A Frankish duke and a companion of Anseis.
At Rencesvals, Samson killed the almaçor in the opening part of the battle.
Samson was the second of the Twelve Peers to fall. Valdabrun drove his lance through Samson, but Roland killed the Saracen in return; Roland drove his sword Durendal into Valdabrun, which split Valdabrun down the middle. This mighty blow also killed Valdabrun's horse, Gramimund.
By Jimmy Joe
A Saracen nobleman and warrior. Valdabrun was a vassal to Marsile. Valdabrun seemed to be Marsile's admiral, since it said that he commanded a thousand galleys at sea. According to Chanson de Roland, Valdabrun captured Jerusalem through treachery,...
Gautier was the lord of Hum. Although, he was not one of the Twelve Peers, he was a vassal of Roland, and therefore he took part in the Battle of Rencesvals, as recorded in Chanson de Roland. Roland commanded Gautier to take one thousand warriors ...
The greatest hero in the Frankish legends. He was sort of like a French Heracles, Achilles, Sigurd, Cu Chulainn or Lancelot, a hero of unsurpassed strength and courage. Roland was the main character of the epic, Chanson de Roland, which recounted ...
A companion of Samson. In Chanson de Roland, he was called Anseis the fierce. Anseis killed Turgis of Turteluse. Anseis was killed by an African prince named Malquiant, son of King Malcuid. Malquiant drove his weapon through the hero's hauberk. It...
The Twelve Peers were Charlemagne's elite paladins or knights - the corps d'elite. The Twelve Peers were sort of like Arthur's Knights of the Round Table. According to all tales, Roland was the leader of the Twelve Peers. Roland was Charlemagne's ...
Without enemies, there would be no heroes. And it rings true that if there were no Saracens, then there would be no Frankish knights. So in this page, I have listed some of the Saracen rulers and warriors that appeared in the chansons de geste, pa...
The villainous stepfather of Roland and brother-in-law of Charlemagne. According to poems found in the Geste de Doon de Mayence, Ganelon was a son of Griffon d'Hauteville, and grandson of Doon de Mayence. Ganelon was married to Charlemagne's siste...
Archbishop of Reims. Archbishop Turpin was one of Charlemagne's advisers and knights. Turpin was a very formidable warrior and he played a prominent role in Chanson de Roland. According to the Pilgrimage of Charlemagne, Almace was the name of Turp...
Engeler was a Gascon paladin from Bordeaux. In Chanson de Roland, he killed Escremiz of Valterne and Esperveres son of Burdel. A Saracen named Climborin from Saragossa killed Engeler. Climborin drove his spear through his body. Oliver avenged him ...
A Saracen prince. Grandonie was son of King Capuel of Cappadocia. His horse was named Marmorie. His spear had a blue ensign. Grandonie was one of Marsile's better warriors. He killed Guiun from Saint-Antoine and Austorie of Valence. Grandonie also...