<P> Early editors of the Song of Roland, informed in part by patriotic desires to produce a distinctly French epic, could thus overstate the textual cohesiveness of the Roland tradition . This point is clearly expressed by Andrew Taylor, who notes, "(T) he Roland song was, if not invented, at the very least constructed . By supplying it with an appropriate epic title, isolating it from its original codicological context, and providing a general history of minstrel performance in which its pure origin could be located, the early editors presented a 4,002 line poem as sung French epic". </P> <P> Charlemagne's army is fighting the Muslims in Spain . They have been there for seven years, and the last city standing is Saragossa, held by the Muslim King Marsile . Threatened by the might of Charlemagne's army of Franks, Marsile seeks advice from his wise man, Blancandrin, who councils him to conciliate the Emperor, offering to surrender and giving hostages . Accordingly, Marsile sends out messengers to Charlemagne, promising treasure and Marsile's conversion to Christianity if the Franks will go back to France . </P> <P> Charlemagne and his men, tired of fighting, accept his peace offer and select a messenger to Marsile's court . The protagonist Roland, Charlemagne's nephew, nominates his stepfather Ganelon as messenger . Ganelon, who fears to be murdered by the enemy and accuses Roland of intending this, takes revenge by informing the Saracens of a way to ambush the rear guard of Charlemagne's army, led by Roland, as the Franks re-enter France through the mountain passes . </P> <P> As Ganelon predicted, Roland leads the rear guard, with the wise and moderate Oliver and the fierce Archbishop Turpin . The Muslims ambush them at Roncesvalles and the Christians are overwhelmed . Oliver pleads with Roland to blow his horn to call for help, but Roland tells him that blowing his horn in the middle of the battle would be an act of cowardice . If Roland continues to refuse, Oliver will not let Roland see his sister again whom Roland loves the most . However, Archbishop Turpin intervenes and tells them that the battle will be fatal for all of them and so instructs Roland to blow his horn oliphant (the word is an old alternative to "elephant", and was used to refer to a hunting horn made from an elephant tusk) to call for help from the Frankish army . The emperor hears the call on their way to France . Charlemagne and his noblemen gallop back even though Count Ganelon tries to trick them . </P>

Who was roland in the song of roland