This week's Knight of the week: "Sir Roland d' Anglesis" - He was the chief Paladin of Charlegmagne. Charlegmagne had a sister, Bertha, who was in love with a knight, Milon, who secretly married her against her brother's wishes. They were banished from France and excommunicated by the Pope. The pair arrived in Sutri, Italy where they took refuge in a cave. In that cave, Roland (or Orlando in Italtian) was born. He grew up among the children of the peasantry. Roland was so poor, that half the time, he was half naked. One day, four of his friends (children) brought him some cloth...two brought white, and two brought red. (Later Roland took his coat of arms from the colors of this event)
One day Charlemagne was on his way to Rome to recieve the Imperial Crown. He stopped in Sutri where he dined. Roland (10 years old) and stole as much food as he could. The Emperor ordered the boy followed and brought back to him. When he was brought back, the Emperor asked him why he took the meat and wine? Roland replied that they were for his mother, Lady Bertha, the Emperor's sister, and the knight Milon. The Emperor was greatly moved. He had forgotten his sister entirely...and he reconcilled with her and invited them to come and live with him in his castle.
Roland became a page to Charlemagne and at the age of 16, became squire to his own father. One day the Emperor heard that a robber knight in the Ardennes had a pricely jewel, and he ordered his knights, each accompanied by his squire, to find him and bring the jewl back to him. At one point, Sir Milon took a nap, and Roland thought he could win renown if he captured the jewl himself. He donned his father's armor and sprang on his horse and rode off into the forrest. He soon found the robber knight, both steeds sprang forward and the robber knight fell to the ground. The robber knight drew his sword...and Roland dismounted and drew his sword to meet him. For an hour they fought till they were both near exhaustion. By a gallant stroke, Roland pierced a joint of the robber knight's armor and killed him. Roland took the jewl and concealled it on his breast.
The Emperor had been waiting for all his knights to return and the last one to do so was Sir Milon. Roland handed the Emperor the jewel, and was so delighted, he knighted Roland and he became one of his 12 Paladins, of which Roland eventually became their leader.
He rode with the Emperor on many advantures. For seven years the Emperor made war against the Saracens in Spain. Only one stronghold remained...Saragossa. The king made a deal with the Emperor that if he would spare the city and his life, he would promise to be a vassel of the Emperor and become a Christian. The Emperor agreed, and he rode off with his army.
But once back in France the Spanish King went back on his word and hatched a plot to kill Charlemagne. As the Emperor's army continued homeward, Roland lead the rear guard. The plan was to ambush the rear guard, and with Roland dead, the Emperor would lose the will to fight. On August 15, 778, the ambush took place. The last alive was Roland who blew his famous horn, Olivant, that could be heard at great distances, so that Charlemagne and his army would turn around and avenge his death. But the force required to blow the horn burst his temple, resulting in Roland's death. When the Emperor arrived and saw the massacre there was a fierce battle, where they killed the Spanish King and the Saracens retreated. The Franks followed to the town, and captured it and forced all the inhabitatants to become Christians. So ends the story of Roland.
Only "ONE" more knight to go and I'm finished with the knight of the week. (Can anyone guess who that might be?)
