Footnotes: Rolandslied
1Many
cities in Northern Germany have statues of Roland, oversized and armed
with a sword, standing in the market square as symbols of popular justice
and civic freedom, such as the famous Roland statue in front of the Bremen
City Hall of 1404.
2Konrad
added this prologue
3Charlemagne
was canonized in 1165 by decree of Frederick I.
4Götzen:
idols
5“Inbrünstig
rief er zu Gott”: he fervently implored the Lord
6The
“Heerführer” are the famed twelve retainers of the Charlemagne
legend. Their number is to remind us of the twelve disciples of Jesus.
In l. 130 the paladins are referred to as “Pairs” (‘peers’) (French «douzepers»).
7Vorkämpfer:
champion
8A
cross made of cloth was symbolically attached to the knight’s coat.
Cf. Hartmann von Aue’s poem “Dem kriuze zimt wol reiner muot,”
I: 11 and 35 (p. 310).
9Mt
19:29
10brandschatzen:
to pillage; notice here and in the following lines how the author conjures
up a “Feindbild,” the image of an inhuman, barbaric enemy.
11nehmen
sie zur Zielscheibe und schießen auf sie: use them for target
practice