Ganelon

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 sister, whose name is not given in the Chanson de Roland; he was her second husband. (Note that historically, Charlemagne's actual sister never married.) By Charlemagne's sister, Ganelon was the father of Baldwin.

Ganelon was the cleverest adviser of Charlemagne, but the relationship between him and Roland was often hostile. Ganelon, like Roland, was bad-tempered.

Though he was described as treacherous, his physical appearance was that of a handsome man of noble bearing.

When Charlemagne returned to Aix with his army, he had Ganelon tried for treason because he was responsible for Roland's death as well as the deaths of other members of the Twelve Peers and 20,000 men at Rencesvals. Charlemagne wanted to execute his brother-in-law, but thirty of Ganelon's kinsmen supported him, including Pinabel of Sorrence.

The decision of his innocence or guilt was decided by single combat between Pinabel and Thierry. Pinabel was killed, so Ganelon and his 30 kinsmen were killed. His kinsmen hung by the gallows, while he suffered from a worse fate; his limbs were ripped from his body; each limb was tied to a horse.

His warhorse was called Tachebrun. Murgleis was his sword.