scruffy1
Veteran Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Holy Year from Pamplona 2010, SJPP 2011, Lisbon 2012, Le Puy 2013, Vezelay (partial watch this space!) 2014; 2015 Toulouse-Puenta la Reina (Arles)
Roncesvalles and Roland, Roland and Roncesvalles with the Camino forever intertwined as our hero appears in Roncesvalles in churches all along the Camino Francés, the Le Puy Camino, and Vezelay. Roland already featured in the chronicles of the city Najera for there he fought and conquered the Saracen paladin and giant Ferracutus who died from a wound struck in the navel, his only vulnerable spot. Later of course we learn that poor Roland was perfidiously ambushed by the Muslims in a mountain pass near Roncesvalles, in the rear guard protecting Charlemagne's withdrawal from Spain. We also know that the story was embellished somewhat since there were no Muslims around, only some very mad Basques seeking justice, vengeance, and retribution and they did the deed. His gallant effort is well known, his tragic death, the Oliphant –another relic now missing from Roncesvalles-veteran caminantes may remember seeing it there , and indeed his sword, Durendal. This sword, was a mighty weapon, was presented to him by his uncle (?) Charlemagne-a gift from the angels or perhaps from Helen of Troy (a spurious Italian legend for sure) and continued to have a chequered history of its own. As Roland was dying he wished to prevent Durendal from falling into Muslim (Basque) hands so he attempted to break it by striking the rocks in that mountain pass, creating a huge cleft and is perhaps still embedded there. Others maintain that no, he laid upon it attempting to hide the precious sword allowing a future for storytellers, and others claim that no, it was thrown far away, a mighty effort indeed, landing in… the Lot département in southwestern France at Rocamadour where it may be seen today. Yet another spurious Italian legend states that Roland suffered from strabismus, that is crossed eyes, and that Durendal was in fact stolen by one Rinaldo, a brigand at the head of forty thieves, and was used to kill the evil Saracen enchantress Madama Roversa struck in her only vulnerable spot, a body part not mentioned in polite society. The Camino is infinite, if you will allow it to happen.