For the legendary Roland, it was relics in the High Middle Ages, inscriptions on one’s sword soliciting God’s help were sufficient for the purpose. Defending the Christian faith with the sword was another knightly duty, so it’s hardly surprising that invocations of divine assistance for the battle were tooled directly on to the quintessential combat weapon of a free warrior or knight. He embodies all the virtues of a Christian knight. Wikimedia The hero of La Chanson de Roland (The Song of Roland), which was probably written in the 11th century, is the epic archetype for the chivalric class of the High Middle Ages. At least, that’s what happened according to one of the many legends that swirl about Roland and his sword. With the aid of the Archangel Michael, the sword flew for several hundred kilometres, finally becoming wedged in a cliff face in the village of Rocamadour, France, where it can still be marvelled at today. In the end, in his final battle against the ‘pagans’ in the Pyrenees, Roland used the last of his strength to hurl his sword in the direction of the Franconian empire, thus keeping Durendal out of the hands of the enemy. Effortlessly he sliced through a giant boulder. Countless were the adversaries whom Roland struck down with the weapon. Thus placed under the special protection of God and the saints, he performed legendary deeds. It is said to have contained relics of the Apostle Peter and the Blessed Virgin Mary – Durendal, the sword of the hero Roland and first knight in the service of Charlemagne.
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