The song of Roland

¶ … Song of Roland

The idea of the perfect knight of the Middle Ages even today engenders a clear ideal, an ideal associated with valor and insurmountable strength under pressure.

The idea of the mounted knight brings up romantic thoughts of inhumanly handsome and strong men covered from head to toe in armor, or possibly carrying only the helmet, as he gallops across a former field of battle to celebrate his victory and briefly lament his losses. The Middle Age Knight is brave without error, loyal beyond the average, inhumanly strong, filled with the wisdom of leadership, tireless and always, always mounted on a noble steed. "Roland is brave and Oliver is wise; / Both are marvelous vassals. / Now that they are armed and mounted on their horses / Neither will avoid the fray for fear of death." (Burgess 36)

It is without a doubt that the tireless knight will serve their lord and king to the edges of the earth and to the edges of death without flagging in commitment or stopping to fulfill human needs. "For a true vassal's act, in its wisdom, avoids folly; / Caution is better than great zeal." (56) The true honor and right of a Knight is to win without fail. Breaking any code of the ethic of a knight including acting in such a way that bad luck befalls him and/or his men, will result in the inevitable desertion of the loyalty of the lord. "Charles will never again receive our service. / If you had heeded me, my lord would now be here; / We should have fought this battle and won it./...You will die here and France will be shamed by it." (56)

The challenges of the time of the development of the Knight, and his ideal were riddled with war, both national and regional. The strife of the age was demonstrated through faith as Charlemagne attempted and succeeded to align with the Catholic church and build an empire that included many locations that had formerly been associated with Roman control. The ideals of the faithful, were in direct conflict with the ever advancing conquerors of Islamic heritage, Moors, Turks, Saracens and others.

Indigenous peoples were living with fear of the enemy and the soldier, and it was the Knight who was charged with both their protection and the defeat of the foreign and domestic invaders. The knight must act as the arm of the king, often far away from the front line.

Just as a stag flees before the hounds / So the pagans take flight before Roland. / the Archbishop said "You act very well." / A knight should have such valor, / Who bears arms and sits astride a good horse. / In a battle he should be strong and fierce. / Or he is not worth four pence"(60)

Given the cultural climate of the time it is clear that hindsight needed to demonstrate that the victors were on the side of God, and therefore right in all acts and deeds, however bloody or unfair.

It is clear that through the ideals of the Knight came an ideal savior, one willing and able to protect both lord and country. The loyalty of real men in this age was likely much more flagging and regardless of the outcome of any battles the victor is the clear writer of history.