Olivier (The Song of Roland)
Encyclopedia
Oliver sometimes referred to as Olivier de Vienne or de Gennes, is a fictional knight in the Matter of France
chansons de geste, especially the French
epic The Song of Roland
. In the tradition, he was Roland
's closest friend, advisor, and confidant, one of Charlemagne
's twelve peers and brother of Aude
, Roland's betrothed; and he dies at the Battle of Roncevaux Pass
with Roland. Some critics have linked his name to the olive tree
, a biblical symbol of divine wisdom.
, to split his attacker's head open with one blow. (Oxford manuscript, laisses 145-150).
(c.1180) by Bertrand de Bar-sur-Aube
. Olivier's uncle Girart is fighting against his suzerain Charlemagne; after seven years of constant warfare, the two sides agree to a duel between two champions which will decide the outcome. From Vienne, Olivier is chosen, and from France, Roland. The two duel but cannot overcome each other. Each recognizing the other's prowess and nobility, they swear friendship to each other, and help bring about peace between their uncles.
In Roland a Saragosse, Olivier appears as Roland's friend and also something of a caretaker, assigned by Charlemagne to watch out for the younger and somewhat impetuous Roland. In the story, Roland is invited by Brammimonde, the queen of the Moors, to visit her at Saragossa. He and Olivier ride to the city without Roland telling Olivier the nature of his errand. As the two look out over the city, Roland asks Olivier to promise him a favor. Olivier, not suspecting any foul play, readily agrees, rather like an older brother to a younger. Then Roland asks Olivier to not accompany him into Saragosse so that Roland can claim all the glory and all the Queen's favor for himself. He leaves an outraged Olivier behind and succeeds in finding the queen and receiving a magnificent cloak from her. However, as he attempts to escape Saragossa Roland is surrounded by Saracens. He calls to Olivier for help, but the latter does not budge from his hill. Even when Roland is unhorsed and seems in grave danger of capture does Olivier, after a bit more hesitation, ride down to the battle. He kills many Saracens and then leads a horse to Roland, then leaves the battle again. Then Olivier and his knights angrily leave Charlemagne's camp and capture the minor Saracen city of Gorreya. Roland rides out after them, intending to apologize to Olivier. When he arrives at Gorreya, Olivier disguises himself as a Saracen and goes outside the city to do battle with Roland. Roland knocks Olivier off his horse, but at a signal from Olivier all of the rest of his knights, also disguised as Saracens, exit the city and surround Roland. Just as before, outside Saragossa, Roland is trapped and outnumbered, and this time, realizing that Olivier is not there to save him, Roland surrenders. Only then does Olivier remove his disguise and the two are reconciled.
Olivier also appears in a series of chansons concerning the Moorish giant Fierabras
, presented as Olivier's rival and near-equal. The story goes: the Saracen king Balan and his 15 feet (4.6 m) son Fierabras return to Spain after sacking the church of Saint Peter's
in Rome
and taking the relics of the passion
. Charlemagne invades Spain to recuperate the relics and sends his knight Olivier de Vienne, Roland
's companion, to battle Fierabras. Once defeated, the giant decides to convert to Christianity and joins Charlemagne's army, but Olivier and several other knights are captured. Floripas, Fierabras' sister, falls in love with one of Charlemagne's knights, Gui de Bourgogne. After a series of adventures, Charlemagne kills king Balan, divides Spain between Fierabras and Gui de Bourgogne (who marries Floripas), and returns to Saint Denis with the holy relics.
In the chanson Galiens li Restorés
, Oliver has, with a princess of Byzantium named Jacqueline, a son named Galien. In the story, Galien leaves Constantinople to search for Olivier, and arrives at Roncevaux in time to speak to his dying father. He then returns to Constantinople, where his evil uncles have murdered their father, the Emperor, Galien's grandfather. He defeats them and becomes emperor of Byzantium, at the same time that the trial of Ganelon is taking place in France.
He also appears in the Italian romantic epics Morgante
by Luigi Pulci
, Orlando innamorato
by Matteo Maria Boiardo
and Orlando furioso
by Ludovico Ariosto
. In Boiardo and Ariosto, Oliver has two sons: Aquilante and Grifone (their mother is given as Gismonda in Ariosto, xv, 73.)
Matter of France
The Matter of France, also known as the Carolingian cycle, is a body of literature and legendary material associated with the history of France, in particular involving Charlemagne and his associates. The cycle springs from the Old French chansons de geste, and was later adapted into a variety of...
chansons de geste, especially the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
epic The Song of Roland
The Song of Roland
The Song of Roland is the oldest surviving major work of French literature. It exists in various manuscript versions which testify to its enormous and enduring popularity in the 12th to 14th centuries...
. In the tradition, he was Roland
Roland
Roland was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the Matter of France. Historically, Roland was military governor of the Breton March, with responsibility for defending the frontier of Francia against the Bretons...
's closest friend, advisor, and confidant, one of Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
's twelve peers and brother of Aude
Aude (character)
Aude, or Alda, Alde, was the sister of Oliver and betrothed of Roland in The Song of Roland and other chansons de gestes. The story of her engagement to Roland is told in Girart de Vienne....
, Roland's betrothed; and he dies at the Battle of Roncevaux Pass
Battle of Roncevaux Pass
The Battle of Roncevaux Pass was a battle in 778 in which Roland, prefect of the Breton March and commander of the rear guard of Charlemagne's army, was defeated by the Basques...
with Roland. Some critics have linked his name to the olive tree
Olive Tree
The Olive Tree was a denomination used for several successive centre-left Italian political coalitions from 1995 to 2007.The historical leader and ideologue of these coalitions was Romano Prodi, Professor of Economics and former leftist Christian Democrat, who invented the name and the symbol of...
, a biblical symbol of divine wisdom.
Oliver in the Song of Roland
Whereas the portrayal of Roland is commonly seen as recklessly courageous, Oliver was said to exhibit poise and wisdom in combat. He tells Roland that "heroism tempered with common sense is a far cry from madness; / Reasonableness is to be preferred to recklessness."(Oxford manuscript, laisse 131). Oliver was fatally impaled from behind by the Saracen Marganice, but before dying, he used his sword, HauteclereHauteclere
Hauteclere is the sword of Olivier, a character in the French epic "The Song of Roland". It is described as being of burnished steel, with a crystal embedded in a golden hilt....
, to split his attacker's head open with one blow. (Oxford manuscript, laisses 145-150).
Oliver in other works
Aside from the Song of Roland, the most pivotal chanson in which Olivier appears is Girart de VienneGirart de Vienne
Girart de Vienne is a late twelfth-century Old French chanson de geste by Bertrand de Bar-sur-Aube. The work tells the story of the sons of Garin de Monglane and their battles with the Emperor Charlemagne and it establishes the friendship of the epic heroes Olivier and Roland.The poem comprises...
(c.1180) by Bertrand de Bar-sur-Aube
Bertrand de Bar-sur-Aube
Bertrand de Bar-sur-Aube was an Old French poet from the Champagne region of France who wrote a number of chansons de geste. He is the author of Girard de Vienne, and it is likely that he also wrote Aymeri de Narbonne...
. Olivier's uncle Girart is fighting against his suzerain Charlemagne; after seven years of constant warfare, the two sides agree to a duel between two champions which will decide the outcome. From Vienne, Olivier is chosen, and from France, Roland. The two duel but cannot overcome each other. Each recognizing the other's prowess and nobility, they swear friendship to each other, and help bring about peace between their uncles.
In Roland a Saragosse, Olivier appears as Roland's friend and also something of a caretaker, assigned by Charlemagne to watch out for the younger and somewhat impetuous Roland. In the story, Roland is invited by Brammimonde, the queen of the Moors, to visit her at Saragossa. He and Olivier ride to the city without Roland telling Olivier the nature of his errand. As the two look out over the city, Roland asks Olivier to promise him a favor. Olivier, not suspecting any foul play, readily agrees, rather like an older brother to a younger. Then Roland asks Olivier to not accompany him into Saragosse so that Roland can claim all the glory and all the Queen's favor for himself. He leaves an outraged Olivier behind and succeeds in finding the queen and receiving a magnificent cloak from her. However, as he attempts to escape Saragossa Roland is surrounded by Saracens. He calls to Olivier for help, but the latter does not budge from his hill. Even when Roland is unhorsed and seems in grave danger of capture does Olivier, after a bit more hesitation, ride down to the battle. He kills many Saracens and then leads a horse to Roland, then leaves the battle again. Then Olivier and his knights angrily leave Charlemagne's camp and capture the minor Saracen city of Gorreya. Roland rides out after them, intending to apologize to Olivier. When he arrives at Gorreya, Olivier disguises himself as a Saracen and goes outside the city to do battle with Roland. Roland knocks Olivier off his horse, but at a signal from Olivier all of the rest of his knights, also disguised as Saracens, exit the city and surround Roland. Just as before, outside Saragossa, Roland is trapped and outnumbered, and this time, realizing that Olivier is not there to save him, Roland surrenders. Only then does Olivier remove his disguise and the two are reconciled.
Olivier also appears in a series of chansons concerning the Moorish giant Fierabras
Fierabras
Fiërabras or Ferumbras is a Saracen knight appearing in several chansons de geste and other material relating to the Matter of France...
, presented as Olivier's rival and near-equal. The story goes: the Saracen king Balan and his 15 feet (4.6 m) son Fierabras return to Spain after sacking the church of Saint Peter's
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as ' and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and taking the relics of the passion
Relics attributed to Jesus
A number of relics associated with Jesus have been claimed and displayed throughout the history of Christianity. Some people believe in the authenticity of some relics; others doubt the authenticity of various items...
. Charlemagne invades Spain to recuperate the relics and sends his knight Olivier de Vienne, Roland
Roland
Roland was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the Matter of France. Historically, Roland was military governor of the Breton March, with responsibility for defending the frontier of Francia against the Bretons...
's companion, to battle Fierabras. Once defeated, the giant decides to convert to Christianity and joins Charlemagne's army, but Olivier and several other knights are captured. Floripas, Fierabras' sister, falls in love with one of Charlemagne's knights, Gui de Bourgogne. After a series of adventures, Charlemagne kills king Balan, divides Spain between Fierabras and Gui de Bourgogne (who marries Floripas), and returns to Saint Denis with the holy relics.
In the chanson Galiens li Restorés
Galiens li Restorés
Galiens li Restorés or Galien le Restoré or Galien rhétoré , is an Old French chanson de geste which borrows heavily from chivalric romance. Its composition dates anywhere from the end of the twelfth century to the middle of the fourteenth century...
, Oliver has, with a princess of Byzantium named Jacqueline, a son named Galien. In the story, Galien leaves Constantinople to search for Olivier, and arrives at Roncevaux in time to speak to his dying father. He then returns to Constantinople, where his evil uncles have murdered their father, the Emperor, Galien's grandfather. He defeats them and becomes emperor of Byzantium, at the same time that the trial of Ganelon is taking place in France.
He also appears in the Italian romantic epics Morgante
Morgante
Morgante, sometimes also called Morgante Maggiore , is an Italian romantic epic by Luigi Pulci which appeared in its final form in 1483 .Based...
by Luigi Pulci
Luigi Pulci
Luigi Pulci was an Italian poet best known for his Morgante, an epic story of a giant who is converted to Christianity and follows the knight Orlando....
, Orlando innamorato
Orlando Innamorato
Orlando Innamorato is an epic poem written by the Italian Renaissance author Matteo Maria Boiardo. The poem is a romance concerning the heroic knight Orlando .-Composition and publication:...
by Matteo Maria Boiardo
Matteo Maria Boiardo
Matteo Maria Boiardo was an Italian Renaissance poet.Boiardo was born at, or near, Scandiano ; the son of Giovanni di Feltrino and Lucia Strozzi, he was of noble lineage, ranking as Count of Scandiano, with seignorial power over Arceto, Casalgrande, Gesso, and Torricella...
and Orlando furioso
Orlando Furioso
Orlando Furioso is an Italian epic poem by Ludovico Ariosto which has exerted a wide influence on later culture. The earliest version appeared in 1516, although the poem was not published in its complete form until 1532...
by Ludovico Ariosto
Ludovico Ariosto
Ludovico Ariosto was an Italian poet. He is best known as the author of the romance epic Orlando Furioso . The poem, a continuation of Matteo Maria Boiardo's Orlando Innamorato, describes the adventures of Charlemagne, Orlando, and the Franks as they battle against the Saracens with diversions...
. In Boiardo and Ariosto, Oliver has two sons: Aquilante and Grifone (their mother is given as Gismonda in Ariosto, xv, 73.)
Historical sources
It is not known if, like Roland, Oliver is based upon a real historical figure.For Further Reading
- The Song of Roland: An Analytical Edition. Gerard J. Brault, ed. (Pennsylvania Sate University, 1978). ISBN 0-271-00516-5
- Orlando Furioso, prose translation by Guido Waldman (Oxford, 1999). ISBN 0-19-283677-3.
- Orlando Furioso, verse translation by Barbara ReynoldsBarbara ReynoldsBarbara Reynolds is an English scholar, lexicographer and translator, wife of the philologist and translator Lewis Thorpe.-Early life:The daughter of Alfred Charles Reynolds, and the god-daughter of Dorothy L...
in two volumes (Penguin Classics, 1975). Part one (cantos 1-23) ISBN 0-14-044311-8; part two (cantos 24-46) ISBN 0-14-044310-X. Part one has since been reprinted. - Orlando furioso ed. Marcello Turchi (Garzanti, 1974)
- Orlando Furioso: A Selection ed. Pamela Waley (Manchester University Press, 1975)