The Paladins, also called the Twelve Peers, are twelve legendary
knights, the foremost members of
Charlemagne's
court in the 8th century. They first appear in the medieval (12th century) ''
chanson de geste'' cycle of the
Matter of France
The Matter of France, also known as the Carolingian cycle, is a body of literature and legendary material associated with the history of France, in particular involving Charlemagne and his associates. The cycle springs from the Old French '' chan ...
, where they play a similar role to the
Knights of the Round Table
The Knights of the Round Table ( cy, Marchogion y Ford Gron, kw, Marghekyon an Moos Krenn, br, Marc'hegien an Daol Grenn) are the knights of the fellowship of King Arthur in the literary cycle of the Matter of Britain. First appearing in lit ...
in
Arthurian romance.
["Paladin"](_blank)
From the '' Oxford English Dictionary''. Retrieved November 23, 2008. In these
romantic
Romantic may refer to:
Genres and eras
* The Romantic era, an artistic, literary, musical and intellectual movement of the 18th and 19th centuries
** Romantic music, of that era
** Romantic poetry, of that era
** Romanticism in science, of that e ...
portrayals, the
chivalric paladins represent
Christianity against a
Saracen (Muslim) invasion of Europe. The names of the paladins vary between sources, but there are always twelve of them (a number with
Christian associations) led by
Roland
Roland (; frk, *Hrōþiland; lat-med, Hruodlandus or ''Rotholandus''; it, Orlando or ''Rolando''; died 15 August 778) was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the ...
(spelled Orlando in later Italian sources). The paladins' most influential appearance is in ''
The Song of Roland'', written between 1050 and 1115, which narrates the heroic death of Roland at the
Battle of Roncevaux Pass.
The legend is based on the historical
Umayyad invasion of Gaul and subsequent conflict in the ''
Marca Hispanica
The Hispanic March or Spanish March ( es, Marca Hispánica, ca, Marca Hispànica, Aragonese and oc, Marca Hispanica, eu, Hispaniako Marka, french: Marche d'Espagne), was a military buffer zone beyond the former province of Septimania, esta ...
'' between the
Frankish Empire and the
Emirate of Córdoba. The term ''paladin'' is from
Old French, deriving from the
Latin ''comes palatinus'' (
count palatine), a title given to close
retainers.
The paladins remained a popular subject throughout
medieval French literature. Literature of the
Italian Renaissance (15th and 16th centuries) introduced more
fantasy elements into the legend, which later became a popular subject for
operas in the
Baroque music
Baroque music ( or ) refers to the period or dominant style of Western classical music composed from about 1600 to 1750. The Baroque style followed the Renaissance period, and was followed in turn by the Classical period after a short transiti ...
of the 16th and 17th centuries. During the 19th and early 20th centuries the term was reused outside fiction for small numbers of close military
confidant
The confidant ( or ; feminine: confidante, same pronunciation) is a character in a story whom a protagonist
A protagonist () is the main character of a story. The protagonist makes key decisions that affect the plot, primarily influencing ...
s serving national leaders.
Modern depictions of paladins are often an individual
knight-errant holy warrior or combat healer, influenced by the
paladin character class that appeared in ''
Dungeons & Dragons'' in 1975.
Etymology
The earliest recorded instance of the word ''paladin'' in the
English language dates to 1592, in ''Delia'' (Sonnet XLVI) by
Samuel Daniel.
It entered English through the
Middle French word , which itself derived from the
Latin , ultimately from the name of
Palatine Hill
The Palatine Hill (; la, Collis Palatium or Mons Palatinus; it, Palatino ), which relative to the seven hills of Rome is the centremost, is one of the most ancient parts of the city and has been called "the first nucleus of the Roman Empire." ...
— also translated as 'of the
palace
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence, or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome which ...
' in the Frankish title of
Mayor of the Palace.
A presumptive
Old French form was already loaned into late
Middle English as in .
Over time ''paladin'' came to refer to other high-level officials in the imperial, majestic and royal courts.
["Palatine"](_blank)
From the '' Oxford English Dictionary''. Retrieved November 23, 2008. The word
palatine, used in various European countries in the medieval and modern eras, has the same derivation.
By the 13th century, words referring specifically to Charlemagne's peers began appearing in European languages; the earliest is the Italian .
Modern French has ,
Spanish has or (reflecting alternate derivations from the French and Italian), while
German has .
By extension, ''paladin'' has come to refer to any chivalrous hero such as
King Arthur
King Arthur ( cy, Brenin Arthur, kw, Arthur Gernow, br, Roue Arzhur) is a legendary king of Britain, and a central figure in the medieval literary tradition known as the Matter of Britain.
In the earliest traditions, Arthur appears as a ...
's
Knights of the Round Table
The Knights of the Round Table ( cy, Marchogion y Ford Gron, kw, Marghekyon an Moos Krenn, br, Marc'hegien an Daol Grenn) are the knights of the fellowship of King Arthur in the literary cycle of the Matter of Britain. First appearing in lit ...
.
Historical title
In the Roman imperial period, a ''palatinus'' was one of the closest retainers of the
emperor, who lived in the
imperial residence as part of the emperor's household. The title survived into the medieval period, as ''comes palatinus''. However, the modern spelling ''paladin'' is now reserved for the fictional characters of the ''chanson de geste'', while the conventional English translation of ''comes palatinus'' is
count palatine. After the fall of Rome, a new feudal type of title, also known simply as ''palatinus'', started developing. The
Frankish kings of the
Merovingian dynasty (reigned 480–750) employed a high official, the ''comes palatinus'', who at first assisted the king in his judicial duties and at a later date discharged many of these himself. Other counts palatine were employed on military and administrative work.
In the
Visigothic Kingdom, the ''Officium Palatinum'' consisted of a number of men with the title of count that managed the various departments of the royal household. The Comes Cubiculariorum oversaw the
chamberlains
Chamberlain may refer to:
Profession
*Chamberlain (office), the officer in charge of managing the household of a sovereign or other noble figure
People
*Chamberlain (surname)
**Houston Stewart Chamberlain (1855–1927), German-British philosop ...
, the Comes Scanciorun directed the cup-bearers, the Comes Stabulorum directed the equerries in charge of the stables, etc. The
Ostrogothic Kingdom also maintained palatine counts with titles such as Comes Patrimonium, who was in charge of the patrimonial or private real estate of the king, and others.
The system was maintained by the
Carolingian
The Carolingian dynasty (; known variously as the Carlovingians, Carolingus, Carolings, Karolinger or Karlings) was a Frankish noble family named after Charlemagne, grandson of mayor Charles Martel and a descendant of the Arnulfing and Pippin ...
sovereigns (reigned 751–987).
A Frankish
capitulary of 882 and
Hincmar, archbishop of Reims, writing about the same time, testify to the extent to which the judicial work of the Frankish Empire had passed into their hands.
Instead of remaining near the person of the king, some of the counts palatine were sent to various parts of his empire to act as judges and governors, the districts ruled by them being called palatinates.
By the High Middle Ages, the title "count" had become increasingly common, to the point that both great magnates who ruled regions that were the size of duchies, and local castle-lords, might style themselves "count". As the great magnates began to centralize their power over their local castle-lords, they felt the need to assert the difference between themselves and these minor "counts". Therefore, several of these great magnates began styling themselves "Count Palatine", signifying great counts ruling regions equivalent to duchies, such as the
Counts Palatine of Champagne in the 13th century. The
Count Palatine of the Rhine served as
prince-elector from "time immemorial" (with
Wigeric of Lotharingia reaching back to the late Carolingian era), noted as such in a papal letter of 1261, and confirmed as elector in the
Golden Bull of 1356. ''
Palatin
A palatine (palatine guard) was a high-level official attached to imperial or royal courts in Europe since Roman times.
Palatine may also (or more specifically) refer to:
Personal titles
*Palatine (Kingdom of Hungary), vice-regent of Hungary
*C ...
'' was also used as a title in the
Kingdom of Hungary.
Medieval romance
In the French courtly literature of the 12th century, the paladins are the twelve closest companions of
Charlemagne, comparable to the role of the
Knights of the Round Table
The Knights of the Round Table ( cy, Marchogion y Ford Gron, kw, Marghekyon an Moos Krenn, br, Marc'hegien an Daol Grenn) are the knights of the fellowship of King Arthur in the literary cycle of the Matter of Britain. First appearing in lit ...
in Arthurian romance.
The names of the twelve paladins vary from romance to romance, and often more than twelve are named. The number is popular because it resembles the
Twelve Apostles (
etc.).
Always named among the paladins are
Roland
Roland (; frk, *Hrōþiland; lat-med, Hruodlandus or ''Rotholandus''; it, Orlando or ''Rolando''; died 15 August 778) was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the ...
and
Oliver; other recurring characters are
Archbishop Turpin
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'', w ...
,
Ogier the Dane,
Huon of Bordeaux,
Fierabras,
Renaud de Montauban and
Ganelon.
Their greatest moments come in ''
The Song of Roland'' (written between c. 1040 and 1115), which depicts their defense of Charlemagne's army against the Saracens of
Al-Andalus, and their deaths at the
Battle of Roncevaux Pass due to the treachery of
Ganelon. ''The Song of Roland'' lists the twelve paladins as
Roland
Roland (; frk, *Hrōþiland; lat-med, Hruodlandus or ''Rotholandus''; it, Orlando or ''Rolando''; died 15 August 778) was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the ...
,
Charlemagne's nephew and the chief hero among the paladins;
Oliver, Roland's friend and strongest ally; and Gérin, Gérier (these two are killed in the same ''laisse''
23by the same Saracen, Grandonie), Bérengier, Otton, Samson, Engelier, Ivon, Ivoire, Anséis, Girard. Other characters elsewhere considered part of the twelve appear in the song, such as
Archbishop Turpin
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'', w ...
and
Ogier the Dane.
The paladins figure into many ''chansons de geste'' and other tales associated with Charlemagne. In ''
Fierabras'' (c. 1170), they retrieve holy relics stolen from Rome by the
Saracen giant Fierabras.
In some versions, Fierabras is converted to Christianity and joins the ranks of the paladins himself. In ''
Le Pèlerinage de Charlemagne'' they accompany their king on a pilgrimage to
Jerusalem and
Constantinople in order to outdo the
Byzantine Emperor Hugo.
Early modern reception
The
Italian Renaissance authors
Matteo Maria Boiardo and
Ludovico Ariosto
Ludovico Ariosto (; 8 September 1474 – 6 July 1533) was an Italian poet. He is best known as the author of the romance epic ''Orlando Furioso'' (1516). The poem, a continuation of Matteo Maria Boiardo's ''Orlando Innamorato'', describes the ...
, whose works were once as widely read and respected as
William Shakespeare's, contributed prominently to the literary and poetical reworking of the tales of the epic deeds of the paladins. Their works, ''
Orlando Innamorato'' and ''
Orlando Furioso
''Orlando furioso'' (; ''The Frenzy of Orlando'', more loosely ''Raging Roland'') is an Italian epic poem by Ludovico Ariosto which has exerted a wide influence on later culture. The earliest version appeared in 1516, although the poem was no ...
'', send the paladins on even more fantastic adventures than their predecessors. They list the paladins quite differently, but keep the number at twelve.
Boiardo and Ariosto's paladins are
Orlando (Roland),
Charlemagne's nephew and the chief hero among the paladins;
Oliver, the rival to Roland; Ferumbras (
Fierabras), the Saracen who became a Christian;
Astolpho, descended from
Charles Martel and cousin to Orlando;
Ogier the Dane;
Ganelon the betrayer, who appears in
Dante Alighieri's ''
Inferno''; Rinaldo (
Renaud de Montauban); Malagigi (
Maugris), a sorcerer; Florismart, a friend to Orlando; Guy de Bourgogne; Namo (
Naimon or Namus), Duke of Bavaria, Charlemagne's trusted adviser; and Otuel, another converted Saracen.
In the Baroque era, Ariosto's poem was the basis of many operas. Among the earliest were
Francesca Caccini
Francesca Caccini (; 18 September 1587 – after 1641) was an Italian composer, singer, lutenist, poet, and music teacher of the early Baroque era. She was also known by the nickname "La Cecchina" , given to her by the Florentines and probably a ...
's ''
La liberazione di Ruggiero dall'isola d'Alcina
''La liberazione di Ruggiero dall'isola d'Alcina'' (''En.'' "The Liberation of Ruggiero from the island of Alcina") is a comic opera in four scenes by Francesca Caccini, first performed 3 February 1625 at the Villa di Poggio Imperiale in Florence, ...
'' ("The Liberation of Ruggiero from Alcina's Island", 1625) and
Luigi Rossi's ''Il palazzo incantato'' (1642).
Antonio Vivaldi
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (4 March 1678 – 28 July 1741) was an Italian composer, virtuoso violinist and impresario of Baroque music. Regarded as one of the greatest Baroque composers, Vivaldi's influence during his lifetime was widespread a ...
staged three operas on themes from Ariosto: ''Orlando furioso'' (1713) by
Giovanni Alberto Ristori, ''
Orlando Furioso
''Orlando furioso'' (; ''The Frenzy of Orlando'', more loosely ''Raging Roland'') is an Italian epic poem by Ludovico Ariosto which has exerted a wide influence on later culture. The earliest version appeared in 1516, although the poem was no ...
'' (1714), with music by Ristori and by himself, and ''
Orlando'' (1727). In France,
Jean-Baptiste Lully
Jean-Baptiste Lully ( , , ; born Giovanni Battista Lulli, ; – 22 March 1687) was an Italian-born French composer, guitarist, violinist, and dancer who is considered a master of the French Baroque music style. Best known for his operas, he ...
turned to Ariosto for his ''tragédie en musique
Roland
Roland (; frk, *Hrōþiland; lat-med, Hruodlandus or ''Rotholandus''; it, Orlando or ''Rolando''; died 15 August 778) was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the ...
'' (1685).
Perhaps the most famous operas inspired by the poem are those by
Handel
George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concertos. Handel received his training i ...
: ''
Orlando'' (1733), ''
Ariodante'' and ''
Alcina'' (1735).
''
Les Paladins'' is a 1760 opera by
Jean-Philippe Rameau
Jean-Philippe Rameau (; – ) was a French composer and music theory, music theorist. Regarded as one of the most important French composers and music theorists of the 18th century, he replaced Jean-Baptiste Lully as the dominant composer of Fr ...
. The plot is based on a verse tale by
La Fontaine, ''Le petit chien qui secoue de l'argent et des pierreries'', itself derived from an episode in Ariosto's ''Orlando Furioso''.
The enthusiasm for operas based on Ariosto continued into the Classical era and beyond with such examples as
Niccolò Piccinni's ''
Roland
Roland (; frk, *Hrōþiland; lat-med, Hruodlandus or ''Rotholandus''; it, Orlando or ''Rolando''; died 15 August 778) was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the ...
'' (1778),
Haydn's ''
Orlando paladino
''Orlando paladino'' (English: ''The Paladin Orlando''), Hob. 28/11, is an opera in three acts by Joseph Haydn which was first performed at Eszterháza on 6 December 1782. The libretto by is based on another libretto, ''Le pazzie d'Orlando'', ...
'' (1782),
Méhul's ''
Ariodant'' (1799) and
Simon Mayr's ''
Ginevra di Scozia'' (1801).
The title of ''Paladin'' is revived in the early modern period for the closest retainers of a monarch.
Thus, the leaders of armies supporting the Protestant
Frederick V in the
Thirty Years' War were named ''Paladins''.
Modern reception
''Paladin'' was used informally of the closest confidants of the
German Emperor. Thus, in 1871 named , and as "the three Paladins of the German Emperor". Similarly, British generals
Garnet Wolseley and
Frederick Roberts have been dubbed "Queen Victoria's Paladins". Following this template,
Adolf Hitler used to refer to as his .
While the Arthurian "Matter of Britain" enjoyed a major revival in the 19th century in the hands of the
Romantic
Romantic may refer to:
Genres and eras
* The Romantic era, an artistic, literary, musical and intellectual movement of the 18th and 19th centuries
** Romantic music, of that era
** Romantic poetry, of that era
** Romanticism in science, of that e ...
and
Victorian
Victorian or Victorians may refer to:
19th century
* Victorian era, British history during Queen Victoria's 19th-century reign
** Victorian architecture
** Victorian house
** Victorian decorative arts
** Victorian fashion
** Victorian literature ...
poets, writers, and artists, the "Matter of France" has generally received less attention. The ''Song of Roland'' has nevertheless inspired numerous modern works, including
Graham Greene's ''
The Confidential Agent
''The Confidential Agent'' (1939) is a thriller novel by British author Graham Greene. Fuelled by Benzedrine, Greene wrote it in six weeks. To avoid distraction, he rented a room in Bloomsbury from a landlady who lived in a flat below him. He use ...
'' (1939),
and Stephen King's ''
Dark Tower'' series.
Emanuele Luzzati's animated short film, , together with , in 1960, was turned into the children's picture-story book, with verse narrative, ('The Paladins of France or the treachery of Gano of Maganz', 1962). This was republished in English, as ''Ronald and the Wizard Calico'' (1969).
In the later 20th century, ''Paladin'' has become a trope in modern
fantasy. A ''
paladin''
character class was first introduced in 1975 for ''
Dungeons & Dragons'' in ''
Supplement I – Greyhawk''. The ''Dungeons & Dragons'' character class was reportedly inspired by the protagonist of the 1962 fantasy novel ''
Three Hearts and Three Lions'',
which was itself a pastiche of various elements of medieval and post-medieval legend, including elements of the Matter of France.
is a 1983 Italian fantasy film.
As a character class in video games, the ''Paladin'' stock character was introduced in 1985, in ''
The Bard's Tale''.
References
{{Stock characters
Fictional characters introduced in the 11th century
Fictional knights
French folklore
Matter of France
Medieval legends
The Song of Roland
Stock characters
Charlemagne