The Song of Roland facts for kids

The Song of Roland (called La Chanson de Roland in French) is a very old and famous epic poem. It tells a story based on a real battle that happened in 778. This battle was called the Battle of Roncevaux. It took place during the time of Charlemagne, a powerful king.

This poem is the oldest important piece of French literature that we still have today. Many different handwritten copies of the poem exist. This shows how popular it was from the 12th to the 14th centuries.

The poem was likely written between 1040 and 1115. An early version might have started around 1040. More parts were added and changed until about 1115. The final poem has about 4,000 lines of poetry. These lines are grouped into 298 parts called laisses.

The poem was probably meant to be performed, maybe even with music. We do not know who wrote this amazing poem. It is the oldest example of a chanson de geste. This was a type of story popular between the 11th and 15th centuries. These stories were all about legendary deeds and heroes.

The Real Story Behind the Poem

The poem tells a story based on a real historical event. This event happened many centuries before the poem was written. In 778, Charlemagne led his army into Spain. On his way through the Pyrenees mountains, his army took things from Basque lands.

Charlemagne faced little trouble in Spain until he reached the city of Zaragoza. He demanded that the city surrender. But the city's leader, Hussain Ibn al-Ansari, said no. Charlemagne then tried to attack the city, but he did not have much success.

Finally, the governor paid Charlemagne a lot of gold. In return, Charlemagne's army agreed to leave the area. Charlemagne had problems at home with the Saxon people. So, he was happy to leave Spain.

The Battle of Roncevaux Pass

As Charlemagne marched north back to France, he again went through Basque lands. His large army was deep in the Pyrenees on August 15, 778. The army was moving in a long line. The soldiers at the very back were called the rearguard.

Roland, one of Charlemagne's most trusted leaders, was in charge of this rearguard. The Basques attacked the rearguard. This started the Battle of Roncevaux Pass. The Basques knew the mountains very well. They used this knowledge to defeat the Frankish rearguard.

Roland and his men fought bravely to protect the main army. They fought until the very last man. The Basques took the army's supplies and the gold Charlemagne got from Zaragoza. Before the Frankish army could turn around to fight, the Basques were gone. Roland and his men died as heroes.

Main Characters in the Poem

• Baligant
• Blancandrin
• Bramimonde
• Charlemagne
• Ganelon
• King Marsile
• Naimon
• Oliver
• Roland
• Turpin

Images for kids

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  Detail of a manuscript showing "AOI" at the end of the second line

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  A copy of the sword found near Rocamadour's sanctuary.

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  The eight parts of The Song of Roland in one picture, painted by Simon Marmion.

See also

In Spanish: Cantar de Roldán para niños