Durandal: The famous French sword that was stuck in stone for 1300 years and disappeared | Knowledge News

The Song of Roland states that an angel gave the sword to Charlemagne, who in turn gave it to Roland. He tried to destroy it before his death, but it proved indestructible.

Thanks to the sword, Rocamadour became a popular tourist destination. (Representative photo: Unsplash)

New Delhi: In a bizarrely mysterious affair that has taken the world of history buffs and the curious by storm, a “magical” sword called Durandal has mysteriously disappeared from the French town of Rocamadour, where it had been stuck in a rock for over 1,300 years. The sudden disappearance of the sword, after being wedged in the stone for over a thousand years, has shocked not only the local population but also people outside France. Reportedly, Roland, a paladin of Charlemagne, was the owner of the sword and its theft has sparked an enigmatic mystery. In this article, we will learn more about the sword, popularly called the French Excalibur, in reference to the sword that King Arthur pulled from the stone.

Durandal: Learn more about the historically significant sword

As mentioned in this article, Durandal was the sword of Roland, a legendary paladin and partially historical officer of Charlemagne mentioned in the epic literature of France. Furthermore, it is said that it was once owned by the young Charlemagne and the sword changed hands several times before Roland acquired it.

In “La Chanson de Roland” (The Song of Roland), it is said that an angel gave the sword to Charlemagne, who in turn gave it to Roland. According to the poem, the sword contains a tooth of Saint Peter, the blood of Basil of Caesarea, the hair of Saint Dionysius, and, most importantly, a piece of the remains of Mary, the mother of Jesus, in its golden hilt. According to Legen, Roland killed several enemies with the sword at the Battle of Roncevaux Pass, allowing Charlemagne’s army to retreat to France.

Particularly noteworthy is the “Song of Roland”, the oldest surviving French work, the only copy of which is now kept in the Bodleian Library in Oxford. Legend has it that the sword could cut through huge boulders with a single blow. Before his death after the Battle of Roncevaux Pass, Roland tried to destroy Durandal so that the enemy could not lay hands on it. However, the sword proved indestructible and a frustrated Roland threw it into the air.

The sword traveled hundreds of kilometers before landing on a cliff in Rocamadour, where it remained stuck for over a thousand years before suddenly disappearing. The event shocked the local population, who believe the sword is linked to the town’s journey. Durandal in particular was stuck in the steep rock about 30 meters above the ground, making the disappearance even more bizarre. Thanks to the sword, Rocamadour has become a popular tourist spot in France over the years.