Guenes

Also known as: Guene / Guenelon / Gueneloun / Guenelun · Family: Franks · Role: count, Rollant's goodfather, the traitor · First appears: Laisses VII–XII

In Laisses VII–XII, Guenes attends Charles’s council with Rollant and Oliver. In Laisses XIX–XXIV, Charles sends him to Marsilies with the King’s answer. Guenes says he has married Charles’s sister and leaves his honours and domain to his son Baldwin. Rollant calls him “my goodfather,” but Guenes says he will not love Rollant or Oliver. In Laisses XXV–XXX, Guenes sets out on the mission, and in Laisses XXXI–XXXVI he makes a covenant with Blancandrins and seeks a plan to have Rollant slain. Though Marsilies tries to strike him, Guenes tells him Charles’s demands and offers; in Laisses XLIII–LIV, Guenes swears Rollant will die, accepts gifts from Valdabron and Bramimunde, and agrees to help dishonour Rollant and have him placed in the rearguard.

In Laisses XLIX–LIV, Guenes returns to Charles with Marsilies’s keys and tribute, and Charles praises his report. Charles dreams that Guenes seizes and breaks his spear. Guenes helps decree that Rollant will wait in the rearguard; in Laisses LXVII–LXXII, he treacherously betrays Charles and receives rich gifts from pagan kin. In Laisses LXXIX–LXXXIV, Oliver identifies him as the traitor who chose them for the rearguard. The poem tells ahead in Laisses CIX–CXIV that Guenes will lose his limbs and head after condemnation at Aix, and that thirty of his kindred will be hanged.

In Laisses CXXXIII–CXXXVIII, Charles orders Guenes seized and guarded, and he is chained and held until called for. At Aix, he faces trial in Laisses CCLXXI–CCLXXVI: Guenes admits he sought to destroy Rollant over forfeited gold, but denies treason. Pinabel pledges to defend him; the barons ask Charles to pardon him, while Tierri opposes them and denounces Guenes as a traitor. In Laisses CCLXXXIX–CCXCI, Charles orders Guenes executed, and he dies torn limb from limb.