans.
The sword appears in the medieval narrative La Chanson de Roland (The Song of Roland) where it is given to Charlemagne by an angel at the Vale of Moraine in England. In this poem, the angel tells Charlemagne that the sword’s golden hilt contains the tooth of Saint Peter, the blood of Basil of Caesarea, the hair of Saint Denis, and a piece of the raiment worn by the Virgin Mary. These artifacts imbue the sword with magical properties, making it the sharpest blade in all of creation and completely unbreakable.
In this narrative, Charlemagne promptly gives the sword to his greatest paladin, Roland. Roland then wields the sword at the Battle of Roncevaux Pass (during which Charlemagne’s army was ambushed by a large Basque army).
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Roland uses Durendal to hold off the opposing army, allowing Charlemagne and his troops to retreat to France. He uses the legendary sword to slay an untold number of Saracens, even slicing the arm of King Marsile right off and decapitating his son, Jursaleu.
Later in the poem Roland realizes he can’t keep the Saracens at bay forever and decides to destroy the sword rather than allow it to fall into enemy hands. He hits it as hard as he can against blocks of marble, but Durendal cleaves them in two. Eventually, Roland is mortally wounded and hides the sword under his body alongside the oliphant, a magical horn he used to warn Charlemagne.
A Host of Stories
But this is just one story, there are other stories surrounding Durendal. According to one medieval narrative or “chanson de geste” titled Mainet, Durendal was not given to Charlemagne by an angel. Instead, this narrative tells how as a young man Charlemagne, under the guise of Mainea, fled to Spain.
While there he kills a man called Braimant and takes his sword, Durendaus, for himself. The only similarity here to La Chanson de Roland is that Charlemagne slays Braimant at the vale of Moraine, the same place the angel reportedly gave him the sword in the French epic.
According to these versions of the story Charlemagne later loses Durendal somehow and it falls into the hands of a Saracen by the name of Aumon, who was the son of King Agolant (a fictional king from Medieval and Renaissance Romantic epics). In this tale Roland defeats Aumon with nothing more than a metal rod, claiming the prince’s sword and horse, Veillantif, for himself.
In the 14th and 15th centuries writers went to great trouble trying to fill in the gaps between Charlemagne’s ownership of the sword and Aumon’s. In the Italian text, Aspramonte by Andrea de Barberino, Charlemagne gave Durendal to a woman called Gliziella, the daughter of King Agolant. She then gives it to her half-brother, Aumon.
The sword was also given various origins. In the story Orlando innamorato the sword is said to have once belonged to Hector of Troy and had been passed on to Pantasilea, Queen of the Amazons, before making its way into Europe. Other writers claimed it was forged by a legendary blacksmith, Wayland the Smith, who was said to have forged many of the legendary words of Germanic mythology.
Since both Charlemagne and Roland were real historical figures, some people have long believed that Durendal was real. Several tales from local folklore claim to know what ultimately happened to the legendary sword.
A legend from Rocamadour in southwestern France says that the real Durendal was once held in its chapel of St Mary. According to this legend, the sword was stolen in 1183 by Henry the Young King, the eldest son of Henry II of England.
Another local legend states that Durendal still exists and is embedded in a cliff in Rocamadour. According to twelfth-century monks, Roland threw the sword just before he died (instead of hiding it) and it became embedded in the wall due to its fantastic sharpness. The local tourist office disagrees, however, calling that sword a mere replica.
The story of Durendal has captured the imaginations of people throughout history, and it continues to fascinate and inspire to this day. From the mighty Charlemagne to the brave Roland, the sword has been wielded by some of the greatest heroes of European history.
But beyond its legendary origins and storied past, Durendal remains a symbol of courage, strength, and perseverance – qualities that continue to inspire us even in the modern world. As we look to the future, we can draw inspiration from the sword’s legacy and strive to embody the same values of honor, bravery, and resilience that it represents. The story of Durendal may be a legend, but its message is as real and relevant today as it was a thousand years ago.
Top Image: Durendal was of surpassing sharpness and quality, and was said to have been given to Charlemagne by an angel. Source: Demian / Adobe Stock.
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