Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Roland

The stele on the pass commemorates the "Battle of the Roncevaux Pass". In the spring of 778, a large Christian army, under the command of Charlemagne, invaded Moorish-controlled Spain. The campaign was not particularly successful. During the retreat, the army attacked Pamplona. Charlemagne had his troops sack it and destroyed the city walls, thereby making the Basques his enemy. On August 15, his army crossed the Pyrenees at the Col de Roncevaux. In this narrow passage, the army was forced to march in a long line. The Basques, significantly outnumbered, waited for the right opportunity to attack. They let the main body of the army pass and then pounced on the rear guard. The Franks were taken completely by surprise. The rear guard was cut off from the rest of the army. A battle broke out in which the Frankish soldiers were slaughtered to the last man. The Basques retreated into the mountains. Among the victims was the governor of the Breton March, Count Roland, who owned the miracoulous sword "Durandal" manufactured by Wayland the Smith (aka "Völund") and given to Charlemagne by an angel. When Roland was about to die he threw his sword (containing a tooth of Saint Peter) over a distance of about 400kms to Rocamadour, where it still sticks in the cliff today.... Pilgrims knew the whole "story" from "The Song of Roland" ("Chanson de Roland"), the oldest surviving major work of French literature.

The city of Calbe was first mentioned in 936 under the name of Calvo in a document from King Otto I. It is assumed that a settlement probably existed as early as the 8th or early 9th century. Due to the good traffic situation in the eastern part of what was then Germany as a starting point for trade with the colonized Slavic areas, Calbe was granted market rights around 1160. To 1680 Calbe belonged to the Archdiocese of Magdeburg and the Archbishops had their summer seat at Calbe Castle. The figure of Roland, known through the "Chanson de Roland", had the status of a folk hero in the Middle Ages. The fame goes back to the fate of Hruotland, the alleged nephew of Charlemagne, who died in a skirmish against the Basques in the Pyrenees in the Roncesvalles Valley. His legendary sword is stuck in a rock at Rocamadour. A statue of Roland existed in Calbe as early as 1370. In 1656 a new statue was commissioned because the old Roland was in danger of decaying. The new Roland was over four meters high and carved from an oak trunk. Today's Roland was created in 1976 based on the 1656 figure. It consists of sandstone and is 4.50 m high.

The fortified town of Stendal was founded by the first Brandenburg Margrave Albert the Bear and granted Magdeburg rights about 1160. A deed issued by Emperor Heinrich II in 1022, in which the village appears among the possessions of the Michaeliskloster in Hildesheim, is a 12th-century forgery. Stendal quickly prospered as a center of commerce and trade. The parish of St. Jacobi was founded in the 12th century. The construction of a Franciscan monastery began in 1230. In the 13th century, the Stendal Seafarers' Guild was formed, which traded its own ships in the Baltic and North Sea areas. The oldest documented mention of the church of St. Marien dates back to 1283. Stendal received city walls around 1300 and in 1338 a Latin school was built. The local merchants joined the Hanseatic League in 1358 and purchased the privilege of minting from the Brandenburg margraves in 1369. Just like in neighboring Tangermünde, the citizens of Stendal rebelled against the beer tax in 1488. - The figure of Roland, known through the "Chanson de Roland", had the status of a folk hero in the Middle Ages. The fame goes back to the fate of Hruotland, the alleged nephew of Charlemagne, who died in a skirmish against the Basques in the Pyrenees in the Roncesvalles Valley. His legendary sword is stuck in a rock at Rocamadour. The Roland is a legal symbol that embodied high jurisdiction, market freedom, or civil liberty. On the corner of the town hall is a faithful copy of the Roland from 1525. The total height of the statue is 7.80 m.

Riga is the capital of Latvia. With a population of more than 600.000 about a third of all Latvians live here. A settlement of the Finno-Ugric Livs existed on the bank of the Düna. At the end of the 12th century, merchants from Gotland came to trade here. Albert von Buxthoeven, a fierce missionary, was the first bishop in Riga from 1201 to 1229. Riga developed as the hub of Russian trade and the starting point of the German colonization of the Baltic. The merchants who settled here after the subjugation of the surrounding peoples rapidly gained influence. In 1225, they were able to elect the city bailiff themselves, when the City Council existed already. After the Reformation, the power of the archbishops came to an end. After the outbreak of the Livonian War in 1558 the city favoured the status of a free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire. It was only when the imperial support failed to materialize that the renewed advance of Russian armies led the city to pay homage to Poland's King Stephen Báthory in 1581, who in return confirmed the city's traditional freedoms and privileges. The 40-year Polish-Lithuanian rule, under which the citizens of Riga successfully resisted anti-Reformation efforts ended with the conquest of the city by Gustav II Adolf of Sweden in 1621. The Swedish crown treated Riga by its rank as the second-largest city in the kingdom and had it lavishly fortified. During the Russo-Swedish War (1656-1658), Riga withstood the Russian siege and maintained its position as one of the most important cities in Sweden until the beginning of the 18th century. During this period the city enjoyed extensive self-government. A Roland statue is placed in the centre of the market between the town hall and the Schwarzhäupterhaus (in the background). Statues of the mythological Roland, who enjoyed the status as a popular hero, were erected in cities during the Middle Ages as an emblem of the freedom and city rights of a town.

"Bremer Freimarkt" is one of the oldest fairs in Germany, first held in 1035 after Emperor Conrad II (aka "Conrad the Older") had granted the right to hold a fair to Archbishop Bezelin. In the 14th century the right was transferred to the civil authorities and since 1339 the word "Freimarkt" was used. Not only goods were traded, but as well "entertainment" entered the Freimarkt. Already in 1445 a lion got displayed here, followed by bears, monkeys and camels. Today about four million visitors come to Bremen each year during Freimarkt. Seen here is the market place. The "Bremer Roland", a statue of Roland, erected in 1404, is seen to the right. Roland was paladin of Charlemagne and hero of the Battle of Roncevaux. Roland is shown as protector of the city. He holds his legendary sword Durendal (that today can be seen in Rocamadour, France). The 5.47 m tall statue is "embellished" by balloons and a large heart with an "ISCHA FREIMARKT" inscription.

"Bremer Freimarkt" is one of the oldest fairs in Germany, first held in 1035 after Emperor Conrad II (aka "Conrad the Older") had granted the right to hold a fair to Archbishop Bezelin. In the 14th century the right was transferred to the civil authorities and since 1339 the word "Freimarkt" was used. Not only goods were traded, but as well "entertainment" entered the Freimarkt. Already in 1445 a lion got displayed here, followed by bears, monkeys and camels. Today about four million visitors come to Bremen each year during Freimarkt. Seen here is the market place, where the "Kleiner Freimarkt" is held around the "Bremer Roland", a statue of Roland, erected in 1404. Roland was paladin of Charlemagne and hero of the Battle of Roncevaux. Roland is shown as protector of the city. He holds his legendary sword Durendal (that today can be seen in Rocamadour, France). The 5.47 m tall statue is a little hard to see, as it is "embellished" by balloons and a large heart with an "ISCHA FREIMARKT" inscription.

Since my first visit, Rocamadour is one of my favourite places. In 2009, when I followed the Via Podensis, I took a detour, to reach Rocamadour by foot, like so many pilgrims since medieval times. Rocamadour attracted pilgrims over centuries and hass a legend, similar to that of Santiago de Compostella . Here in 1166 the grave of St. Veronica´s husband Zacchaeus the Tax Collector (Luke 19) was found. He had moved from Jerusalem to this place in Gaul / France in his older age and lived here as a hermit under the name of Amadour. The medieval pilgrims climbed up the 216 steps to the sanctuary, a cluster of churches and chapels, on their knees. Here is "Notre Dame de Rocamadour" (aka "La Vierge Noire", "Black Madonna of Rocamadour", "Our Lady of Rocamadour"..). Near the chapel they could see a sword sticking in the cliff. The legend told, that this was the magical sword Durendal. Durandal manufactured by Wayland the Smith (aka "Völund") and given to Charlemagne by an angel. Charles endowed the sword to his palladin Roland (aka Errolan, Roldán, Orlando, Rotllà). Roland was killed by Basques near Roncevalles on the return from Spain ("Battle of Roncevaux Pass"). He had battled the Maurs with Charemagne´s armee. To preserve his sword Durendal (containing a tooth of Saint Peter) from heathenly hands, he threw it over a distance of about 400kms to Rocamadour, where it still sticks in the cliff today.... Pilgrims seeing the sword knew the whole "story" from "The Song of Roland" ("Chanson de Roland"), the oldest surviving major work of French literature.

In "De Bello Gallico" Julius Caesar mentions "Blavia Santorum", what developed into a fortified place in Roman times. Within the 4th century a basilica was built on the rocky promontory, in 625 a Merovingian castle existed here. Legendary Roland, nephew and paladin of Charlemagne, the owner of the sword Durendal (see "Rocamadour"), who got killed at the Battle of Roncevaux, was Lord of Blaye. The Basilica Saint-Romain was a major halt for all medieval pilgrims, but the basilica (and hundreds of houses) got destroyed, when the citadelle was built by Vauban in the 17th century. The Gironde, seen from the citadelle, on a rainy day.

In "De Bello Gallico" Julius Caesar mentions "Blavia Santorum", what developed into a fortified place in Roman times. Within the 4th century a basilica was built on the rocky promontory, in 625 a Merovingian castle existed here. Legendary Roland, nephew and paladin of Charlemagne, the owner of the sword Durendal (see "Rocamadour"), who got killed at the Battle of Roncevaux, was Lord of Blaye. The Basilica Saint-Romain was a major halt for all medieval pilgrims, but the basilica (and hundreds of houses) got destroyed, when the citadelle was built by Vauban in the 17th century. Inside the citadelle was a convent of the Order of Minims, founded by Francis of Paola and known in Bavaria for the "Paulaner Beer". The monks had a nice cloister. The beer is here: www.paulaner.com/

In "De Bello Gallico" Julius Caesar mentions "Blavia Santorum", what developed into a fortified place in Roman times. Within the 4th century a basilica was built on the rocky promontory, in 625 a Merovingian castle existed here. Legendary Roland, nephew and paladin of Charlemagne, the owner of the sword Durendal (see "Rocamadour"), who got killed at the Battle of Roncevaux, was Lord of Blaye. The Basilica Saint-Romain was a major halt for all medieval pilgrims, but the basilica (and hundreds of houses) got destroyed, when the citadelle was built by Vauban in the 17th century. There are different variants of the "Via Turonensis" all leading to Bordeaux. I had decided to cross the Gironde here by the ferry next day - and hoped for better weather.

In 1927, what is pretty recent, the city "Borgo San Donnino" changed it´s name to "Fidenza", as in Roman times it was known as "Fidentia Julia". The city was named and the Duomo inside the walls was dedicated to San Donnino di Fidenza (aka "Domninus of Fidenza"), who was martyred nearby in 291. Sigeric the Serious, Archbishop of Canterbury, made the pilgrimage to Rome following the Via Francigena around 990. His contemporary records of this journey still exist (and are source for the modern guide books). He reached "Sce Domnine" after 36 days, what is pretty fast for more than 1000kms. The erection of the Cattedrale di San Donnino started in the 11th century, the first consecration took place in 1106, though the building process continued. From around 1200 on Master Benedetto Antelami and his workshop worked here, not only as Master masons. Antelami may as well be the architect of the facade. Frederick Barbarossa had entrusted "Borgo San Donnino" to the Pallavicino family of Piacenza. In 1268 - after a siege - the city was conquered by the troops of Parma, who looted and burnt down it completely. All houses got destroyed at that time just the Duomo was saved, but it was not completed at that time. The building process came to a stop - and was never continued. A legend tells, that when Charlemagne passed through "Borgo San Donnino", an angel told him, where to dig for San Donnino´s relics. He is connected to the city and the duomo. Another legend is depicted here. While Charlemagne is hunting (right) Baron Milone embraces Charles´ sister Berta. She later got pregnant and the couple became the parents of famous Orlando (aka "Roland"), seen left.

Dubrovnik was founded probably within the 6th century. It grew in medieval times and was known as "Republic of Ragusa" between 1358 to 1808. It was added to the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy - and after the Congress of Vienna was part of the Habsburg Empire. The old town of Dubrovnik, since 1979 on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, is a wonderful city - and a major tourist destination. The center of Dubrovnik is small, so it can get pretty crowded, when two cruise ships have arrived - even in October. A Roland statue (Roland - Orlando - Hruodland) in the center of Dubrovnik. Roland was a (mythical) military leader under Charlemagne, who got killed at the Battle of Roncevaux in 778. The oldest major work of French literature, the "Chanson de Roland", tells the story about this battle. His legendary sword Durendal can still be seen, sticking in the cliff over Rocamadour. In Germany Roland became a symbol of the independence of the growing cities. In the late Middle Ages many cities placed statues of Roland in their marketplaces. There are still some dozends Roland statues in Northern Germany (eg in Bremen fom 1366, Wedel from 1450). This Roland statue, dated to the early 15th century, is the southernmost I have ever seen.

Saint-Seurin was originally built outside the city walls close to an ancient necropolis. The Abbey of St. Seurin bears the name of the venerated fourth bishop of Bordeaux. A first building, confirmed towards mid 5th century, got destroyed during the 8th century Norman invasions. It was reconstructed above the crypt of St. Seurin from the 11th to 13th centuries. The church underwent important modifications during the 19th century. Bordeaux was one of the major halts on the Via Turonensis. The grave of Saint-Seurin was an important place for the many pilgrims. Another precious relic, shown here, was the ivory horn of Roland, who died at Roncevaux. Tradition claims that the horn "olifant", still reported in the 17th century and lost before the French Revolution, had been left by the Charlemagne on the altar of St. Seurin.

Roland, Errolan, Roldán, Orlando, Rotllà. A man of many names died here in 778. Roland, a paladin to Charlemagne, was killed here by the Basques on the return from Spain, having battled the Maurs (muslims) with Charemagne´s armee. To preserve his miracolous sword named Durendal (containing a tooth of Saint Peter) from heathenly hands, he threw it over a distance of about 400kms to Rocamadour, where it still sticks in the cliff today....