Roland was the bravest and most loyal of the 12 legendary paladins, or knights, who served Charlemagne, king of the Franksearly Germanic people who invaded and eventually ruled Gaul (present-day France) between the A.D. 200s and the mid-800s. Although Charlemagne was a historical figure, many fanciful tales about the king and his knights appeared during the Middle Ages. It was said that Roland stood 8 feet tall and carried a magical sword called Durindana (or Durendal) that had once belonged to the Trojan hero Hector.

According to medievalrelating to the Middle Ages in Europe, a period from about A.D. 500 to 1500 stories, Roland (or Orlando) was the son of Charlemagne's sister. Living as a poor peasant in Italy, he was welcomed to the court of the king after his true identity was revealed. Although a...