Roland is without doubt the literary figure of the Middle Ages who has enjoyed the greatest posterity. Having made his first appearance in literature in the late 11th century, Roland, the hero who would fight at any cost – even death – is above all else the symbol of heroic folly. In 15th-century Italy, with Ariosto's poem Orlando Furioso, this folly was transformed into amorous frenzy. It was this meaning which prevailed throughout Europe until the 18th century. In the 19th century, Roland became a national hero. At the same time, scholars strove to acquaint the public with the original text. Today, the hero's history, still thriving in the work of storytellers, actors and visual artists, is first and foremost an occasion to distance ourselves from war and violence.

François Suard, a Professor Emeritus at Université Paris Ouest-Nanterre, is an expert on the medieval epic.