Famed for its picturesque location, its Black Virgin, and the Abbey of St Amadour, Rocamadour is one of the most popular tourist destinations in southern France. Classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, it has drawn pilgrims since the first miracles were announced in the twelfth century. They traveled from far and wide to pray at the shrine of St Amadour. Recently, it has become the focus of attention once again. This time, due to a robbery. Durendal, Roland’s legendary sword, yet another of Rocamadour’s trademarks, has been stolen.
“Rocamadour feels it’s been robbed of a part of itself, but even if it’s a legend, the destinies of our village and this sword are entwined,” Dominique Lenfant, the local mayor, told La Dépêche.
Advertisement
Durendal was chained to the rock 32 feet off the ground, and there was not a guide who did not mention it when giving a tour. Legend has it that it had been miraculously transported to Rocamadour from Roncesvalles, where Roland had fallen and plunged into the rock, where it stayed ever since. Although there was at least one other occasion upon which it was carried off.
In the spring of 1183, two eldest sons of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II of England, Henry the Young King and Richard the Lionheart, were waging war. Crowned in 1170 as co-king, young Henry, whose father repeatedly refused to share power and lands with him, united himself with Richard’s disgruntled barons against him and, with their support, tried to win his duchy by force.
Advertisement
To raise funds for his campaign, Henry pillaged and stripped the shrines of some of the holiest sanctuaries of Aquitaine, the shrine of St Amadour at Rocamadour being one of them. Its treasures met the same fate as those of the abbey of St Martial, Limoges, the abbeys of Grandmont and La Couronne, and the monasteries of Dalon and Beaulieu. Although, to his credit, the Young King made solemn vows confirmed by charters to return all he was taking. At Rocamadour, together with the booty, he carried off a sword which was said to be Durendal. There were precious relics in its hilt: the tooth of St Peter, the blood of St Basil, hair of St Denis, and a piece of the robe of the Blessed Virgin.
Durandal at Rocamadour, France – photo by Patrick Clenet / Wikimedia Commons
If the Young King accepted that his booty was indeed the Durendal of Roland, then he would believe himself to be under the protection of these powerful relics. Perhaps perceiving himself as a hero-figure in his contest against his father, he might prize an object which would be widely recognized as an emotive symbol. In his looting of Rocamadour, the Young King was perhaps seeking not only material reinforcement but also the means of projecting a charismatic image.
Looting itself certainly could have helped Henry’s cause, but the sword of Roland also could. Richard often employed the projection of a heroic image as a part of his military tactics and so did Henry. He is said to have taken the legendary weapon with him, replacing it with his own. Unfortunately for the Young King, neither rich booty nor the sword could have saved him from what was to come. Henry contracted dysentery and died shortly afterward.
Advertisement
Katarzyna Ogrodnik-Fujcik specializes in British literature and history. She writes for different magazines and websites on Polish and European Middle Ages. She runs a blog dedicated to Henry the Young King.
By Katarzyna Ogrodnik-Fujcik
Famed for its picturesque location, its Black Virgin, and the Abbey of St Amadour, Rocamadour is one of the most popular tourist destinations in southern France. Classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, it has drawn pilgrims since the first miracles were announced in the twelfth century. They traveled from far and wide to pray at the shrine of St Amadour. Recently, it has become the focus of attention once again. This time, due to a robbery. Durendal, Roland’s legendary sword, yet another of Rocamadour’s trademarks, has been stolen.
“Rocamadour feels it’s been robbed of a part of itself, but even if it’s a legend, the destinies of our village and this sword are entwined,” Dominique Lenfant, the local mayor, told La Dépêche.
Durendal was chained to the rock 32 feet off the ground, and there was not a guide who did not mention it when giving a tour. Legend has it that it had been miraculously transported to Rocamadour from Roncesvalles, where Roland had fallen and plunged into the rock, where it stayed ever since. Although there was at least one other occasion upon which it was carried off.
In the spring of 1183, two eldest sons of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II of England, Henry the Young King and Richard the Lionheart, were waging war. Crowned in 1170 as co-king, young Henry, whose father repeatedly refused to share power and lands with him, united himself with Richard’s disgruntled barons against him and, with their support, tried to win his duchy by force.
To raise funds for his campaign, Henry pillaged and stripped the shrines of some of the holiest sanctuaries of Aquitaine, the shrine of St Amadour at Rocamadour being one of them. Its treasures met the same fate as those of the abbey of St Martial, Limoges, the abbeys of Grandmont and La Couronne, and the monasteries of Dalon and Beaulieu. Although, to his credit, the Young King made solemn vows confirmed by charters to return all he was taking. At Rocamadour, together with the booty, he carried off a sword which was said to be Durendal. There were precious relics in its hilt: the tooth of St Peter, the blood of St Basil, hair of St Denis, and a piece of the robe of the Blessed Virgin.
As Emma Mason points out in her article, ‘The Hero’s Invincible Weapon: an Aspect of Angevin Propaganda‘:
If the Young King accepted that his booty was indeed the Durendal of Roland, then he would believe himself to be under the protection of these powerful relics. Perhaps perceiving himself as a hero-figure in his contest against his father, he might prize an object which would be widely recognized as an emotive symbol. In his looting of Rocamadour, the Young King was perhaps seeking not only material reinforcement but also the means of projecting a charismatic image.
Looting itself certainly could have helped Henry’s cause, but the sword of Roland also could. Richard often employed the projection of a heroic image as a part of his military tactics and so did Henry. He is said to have taken the legendary weapon with him, replacing it with his own. Unfortunately for the Young King, neither rich booty nor the sword could have saved him from what was to come. Henry contracted dysentery and died shortly afterward.
Katarzyna Ogrodnik-Fujcik specializes in British literature and history. She writes for different magazines and websites on Polish and European Middle Ages. She runs a blog dedicated to Henry the Young King.
Top Image: Photo © Traumrune / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
Related Posts
Subscribe to Medievalverse