Rocamadour (Part 4)- The Legend of Durandal

The legend of the sword Durandal has captured the imagination of many for centuries, given to the famed knight Roland by Charlemagne, king of the Franks, it was said to be both powerful and mystical.

Always remember to look up!

As with most legends, there are different versions depending on your ethnic origins. Obviously, we have no way of really knowing what did or did not happen, we just have to enjoy the fantasy and illusion that these legends evoke.

Roland was a Frankish military leader under king Charlemagne, who was killed at the Battle of Roncevaux in 778, the tale of this battle is told in the epic poem ‘The Song of Roland’. It recounts the story of how Roland and his knights fought valiantly against an army of Saracens who had ambushed them high in the mountains of the Pyrenees, on their return journey from a campaign in Spain. Already we are seeing what we would now call ‘poetic licence’, it seems that the army they fought against was an army of Basques, rather than Saracens, either way, the entire rearguard of the army lost their lives on that fateful day.

At this point in the story we hear of Durandal, a sword so powerful it could easily cut through iron and stone. The poem states that despite being vastly outnumbered Roland and his companions refused to surrender and fought to the death, in the process Durandal was used to slay hundreds of the enemy. It is also said that when Roland cut a huge gash in the rocks with one blow it created Roland’s Breach in the Pyrenees.

Durandal is said to have been forged by Weland the Smith, a legendary figure from Norse and Germanic mythology. He is said to have forged many magical weapons, including Odin’s spear Gungnir, and the sword Gram, which was used by Sigurd to slay the dragon Fafnir. Captured by King Nidud of the Njara tribe he had his legs either cut off or hamstrung to prevent his escape. He exacted his revenge by killing the king's sons and apparently flying away on a winged cloak that he crafted himself.

Many countries have mentioned him in various myths and tales, all of which, although they differ slightly are consistent in the fact that the superior quality of the weapons he forged was undeniable.

In England in Oxfordshire there is a Neolithic long barrow mound named Waylands Smithy, it is said that if you leave a horse or a broken weapon there overnight with a sixpenny piece, you will return in the morning to find the horse shod or the weapon repaired. In the front panel of the 8th-century Franks Casket, which is on display at the British Museum, incongruously paired with the Christian story of the three Magi, Wayland stands at the extreme left in the forge where he is held as a slave by King Nidud,. Below the forge is the headless body of Nidud's son, whom Wayland has killed, making a goblet from his skull; his head is probably the object held in the tongs in Wayland's hand. 

We now come to the part of the legend that involves Rocamadour, Roland was said to have attempted to destroy the sword to prevent it falling into the enemy’s hands. However, even by brutally attacking blocks of marble, the sword remained intact and obviously indestructible. After being mortally wounded, Roland then hid the sword underneath his body before succumbing to his injury. It was then that an angel threw the sword into the air, where it embedded itself in the cliff face at Rocamadour, and here it has remained for centuries, so firm in its position that no-one could remove it.

Another story, originating in Rocamadour states the true Durandal was actually deposited in one of the many chapels that surround the parvis (courtyard), but was stolen by Henry the Young King in 1183. As Plantagenet fans would know, after the sacking of Rocamadour Henry would incur the wrath of God, leading to the tragic death of the Young King . A version claimed by the 12th-century monks at Rocamadour, says that Roland actually threw the sword himself when he knew he was dying, rather than it being hurled by an angel.

Regardless of which, if any, of these tales you believe, those of us with a passion for this era love the stories of knights in shining armour, and a wonderful, mystical and all powerful sword fits perfectly into the tale. The sword still draws thousands of tourists every year, if you visit Rocamadour you will have no trouble finding where the sword is embedded in the cliff face, just look for where all of the tourists are pointing.

Keep an eye out for the next instalment of my Rocamadour blog The Stations of the Cross (Part 5)

Does this make you want to visit immediately, take a look at our Plantagenets in France tour where we will visit this as well as other incredible historic sites in France.

Max

Rocamadour Photos © Plantagenet Discoveries, Franks Casket photo © Plantagenet Discoveries, Illumination Creative Commons/P