Durendal, also spelled Durandal, is the sword of Roland, a legendary paladin and partially historical officer of Charlemagne in French epic literature. It is also said to have belonged to young Charlemagne at one point, and, passing through Saracen hands, came to be owned by Roland.
Roland blows his olifant to summon help in the midst the Battle of Roncevaux holding Durendal. Painting by Wolf von Bibra (1862–1922)
Alleged fragment of Durendal in Rocamadour
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. The historical Roland was military governor of the Breton March, responsible for defending Francia's frontier against the Bretons. His only historical attestation is in Einhard's Vita Karoli Magni, which notes he was part of the Frankish rearguard killed in retribution by the Basques in Iberia at the Battle of Roncevaux Pass.
The eight phases of The Song of Roland in one picture
Composed in 1098, the first page of the Chanson de Roland (Song of Roland)