Roland was a historical commander of the Franks in the service of Charlemagne and Count of the March of Brittany. He died in the Battle of Roncesvalles at the hands of the Basques on August 15, 778. Charlemagne's troops, returning from the siege of Zaragoza, suffered an attack by Basque tribes aided by Muslims in the Pyrenean pass of Roncesvalles. The narrowness of the pass and the weight of the Carolingian army's armament favored the success of the ambush on the rear guard of the Franks.
Roland died in this tragic episode, but legend made him pass into the annals of literature (Chanson de Roland, Rolandstat, Orlando Furioso, etc.) as the paladin who, with his magic sword "Durendal," a gift from his lord Charlemagne, and with the horn "Oliphant," confronted 100,000 Saracens. With a blow of his sword, he opened a pass between the Pyrenean mountains that is still called "Bréche de Roland" today.
Durandarte or Durendal was the sword of Roland, paladin and nephew (this kinship is purely literary) of Charlemagne (at that time King Charles).
When he was knighted at the age of 17, Roland received the sword from Charlemagne, a sword that contained several relics and that Roland mentions after breaking the rock on which he tried to break Durandarte, so that it would not fall into the hands of the infidel Basques (proof of the quality of this legendary weapon), and these are: a tooth of Saint Peter, blood of Saint Basil, hairs of Saint Dionysius, as well as a mantle of Saint Mary.
Durandarte accompanied Roland until his death in the Battle of Roncesvalles. In both chansons (The Song of Roland and The Song of Roncesvalles), it is mentioned that Charlemagne finds him with the sword beside him.
According to legend, Roland's sword is in Lake Carucedo, where Roland threw the sword into the water before dying to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. Another legend says that the Leonese knight Bernardo del Carpio, after defeating Roland, took the sword Durandarte with which he was later buried in Peña Longa. Charles I, knowing of the sword's existence upon disembarking in Laredo, passed by Bernardo del Carpio's tomb and took the sword that would accompany him for much of his life.
A high-quality sword from the exclusive "Historical, Fantasy and Legend Swords" Collection manufactured by MARTO.
Quality and Origin Certificate, Made in Toledo.