Roland
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [1]
in Frankish legends, was a celebrated hero belonging to the circle of Charlemagne's paladins. He was of enormous size, and so strong that he could pull up the tallest pine by the roots, and use it as a walking stick and club. His sword split a block of marble without injuring its edge. The numerous Roland columns found in the towns of North Germany are said to have been erected by Charlemagne in honor of this hero; but they are probably of much later origin, and served to designate the place where justice was administered in the emperor's name, so that they were in some sense his representatives,
The Nuttall Encyclopedia [2]
One of the famous paladins of Charlemagne, and distinguished for his feats of valour, who, being inveigled into the pass of Roncesvalles, was set upon by the Gascons and slain, along with the flower of the Frankish chivalry, the whole body of which happened to be in his train.
