Charlemagne started a war against the cities of Saracens, when Saragossa was the only one remaining. Queen Bramimonde's husband, King Marsile, wanted to end the war. So his plan was that. He would give his word to be Charlemagne's vassal if France would departure. Marsile would seek revenge once Charlemagne was in France.
Roland, a right hand man, and a nephew to Charlemagne, chose his step-father Ganelon to travel to Marsile's court and discuss the tactic. Being jealous of Roland for quite some time, Ganelon knows that Roland will lead the fight, therefore leaving Charlemagne ultimately alone due to the chances of Roland's death. Among the twelve knights who journey are Oliver and Turin. They are stunned to find hundreds of thousands of warriors ready to fight. Oliver commands Roland to blow his Oliphant horn but, letting his overly proud accusation that the rear guard can easily take on the pagan hordes overpower his common sense, he refuses. Adding up the countless amount of his men's unbearably and excruciatingly painful deaths, Roland knows his only option is to turn to Charlemagne/his troops for help. He was to late when he finally decides to blow with all his might, and dies soon after his temples had burst. Heaven awaits the warrior.
As Charlemagne appears, to late to save Roland, the Saracens are pushed into the Ebro river by the Franks leaving many drowned. An emir of Babylon, Baligant, came to help his vassal. Charlemagne and Baligant struggle through a battle, but Charlemagne wins.
The story comes to a closing as Ganelon is put on trial, limbs stretching because five horses tied to his limbs run in opposite directions, and thirty of his kinsmen are hung. Charlemagne prepares for yet another bloody war, this time against the pagans.
Bibliography:
Charles Scott Moncrieff, The Song of Roland, New York, The Heritage Press, 1938.
