Ogier the Dane

Ogier the Dane (French: Ogier le Danois, Ogier de Danemarche; Danish: Holger Danske) is a legendary paladin of Charlemagne who appears in many Old French chansons de geste. In particular, he features as the protagonist in La Chevalerie Ogier (c. 1220), which belongs to the Geste de Doon de Mayence ("cycle of the rebellious vassals"; Doon is Ogier's grandfather).

The first part of this epic, the enfance[s] (childhood exploits) of Ogier, is marked by his interrupted duel against the courteous Saracen king Caraheu, from whom he obtains the sword Cortain, to fight a fresh Saracen opponent Brunamont, whom he beats to win the horse Broiefort.

In the second part occurs the momentous scene of Prince Charlot killing his son Baudouin over a chess match, turning Ogier into a rebel with cause, seeking refuge with the King of Lombardy and warring with Charlemagne for many years, until the part (9th and 10th branches the epic), where he is eventually reconciled when a dire need for him emerges after another Saracen incursion. Ogier loses his beloved old horse in battle, but conquers Bauçant from his opponent (cf. § Horses and equipment).

His character is a composite based on an historical Autcharius Francus who was aligned with king Desiderius of Lombardy against Charlemagne. The legend of a certain Othgerius buried in Meaux is also incorporated into the Chevalerie.

In the 14th century, the decasyllabic epic was expanded into a romance, now describing Ogier's further adventures in the Orient and his visit to Avalon as lover of Morgan le Fay, his return to France after centuries, and the instantaneous loss of youth when the magic of the fay's ring wears off. The introduction of the Ogier character into the Arthurian world, including his dealings with Arthur himself and the Cath Palug of Welsh lore (Capalus in French writings), was also related in Jean d'Outremeuse's Mirrors of History. Later in the 14th century an Alexandrines version of the romance appeared, as well as a prose adaption printed from a few years before 1500.

In Scandinavia, he was first known as Oddgeir danski in the Old Norse prose translation of the first part of Chevalerie Karlamagnús saga III. Later he became more widely known as Olger or Holger Danske, and was given the pedigree of being Olaf son of King Gøtrik in a 16th-century Danish translation of the French romance in print. Holger Danske's fight with the savage "Burman" was sung in Danish and Swedish balladry. Holger Danske has also become a Danish folklore hero of the "Barbarossa" or sleeping hero type, and eventually a symbol of Danish identity and patriotism as well as anti-German nationalism.

Ogier the Dane's first appearance (spelled Oger) in any work is in Chanson de Roland (c. 1060), where he is not named as one of the douzepers (twelve peers or paladins) of Charlemagne, although he is usually one of the twelve peers in other works. In the poeticized Battle of Roncevaux Pass, Ogier is assigned to be the vanguard and commands the Bavarian Army in the battle against Baligant in the later half. He plays only a minor part in this poem, and it is unclear what becomes of him, but the Pseudo-Turpin knows of a tradition that Ogier was killed at Roncevaux.

There is a mention of almost comparable antiquity in the Nota Emilianense [es] written in Medieval Spanish (Old Castilian) (now dated to c. 1065–1075) where the warrior bears the nickname "Ogier of the two swords" (Oggero spata curta).