Home > Myths and Legends of the World > Paladins

In medievalrelating to the Middle Ages in Europe, a period from about A.D. 500 to 1500 European legend, the paladins were 12 brave knights who were loyal followers of Charlemagne, the king of the Franks and founder of the Holy Roman Empire. The name paladin—from a word meaning a person attached to the court—implies that the knights may have resided at the royal palace.

The paladins appear primarily in a series of legends surrounding Charlemagne, his adventures, and the history of the Frankish kingdom. Many were said to play important roles in the Crusades and battles against the Muslims. Among the most famous works in which some of the paladins appear is the Chanson de Roland (Song of Roland), a French poem written in the 1000s. A number of paladins also appear in Italian legends, though under slightly different names.

Perhaps the most famous...