LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Roland
built 177 days ago
Roland was a popular legendary figure in medieval Europe. Over the next several centuries, Roland became a "pop icon" in medieval minstrel culture. According to many legends, he was a nephew of Charlemagne (whether or not this was true we do not know), turned his life into an epic tale of the noble Christian killed by Islamic forces, which forms part of the medieval Matter of France. Roland's tale is retold in the eleventh century poem The Song of Roland, where he is equipped with the Olifant (a signalling horn) and an unbreakable sword, enchanted by various Christian relics, named Durendal. The first story written about him was Orlando Innamorato by Matteo Maria Boiardo. After his death, the epic was continued as Orlando furioso by Ludovico Ariosto (See below for his later history in Italian verse).
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The scene of Oliver's sighting of the enemy and pleading with Roland is an example of a technique unique to The Song of Roland, the parallel laisses. The term is not precise; its key characteristic is a slowing of the pace of narrative and a formula of repetition. Laisses 80 and 81 both start with Oliver at the top of a hill. In both laisses, he reports seeing a vast pagan host. Laisses 83-5 focus on Oliver's request that Roland blow his horn. The request is repeated and refused three times, in very similar terms.
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Why does Roland have such a western name? "Founder and President of Roland, Ikutaro Kakehashi, was ... the founder of Ace Electronics, but eventually left after a business disagreement with his partner. When he decided to start a new firm, he chose the name Roland because Acetone [the organ they manufactured] got pronounced differently in different places, while Roland was pronounced the same everywhere. Ironically, Roland isn't that easy to pronounce if you're Japanese, since Japanese doesn't have an L sound."----Timothy Guegen
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The upgraded Roland has a new BBKS command and control system with three multi-function colour displays, new guidance computer, co-ordination computer and MIL-Bus interconnection. The system is capable of being integrated into ground-to-air C3I (command, control, computer/intelligence) systems and is interoperable with systems such as Patriot, Hawk and AWACS.
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Roland, Olivier and Turpin are buried at Blaye on the way home. When Charlemagne reaches Aix, the trial of Ganelon begins. Charles accuses Ganelon who says his acts were revenge, not treason. The barons debate, they don't want trouble, and except for Thierry, are not inclined to condemn Ganelon. Thierry explains his case:
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Ganelon's betrayal of Roland is motivated both by jealousy and greed. Jealousy is undoubtedly the primary motivation, but the monetary reward he receives links him to the first traitor of Christianity, Judas, who received thirty pieces of silver for betraying Christ. Additionally, the description of the reward, which takes the form of varied exotic goods, gives the poet a chance to describe wonders from the Orient. Remember that part of the motivation for the Crusades was a lust for foreign goods and a desire to see foreign lands.
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Roland