Song of Roland Power Quotes

This is the way enemy kings deal with each other. Obviously, you don't want to take your enemy's word for anything, so the only way to convince him of your sincerity is to demonstrate some weakness. By sending hostages, Marsile gives Charlemagne the upper hand, allowing him to torture, maim, or kill them in exchange for the bargain. There's a similar exchange during Ganelon's trial, when Pinabel gives Charlemagne hostages in exchange for getting Ganelon temporarily out of prison—medieval bail.

Does anyone else think it's weird that the Franks carry a pure-gold throne with them on campaigns? It must be a super-important symbol of kingship to lug it that far. The other thing to note here is that Charlemagne is described as the "King" rather than the emperor, focusing his empire down to "fair France," when it actually included Germany, Italy, and much of central Europe. But what else would you expect from a French poet, hmmm?

Charlemagne doesn't make decisions without the input of advisors, a council of his top barons that thinks out loud about a problem. These guys are all in feudal relationships with Charlemagne, meaning that in exchange for land or other goods they are obligated to serve in Charlemagne's army. But in the Song of Roland this relationship is a little more complicated. Charlemagne doesn't just want their military allegiance: he wants their advice too.