Characters in The Song of Roland

Charlemagne ( ; 2 April 748 – 28 January 814) was King of the Franks from 768, King of the Lombards from 774, and Emperor of what is now known as the Carolingian Empire from 800. He united most of Western and Central Europe and was the first recognised emperor to rule from the west after the fall of the Western Roman Empire approximately three centuries earlier. Charlemagne's reign was marked by political and social changes that had lasting influence on Europe throughout the Middle Ages.

Roland (; ; or Rotholandus; or Rolando; died 15 August 778) was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became an epic hero and 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.

fictional character; legendary knight of Charlemagne

thumb|Turpin in the Codex Palatinus Germanicus 112 at Heidelberg University Library. Tilpin, Latin Tilpinus (died 794 or 800), also called Tulpin, a name later corrupted as Turpin, was the bishop of Reims from about 748 until his death. He was for many years regarded as the author of the legendary Historia Caroli Magni, which is thus also known as the "Pseudo-Turpin Chronicle". He appears as one of the Twelve Peers of France in a number of the chansons de geste, the most important of which is the Song of Roland. His portrayal in the chansons, often as a warrior-bishop, is fictitious.

fictional knight in early French literature

thumb|300px|The torture of Ganelon. Grandes Chroniques de France, 14th century.

thumb|right|Equestrian Roland (statue)|Roland statue showing [[Roland astride Veillantif in Haldensleben, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, in front of the town hall.]] thumb|Roland blows his olifant (instrument)|olifant riding Veillantif to summon help in the midst of the Battle of Roncevaux Veillantif (French), Vielantiu (Old French); Vegliantin, Vegliantino or Brigliadoro (Italian) is the name of Roland the paladin's trustworthy and swift steed in the stories derived from the chansons de geste. The French name comes from an expression meaning "vigilant". Veillantif is first mentioned in The Song of R

character in The Song of Roland