Durendal, also spelledDurandal, is the sword ofRoland, a legendarypaladin and partially historical officer ofCharlemagne in French epic literature. The sword is famous for its hardness and sharpness. Sources includingLa Chanson de Roland (The Song of Roland) state that it first belonged to the young Charlemagne.
According to one legend, at the end of theBattle of Roncevaux Roland hurled the sword from him to prevent its being seized by theSaracens, and it came to rest inRocamadour. A replica sword that was embedded in a rock face there was reported stolen in June 2024.
The nameDurendal arguably begins with theFrenchdur- stem, meaning "hard", though "enduring" may be the intended meaning.[1]Rita Lejeune argues that the name may break down intodurant +dail,[2] which may be rendered in English as "strong scythe"[3] or explained in more detail to mean "a scimitar or scythe that holds up, resists, endures".[4]Gerhard Rohlfs suggestsdur +end'art, "strong flame" or "[a flame] burns strongly from it".[3][5]
ThePseudo-Turpin explains that the name "'Durendal' is interpreted to mean [that] it gives a hard strike" (Durendainterpretaturdurumictumcumeadans). It has been argued that thePseudo-Turpin offering a gloss of the meaning constitutes evidence that it was a name that was not readily understood in French.[a][6]
One non-French etymology is Edwin B. Place's attempt to construe it inBreton asdiren dall, meaning "blade [that] dulls cutting edge" or "blade [that] blinds".[6] Another isJames A. Bellamy'sArabic etymology, explaining a possible origin of the sword's name inḏū l-jandal (ذو الجندل), meaning "master of stone".[7][3][b]
According to legend, the sword was capable of cutting through giant boulders with a single strike, and was indestructible.[8]
InLa Chanson de Roland (The Song of Roland), the sword is said to contain within its golden hilt a tooth ofSaint Peter, blood ofBasil of Caesarea, hair ofSaint Denis, and a piece of the raiment ofMary, mother of Jesus.[9][10]
According to legend as recounted in the poem, at theBattle of Roncevaux Pass Roland took the rearguard to hold offSaracen troops long enough for Charlemagne's army to retreat into France.[11] He slew a vast number of enemies: wielding Durendal, he sliced the right arm of the Saracen kingMarsile, decapitated the king's son Jursaleu or Jurfaleu and put the one-hundred-thousand-strong army to flight.[12][13] His mission accomplished, Roland then attempted to destroy Durendal by hitting it against blocks of marble, to prevent it from being captured by the Saracens, but the sword proved to be indestructible.[9] Finally, mortally wounded, he hid it beneath his body as he lay dying along with theoliphant, the horn he had used to alert Charlemagne.[14][15]
In Spanish Carolingian literature, "Durandarte" refers both to the sword and to a companion of Roland, famous for his relationship with the lady Belerma.[16]
The sword has been given various provenances. Several of the works of theMatter of France agree that it was forged byWayland the Smith, who is commonly cited as a maker of weapons inchivalric romances.[17]
According toLa Chanson de Roland, an angel brought Durendal to Charlemagne in the vale of Moriane, and Charlemagne then gave it to Roland.[18][c]
According to the 12th-century fragmentarychanson de geste known asMainet (referring to the pseudonym that Charlemagne adopted in his youth), Durendal was once captured, but not kept, by the young Charlemagne when he fled to Spain.[20] Young Charles (Mainés in the text) slays Braimant, obtaining his sword (Durendaus).[21][22] This tale is better preserved in some non-chanson de geste texts,[23] and in adaptations such as the Franco-ItalianKarleto.[24] According to the Low-German versionKarl Mainet, the place of combat was near the vale of Moriane (Vael Moriale), near Toledo.[25]
According to another 12th-centurychanson de geste, theSong ofAspremont, the owner of Durendal just before Roland obtained it was a Saracen named Aumon, son of kingAgolant,[d]. Young Roland mounted Naimes's horse Morel without permission,[26] and armed only with a rod, defeated Aumon, taking as spoils both the sword and the horseVeillantif.[27]
These materials were combined in the Italian proseAspramonte byAndrea da Barberino in the late 14th to early 15th century. That work stated that after young Carlo (Charlemagne) came into possession of Durindarda (Durendal) by killing Bramante in Spain, Galafro gave it to Galiziella,[e][28] who then gave it to Almonte the son of Agolante (i.e.,French:Aumon).[f][29][30] Galiziella is glossed as the bastard daughter of Agolante,[31] making her Almonte's half-sister. Durindana is eventually won by Orlandino (young Orlando).[32]
Andrea da Barberino was a major source for later Italian writers.Boiardo'sOrlando innamorato traces the sword's origin toHector ofTroy; it belonged for a while to theAmazonian queenPantasilea, and was passed down to Almonte before Orlando gained possession of it.[33]Ludovico Ariosto'sOrlando Furioso follows Boiardo, saying it once belonged to Hector of Troy, but that it was given to Roland by Malagigi (Maugris).
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Tradition has it thatRoland's Breach in thePyrenees was created when Roland, attempting to break Durendal, instead cut a huge gash in the mountainside with one blow.[35][36] A similar legend is used to explain a notch in the peak ofPuig Campana in theProvince of Alicante, Spain.
InRocamadour, in theLotdepartment, a local legend holds that instead of dying with Durendal hidden under his body, Roland called on theArchangel Michael for assistance and was able to throw the sword several hundred kilometres across the border into France, where it came to rest in Rocamadour.[36] There it was deposited in the chapel of Mary, but was stolen byHenry the Young King in 1183.[34] Successive replicas have been stolen; most recently a sword fashioned from sheet metal was embedded in a cleft in a cliff wall, secured with a chain.[37] That sword was reported stolen in June 2024.[36][38][39]
A sword named Durendal appears in a number of fantasy video games. InFinal Fantasy Legend III (1991) it's one of four mystic swords (its name shortened to 'Durend' due to character limitations). In theSuper Sentai seriesKyōryū Sentai Zyuranger (1992). the monster Dora Knight wields a magic sword called Durandal.[40] In theFire Emblem videogame series, Durandal is the name of the legendaryclaymore sword wielded by one of the characters. Durandal is the name of a character inHonkai Impact 3rd; her namesake is the super-AI Holy Blade Durandal, which takes the form of a sword. InLibrary of Ruina (2020), Durandal is the signature weapon of Roland, one of the main protagonists. A sword named Durandal is inChained Echoes (2022), as well as a lesser known game, Days Bygone.
InTerraria, Durendal is a weapon that the player is able to craft, but it's a whip rather than a sword. Durendal is the name of a spaceship inXenosaga and of an organization inFront Mission 4. The name also appears inFate/Grand Order (2015).
A sword named Durendal also appears in literature. In thexianxia-inspired series of novelsThe Godking's Legacy by author Virlyce, Durandal is the name of one of the main characters, a sentient sword that previously belonged to the legendary warrior-mage Roland. InThe Dresden Files book series, Durendal is one of three powerful swords and is linked to the emotion of hope. In the light novel and anime seriesHigh School DxD, the historical Durandal that was first used by Roland is wielded by a current character.
Durandel is used as a name, although not of a sword, in the anime seriesMobile Suit Gundam SEED,Macross Frontier, andSpace Battleship Tiramisu, and in the live-actiontokusatsu seriesKamen Rider Saber (2020) and the spinoffKamen Rider Sabela & Durendal (2022). It is also the name of the AI guide and central character in theMarathon Trilogy of video games.
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