Roland carried the sword Durendal in the medieval epic poem The Song of Roland.
Roland is portrayed as a Frankish knight and a nephew of Charlemagne. In the poem, he commands the rearguard of Charlemagne’s army during its retreat from Spain. Roland and his companions are ambushed at the mountain pass of Roncevaux, where they fight overwhelming forces.
Durendal is presented as a remarkable sword containing holy relics, including a tooth of Saint Peter, blood from Saint Basil, hair from Saint Denis, and a piece of the Virgin Mary’s clothing. Roland repeatedly tries to destroy the sword rather than let it fall into enemy hands, but Durendal remains unbroken.
The Song of Roland is a work of medieval literature, not a straightforward historical record. A real Frankish defeat occurred at Roncevaux in 778, but contemporary sources identify the attackers as Basques rather than the large Muslim army featured in the later poem. Roland’s sword is therefore best understood as part of chivalric legend.