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As told in the Matter of France, Durandal is the name of the sword of Charlemagne's paladin Roland (Roldan). According to Ludovico Ariosto's Orlando Furioso it once belonged to Hector of Troy, and was given to Roland by Malagigi. In The Song of Roland, the sword is said to contain within its hilt one tooth of Saint Peter, blood of Saint Basil, hair of Saint Denis, and a piece of the raiment of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the poem, during the Roncesvalles battle (August 15th 778) Charlemagne's troops, coming back from the siege of Saragossa, were ambushed by 100,000 Saracens helped by moors. Count Roland, fighting a loosing rear guard action for the Frank army, attempts to destroy the sword to prevent it from being captured by the ambushing Saracens and creates La Brèche de Roland, a pass on the Pirenees, in the process. But Durendal proves indestructible, so he hurls it into a poisoned stream instead. Local folklore claims Durendal still exists, preserved in Rocamadour, France. An inscription on Ogier the Dane's sword Curtana read My name is Cortana, of the same steel and temper as Joyeuse and Durendal.
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