Charles

Also known as: Carlon / Carlum / Carlun / Chares / Charlemagne / Charlemain / Charles the Great / Charlun · Family: Franks · Role: the Emperour, king of France · First appears: Laisses I–VI

In Laisses I–VI, Charles has spent “Full seven years” conquering Spain, with only Sarraguce beyond his control, where Marsilies remains his enemy. At Cordres, Charles holds the battered city, whose pagans have been slain or taken the Christian vow. Blancandrins brings Marsilies’s offer of hostages and a promise to accept Christianity; Charles then convenes a council with his barons, including Guenes, Rollant and Oliver, and tells them of the offers of wealth, departure from Spain and submission. In Laisses XIII–XVIII, Rollant recalls that Marsilies took the heads of Basan and Basile, while Naimes, Rollant and Oliver offer to go to Sarraguce and Charles refuses each offer.

In Laisses XIX–XXX, Charles commissions Guenes to carry his answer to Marsilies, entrusting him with the wand and brief. At dawn, Guenes returns with the keys of Sarraguce and a report of tribute; Charles praises him and promises a rich reward, then leads his host towards France. After conquering more of Spain, Charles dreams that Guenes breaks his spear, and of a bear and leopard attacking him while a harrier fights them. He gives Rollant the bow and the rereward, and offers him half the host for protection, which Rollant refuses. In Laisses CXXXIII–CLVI, Charles orders Guenes seized and guarded for treachery. Hearing Rollant’s olifant, he recognizes that his nephew is in mortal danger and orders his men to ride to him.

At Rencesvals, Charles orders Gebuin, Otun, Tedbald and Milun to guard the battlefield and leave the dead untouched. He dreams of battle and of bears demanding a captive, then returns to Spain and, in Laisses CCV–CCX, finds Rollant’s body and swoons. Naimes, Aceline, Gefrei d'Anjou and Tierri revive him and carry him beneath a pine; Charles mourns Rollant and says he has died in Spain. He orders the fallen sought and carried away, appoints replacements for Rollant and Oliver, and later comes to Naimes’s aid and kills Canabeus. In Laisses CCLIII–CCLXIV, Charles fights Baligant: neither is wounded in their first exchange, but Baligant strikes Charles on the head with his sword, and Charles kills him.