Names are indexed according to laisse rather than line numbers. Where the English translation of these names is significantly different from the Old French, the Old French spelling
appears in brackets after the English. The Mal and Mar that begin many of the names have an etymological whiff of evil from the French words mal and mar.
Abisme. A baron in Marsille’s army. 113–14.
Acelin. Lord of Gascony and a knight in Charlemagne’s army. 12, 205.
Aelroth. Foremost of the Twelve Elite Saracens, whom he organizes to contest the Twelve Peers of France. 69–70 (identified only as Marsille’s nephew), 93–94.
Aix. The seat of Charlemagne’s government in what is now Germany, between the Meuse and Rhine Rivers. In modern French it is called Aix-la-Chapelle. The German name of the town is Aachen. 3–4, 9–10, 13, 33, 36, 57, 185, 192, 203, 208, 267–68, 270–71, 281, 287, 290.
Alda. Oliver’s sister and Roland’s fiancée. 129, 268–69.
Alfrera. The land governed by the Caliph Marganice, whose knights joined in the ambush at Roncevals. 142.
Almace. Archbishop Turpin’s sword. 154.
Almansour of Moriann. One of the Twelve Elite Saracens. 73, 98.
Almaris. King of Belferna, a leader in King Marsille’s main army. 65.
Along-Baldise [Baldise la lunge]. A town loyal to Emir Baligant. 234.
Alphaien. A Saracen knight. 117.
Ambors of Holiferne [Amborres d’Oluferne]. The standard bearer for Emir Baligant. 237, 257.
Anseïs. One of the Twelve Peers of France and a rearguard leader. 8, 64, 99, 120, 161, 176.
Antelme of Maience. One of Charlemagne’s captains. 216.
Apollo. One of the so-called pagan Trinity, which many Christians, including our author, claimed that Muslims worshiped. Islam is rigorously monotheistic, and no Muslim would think of praying to Apollo. See footnote to line 8 as well as glossary references to Mohammed and Tervagant. 1, 32, 186, 193–94, 235, 253.
Argoilles. A people loyal to Emir Baligant. 234, 252, 255.
Armenia, Armenians [Ermines]. Although the Armenians were and are traditionally Christian, Jenkins notes that “[o]nly the small principality of Lesser Armenia, founded in 1080, was friendly to the Crusaders, nor was this friendship always to be relied upon” (p. 225). 232 .
Astor. One of the leaders of the rearguard. 64, 122.
Astramarz. One of the Twelve Elite Saracens and battle-mate of Esturganz. 76, 102.
Astrimoniyees. A people loyal to Emir Baligant. 234.
Auvergne. A region of south central France. 222, 275.
Aversians [de Avers]. A people loyal to Emir Baligant. 233.
Bálaguez. An emir and one of the Twelve Elite Saracens. 72, 97.
Balbiún. The land belonging to Duke Falseron. 94.
Baldwin. Ganelon’s son. 23, 27.
Balida. A fortified town loyal to Emir Baligant. 232.
Baligant. Emir of Babylon (often referred to as “the emir” and “the Grand Emir”). 187–88, 191, 193, 195–201, 213, 227–29, 231–32, 234–39, 243–45, 247–48, 251, 253–55, 257–62, 264.
Barbamouche. Literally, Beardfly. The Saracen Climborin’s horse. 116.
Basán. A previous ambassador from Charlemagne to King Marsille’s court. 14, 24, 37.
Basbrown [Basbrun]. Charlemagne’s guard and executioner. 288.
Bascalese [de Bascle]. A people loyal to Emir Baligant. 252.
Basil, St. Fourth-century Christian philosopher. 172.
Básil. A previous ambassador from Charlemagne to King Marsille’s court, Basán’s brother. 14, 24, 37.
Bavaria, Bavarians. Same as present-day Bavaria. 171, 218, 267, 275, 289–90.
Bérenger. One of the Twelve Peers of France and a rearguard leader. 64, 102, 122, 176.
Besgun. Charlemagne’s chief cook. 136.
Bevon of Dijon. A knight of the rearguard. 141.
Biterne. Possibly, made in Viterbo, a city in central Italy. 215.
Bláncandrin. The most influential of King Marsille’s advisors. 2–6, 9, 10 (as “the Saracen”), 28–32, 35, 38.
Blaye. A town in southern France. 267, 287.
Blos. A land loyal to Emir Baligant. 232.
Bordeaux. A city in southern France. Because of a blank space in the manuscript, we do not know what the author meant to call Bordeaux the city of (“la citet de”). I take advantage of our ignorance to write “the city of high crosses” for the assonance. 100, 116, 267.
Borel. The father of Marsille’s Baron Espérveris. 108.
Bramimunde (the queen). Queen to King Marsille, renamed Juliana. 50, 186–87, 194–95, 200, 264–266, 290–91.
Browns [Bruns]. A people loyal to Emir Baligant. 232.
Brownspot [Tachebrun]. Ganelon’s horse. 27.
Bruise. A land loyal to Emir Baligant. 233.
Burgundy, Burgundians. Burgundy is a province of France whose people (the Burgundians) were loyal to Charlemagne. 171, 224, 267.
Butentrotiens. A people from the unknown land of Butentrot. 232.
Calif [Califerne]. A land forcibly subjected to Charlemagne’s empire. 208.
Caliph. See also Marganice. 35, 37–38, 54, 142, 145.
Canaanites. A people loyal to Emir Baligant from the Biblical land of Canaan (Canelius). 233, 235.
Canábeus. Brother of Emir Baligant and the king of Sevre Valley. 238, 248–49, 253.
Capél. King of Cappadocia and father of Saracen captain Grandonies. 122.
Carthage. Ancient city of North Africa, here governed by the Caliph Marganice and contributing forces to the ambush at Roncevals. 142.
Charlemagne (Charles, King Charles, the king, the emperor). Emperor of France and uncle of Roland. 1–30, 32–37, 40–45, 48, 50–63, 65–70, 72–77, 79, 83–90, 92–93, 95, 105, 107, 109–12, 115–17, 124, 127–39, 141–42, 144–47, 149, 154–59, 161, 165, 168, 170–73, 175–78, 180–88, 191–92, 194–99, 201–19, 222–23, 225–30, 232, 235–39, 241–43, 246, 248–50, 253–54, 256–63, 265–80, 282–84, 287–88, 290–91.
Cheriant. Part of the land formerly belonging to King Flurit, given to Malprámis. 231.
Chernuble. Lord of Múnigre and one of the Twelve Elite Saracens. 78, 102, 104.
Chronicles of the French. Accounts of the deeds of famous Frenchmen. 111, 126, 154, 234, 271.
Ciz. The Gates of Ciz are the rock formations opening from the south into the mountain pass known as the Ports of Spain. 44, 56, 58, 66, 209.
Claren. A Syrian messenger to King Marsille from Emir Baligant and brother to Clarifan. 192, 195, 198–99.
Clarifan. A Syrian messenger to King Marsille from Emir Baligant and brother to Claren. 192.
Clarin of Balágatee. A messenger to Charlemagne f rom K ing Marsille. 5.
Clavers. A land loyal to Emir Baligant. 233.
Climborin. One of Marsille’s knights. 49, 116.
Commilbury [Commibles]. An area of Spain conquered by Roland for Charlemagne. 14.
Cordoba. A city in south central Spain, recently conquered by Charlemagne and, at the beginning of the poem, the seat of his government in Spain. 5–6, 8.
Corsablix. A Berber king and one of the Twelve Elite Saracens. 71, 95.
Crazyleap [Saltperdut]. Saracen knight Grimthought’s horse. 120.
Dappledeath, King of Leutzistan [Dapamort Leutiz]. One of Emir Baligant’s generals. 231–32, 242.
Datliún. The land belonging to Duke Falsarun. 94.
Deadmen [Mors]. A people loyal to Emir Baligant; probably the Moors, with a pun on the French word for dead people. 232.
Denis, St. Bishop of Paris in the third century. 172.
Durendal. Roland’s sword. 74, 78, 83–85, 88, 104, 112, 140, 158, 167, 170–73, 198, 204.
Ebro. A river in Spain. 179, 190, 195, 197, 199.
Elite Twelve Saracens. Twelve elite knights of Marsille’s army organized to challenge the Twelve Peers of France at the battle of Roncevals. 70, 102.
Enfruns. A people loyal to Emir Baligant. 254.
Éngeler the Gascon of Bordeaux. One of the Twelve Peers of France and a rearguard leader. 100, 108, 116–17, 176.
Escababi. A baron in Marsille’s army. 117.
Escremiz of Valterna. One of the Twelve Elite Saracens. 75, 100.
Espérveris. A baron in King Marsille’s army. The line in the manuscript is badly smudged, and this is a guess at the name. 108.
Estamars. A messenger to Charlemagne from King Marsille. 5.
Esturganz. One of the Twelve Elite Saracens and battlemate of Astramarz. 76, 101.
Esturgoz. A Saracen knight. 106.
Ethiopia. Governed by the Caliph Marganice, Ethiopia contributes knights to the ambush at Roncevals. 142.
Eurropin. A messenger to Charlemagne from King Marsille. 5.
Evilgood from Oversea [Malbien d’ultremer]. A messenger to Charlemagne from King Marsille. 5.
Faldrún de Pui. A knight in Marsille’s army. 140.
Falsarun. Brother to King Marsille and one of the Twelve Elite Saracens. 70, 94.
Flurit. Former king of the lands that Emir Baligant grants to his son Malprimis. 231.
Fuit Valley. A land loyal to Emir Baligant. 233.
Gaifiers. A duke and one of the rearguard leaders. 64.
Gaignun. King Marsille’s horse. (A guenon is a female monkey.) 141.
Galaff. The emir who originally obtained Abisme’s shield from the Devil. 114 .
Galatan silk. The silk was probably manufactured in Galatia, the city whose Christian residents received a letter from St. Paul, or in Galata, a peninsular suburb of Constantinople. 212.
Galicia. A province of northern Spain. See Hamon of Galicia. 223.
Ganelon. Stepfather and bitter enemy to Roland. 12, 15–16, 20–50, 52–54, 56, 58–61, 67–68, 80, 90, 109, 112, 116, 118, 132–33, 136, 267, 270–78, 283–84, 286, 288–89.
Garlan of the Beard [Guarlan le Barbet]. A messenger to Charlemagne from King Marsille. 5.
Gascony. A province of southern France. 12, 66, 176.
Gebuin. One of Charlemagne’s division commanders. 177, 212, 217, 251.
Geoffrey of Anjou. Guide-on bearer for Charlemagne and brother of Thierry of Anjou. See Guide-on. 8, 205, 210–11, 225, 256–57, 275, 2 77, 2 87.
Gerart of Russillon. One of the Twelve Peers of France and a rear-guard leader. 64, 141, 161, 176.
Gerer. One of the Twelve Peers of France, a rearguard leader and battle-mate of Gerin. 8, 12, 64, 97, 108, 122, 161, 176.
Gerin. One of the Twelve Peers of France, a rearguard leader and battle-mate of Gerer. 8, 12, 64, 96, 108, 122, 161, 176.
Germany [Alemaigne], Germans. Germany was an important part of Charlemagne’s empire. Our author considers it a separate province from Saxony and Bavaria. 219, 267, 275, 289, 290.
Giles. Saint Giles. 154.
Gironde. The river in France that flows through Bordeaux before emptying into the Atlantic. 267.
Godeselmes. A division leader of Charlemagne’s army. 222.
Gramimond. The horse of Saracen knight Valdabraun. 118.
Grandonies. A Saracen captain in Marsille’s army. 122, 124.
Grimálfin [Gemalfin]. The trusted lieutenant of Emir Baligant who commands the armies in the emir’s absence. 200, 253.
Grimtail [Malcud]. The father of Grimthought. 120.
Grimthought [Malquiant]. A Saracen knight. 120–21.
Gros. A region loyal to Emir Baligant. 232.
Grossall [Agrossaille]. The Danish king slain at some previous time by Archbishop Turpin. 114.
Guide-on. The flag by which soldiers can locate their leaders; or, the soldier who carries the guide-on. (The guide-on for Charlemagne is Geoffrey of Anjou.) 8, 55, 68, 109, 113, 256–57.
Guinemán. One of Charlemagne’s captains. 217, 240, 242, 251.
Guinemer. Ganelon’s uncle. 27.
Gumalio. A land governed by the Caliph Marganice and contributing to the ambush at Roncevals. 142.
Guyun of St. Anthony. A knight of the rearguard. 122.
Hamon of Galicia. A knight in Charlemagne’s army and division commander. 223.
Henry. A knight in Charlemagne’s army and nephew of Richard the Old. 12.
Hungary, Huns. The fact that Roland is said to have conquered Hungary does not keep that land from supplying troops to Emir Baligant’s army. 234.
Iggies [Eugiez]. A people loyal to Emir Baligant. 233.
Ivon. One of the Twelve Peers of France and a rearguard leader. 141, 176.
Jangle Oversea [Jangleu l’Ultremarin]. Emir Baligant’s counselor and wizard. 253–54.
Jericho. The Biblical town, here loyal to Emir Baligant. 232.
Jouner. A messenger to Charlemagne from King Marsille. 5.
Joyeuse. Charlemagne’s sword. 182, 215, 228.
Jozeran de Provence. A division commander in Charlemagne’s army. 216–17, 220, 222, 224, 226, 256.
Juliana. Queen Bramimunde’s baptismal name. 290.
Jurfalé. The son and heir to King Marsille. 38, 141, 193. 198. (Also, though not named yet, 37.)
Laon. The home of the abbey founded by St. Giles and one of the seats of Charlemagne’s government. 154, 207.
Leu. A region loyal to Emir Baligant. 234.
Loranz. A division commander in Charlemagne’s army. 217, 251 (See Notes on Editorial and Translation Decisions, line 2951.)
Machinee. A messenger to Charlemagne from King Marsille. 5.
Malatrain. A former messenger for Emir Baligant and father of Clarifan and Claren. 192.
Maldebty [Malduit]. Marsille’s treasurer. 51.
Malpalin. An unidentified enemy of Charlemagne from former times. 215.
Malprámis. The son of Emir Baligant. 229–32, 243, 247, 253.
Malprese. A land loyal to Emir Baligant. 234, 236.
Málprimis Brigant. One of the Twelve Elite Saracens. 71, 96.
Malun. A Saracen knight. 106.
Marbrise. A fictional Spanish city on the Ebro River. 190.
Marbrow. Another fictional Spanish city on the Ebro River. 190.
Marchis Valley. Part of the land formerly belonging to King Flurit, given to Malprámis. 231.
Marganice. Marsille’s uncle and Caliph of North Africa. 142–44.
Márgariz of Seville. One of the Twelve Elite Saracens. 77, 102–03.
Marse [Marsune]. The unknown site of a river ford in Spain. 215.
Marsille. King of the Saracens and Lord of Saragossa. 1, 2, 5–7, 9, 13–17, 19 (as “the Saracen”), 20–21, 32–48, 50–52, 54, 68–78, 90, 93–94, 111–13, 118, 125, 130, 141–42, 186–89, 192–93, 196–201, 210, 264, 273.
Maruse. A region loyal to Emir Baligant. 234.
Matthew [Maheu]. A messenger to Charlemagne from King Marsille. 5.
Micenies. A people loyal to Emir Baligant. 232.
Milon. A count in Charlemagne’s army and cousin of Theobald of Reims. 12, 177, 212.
Mohammed. To pray to or adore the Prophet Mohammed is contrary to the laws of Islam. The slander that Muslims did pray to Mohammed also continued—and was probably more generally believed than the one about Apollo—throughout popular medieval Christian literature. See footnote to line 8 as well as glossary references to Apollo and Tervagant. 1, 32, 47, 68–69, 74, 104, 125, 141, 186, 193–94, 232, 235, 253, 257, 264.
Moriane. Valley where the Angel Gabriel gave the sword Durendal to Charlemagne. 171.
Mountjoy. Both the battle cry of the French forces and Charlemagne’s red battle standard. The author shows some learned curiosity about the origins and use of the word. 92, 94–95, 105, 107, 115, 134, 140, 146, 159, 182, 225, 237, 258, 262.
Murgleis. Ganelon’s sword. 27, 46.
Neïme. A French Duke, one of Charlemagne’s foremost advisers. 16–17, 54, 62, 67, 133–34, 176–77, 205, 209, 216–17, 219–20, 222–24, 226, 247–50, 257, 262, 287.
Nerbone. Jenkins writes, “Not the larger city of Narbonne, near the Mediterranean … but a town in the Basque country … now called Arbonne” (p. 253). 215, 267.
Nevelin. A count in Charlemagne’s army. 221.
Niger [Negres]. A people loyal to Emir Baligant. 232.
Nople. An area of Spain conquered by Roland for Charlemagne. 14, 133.
Nuble. A land loyal to Emir Baligant. 232.
Occian. A land loyal to Emir Baligant. 233, 236, 252, 255.
Oedun. A division leader in Charlemagne’s army. 221.
Ogier the Dane. One of Charlemagne’s foremost military leaders. 12, 58, 218, 256–57, 279, 287.
Olifant. Roland’s horn, fashioned, as the etymology indicates, from a huge elephant tusk. 83–85, 87, 92, 128–29, 131–34, 137, 155, 164, 169, 173, 217, 226, 230, 237–38, 267.
Oliver. One of the Twelve Peers of France. The battle-mate of Roland, he shares leadership of the rearguard with Roland. 8, 12, 18, 24, 41–44, 54, 64, 72, 75–77, 79–83, 86–88, 90–92, 94, 97, 103, 105–8, 110, 112, 115, 117, 126–31, 139, 143–50, 162–63, 176, 183, 198–99, 212, 217, 230, 267, 272–73.
Ormalies. A people loyal to Emir Baligant. 233, 236.
Otis. One of the Twelve Peers of France and a rearguard leader. 64, 101, 176.
Oton. One of Charlemagne’s knights. 177, 212, 221.
Palermese. The people of Palermo, in Sicily. 208.
Persia, Persian(s). A land and people loyal to Emir Baligant. 231–33, 241.
Peter, St. The apostle. 28, 74, 172, 215, 225.
Pinabel. The friend, kinsman, and defender of Ganelon. 27, 274–75, 278–79, 282–86, 288.
Pinceneis. Jenkins and Hemming agree that these are, in Hemming’s words, the “Petchenegs, a Tartar people” (p. 177). 233.
Pineland [la terre de Pine]. An area of Spain conquered by Roland for Charlemagne. 14.
Poitou. A region of western France. 171, 222.
Ports of Spain. The mountain pass that leads up through Roncevals from Spain to France. 63, 69, 135.
Priamun. A messenger to Charlemagne from King Marsille. 5.
Rabél. One of Charlemagne’s captains. 217, 240–41.
Rearguard. Roland’s regiment of twenty thousand men, assigned to follow Charlemagne’s main army through the Ports of Spain. 43–44, 47–49, 52, 58–59, 62–63, 67–68, 70–71, 79, 87, 91–92, 103, 198, 214.
Reinier, Duke. Oliver’s father. 162.
Rembalt. A knight in Charlemagne’s army and division commander. 223.
Richard the Old, Duke of Normandy. One of Charlemagne’s generals. 12, 220, 251.
Roland. The nephew of Charlemagne, his most renowned military leader and foremost of the Twelve Peers of France. 8, 12, 14–15, 18, 20–22, 24, 27, 29–31, 36, 41–49, 52–55, 58–80, 83–88, 90–93, 99, 104–8, 110, 112, 115, 117, 119, 123–24, 126–43, 145–76, 179, 183, 193–94, 198–99, 203–9, 212, 214, 216–17, 226, 229–30, 267–69, 272–73, 275–77, 280.
Roncevals (literally, Thorn Valley, Roncevaux today). A narrow valley in the Spanish Pyrenees and the scene of the great battle. 71–78, 164, 176–77, 180, 183, 194, 199, 202–3, 216, 246.
Runer Valley. The property of Duke Reinier, Oliver’s father. 162.
St. Denis. One of Charlemagne’s seats of government, probably at the present St. Denis, a suburb of Paris. 77.
Samson, Duke. One of the Twelve Peers of France and a rearguard leader. 8, 98, 118–19, 161, 176.
Samuel. The ancestor of people loyal to Emir Baligant. Jenkins and Hemming believe that Czar Samuel of Bulgaria is intended. 233.
Saracens. The Arabs of Spain. 14, 18, 28, 31, 48, 79, 86, 89, 91, 95, 102, 105, 116, 122, 124–25, 133, 138, 140, 142, 154, 160, 168–69, 194, 201.
Saragossa. The last stronghold in Spain for King Marsille and the Saracens, in northeast Spain. 1–2, 14, 17–18, 23, 31, 36, 52, 54, 68, 79, 109, 116, 179, 186–88, 190, 193, 196–98, 200–201, 264–67.
Saxony. A province of Charlemagne’s empire. 171.
Sevre. The valley ruled by Canábeus, Emir Baligant’s brother. 238, 248.
Sevrin, St. A church in Bordeaux. 267.
Sízlorel. The sorcerer knight in Marsille’s army. 108.
Slavs. The author lists the Slavs among the followers of Emir Baligant. 232.
Slingshot-Beards [Barbez de Fronde]. A people loyal to Emir Baligant. 234.
Sorbiennes. A people loyal to Emir Baligant. 232.
Soricinia [Sorence]. The home estate of Pinabel. 274.
Sorrel. Gerin’s horse. 108.
Sorz. A people loyal to Emir Baligant. 232.
Stagcatcher [Passecerf]. Gerer’s horse. 108.
Sultras [Solteras]. A people loyal to Emir Baligant. 233.
Swátili. A land whose king gave Marsille twelve white mules. 7.
Tencedor. Charlemagne’s horse. 215, 239, 262.
Tenebrosa. A valley in Spain. Literally: dark. 179.
Tervagant. The third of the so-called pagan Trinity, an inaccurate parallel with the Christian Trinity. Jean Bodel, in his thirteenth-century Play of St. Nicholas, written to promote support for the Crusades, has a Muslim king praying to an unholy trinity of Mohammed, Apollo, and Tervagant. See footnote to line 8 as well as glossary references to Apollo and Mohammed. 47, 179, 186, 193–94, 235, 253.
Theobald of Reims. One of C harlemagne’s barons and cousin of Count Milon. 12, 212, 221.
Thierry of Anjou. A young knight of Charlemagne’s court and brother of Geoffrey of Anjou. 205, 275, 277–87.
Thierry of Argonne. A knight in Charlemagne’s army and division commander. 224, 256.
Tímozel. One of Marsille’s barons. 108.
Torlus, King of Persia. One of Emir Baligant’s generals. 231–32, 241.
Turgis. A Saracen knight; not to be confused with another Saracen, Turgis of Turteluse. 106.
Turgis. The Count of Turteluse and one of the Twelve Elite Saracens. 74, 99.
Turks. A people loyal to Emir Baligant. 233, 236, 254.
Turolde. Composer, reciter, or manuscript copyist of The Song of Roland. See footnote to the last line of the translation, 3920. 291.
Turpin (the archbishop). The archbishop of Reims and fighting chaplain of Charlemagne’s army. 12, 19, 64, 89–90, 95, 98, 105, 108, 110–11, 113–15, 121, 126, 131, 140, 151–54, 157–58, 160, 162–66, 176, 212, 267.
Twelve Peers of France. Twelve elite knights of Charlemagne’s army, led by Roland and Oliver. 18–19, 24, 41–42, 64, 67–68, 70, 72, 75–78, 105, 110, 115, 130, 133, 162–63, 176, 183, 198–99, 203, 230, 272.
Valdabraun. A Saracen knight and godson of Marsille. 118–19.
Valley-Wet-With-Tears [Val Penuse, literally: Sorrowful Valley]. A region loyal to Emir Baligant. 234.
Val Metás. The valley where Duke Abisme’s shield was originally purchased from the Devil. 114.
Veillantif. Roland’s horse. 91, 93, 150, 157, 159–60.
Walter de la Humme [Gualter de Hum]. One of Roland’s men; he volunteers for the rearguard. 64–65, 151–53.
William of Blaye. One of Charlemagne’s knights. 287.
Yvoris. One of the Twelve Peers of France and a rearguard leader. 141, 176 .