# Charlemagne — Orlando Furioso character guide

> Charlemagne in Orlando Furioso by Ludovico Ariosto.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** King Charlemagne, Charles, king Charles, royal Charles

**First appearance:** 0003-canto-i

## Snapshot

Emperor of the Franks, besieged in Paris, holding a fractious coalition of paladins together while his best warriors chase one woman.

## Who they are

Charlemagne rules the Christian cause from a threatened capital, dispensing commissions, letters, and countersigns to men like Rinaldo while Saracen armies camp outside his walls. His authority depends on paladins who keep vanishing into private quarrels and private desires, and he has little power to recall them. His fraying command is the political weather of the poem: every knight who rides off after Angelica leaves the empire a little more exposed.

## Relationships

### [Rogero](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/characters/rogero)

_professional_

Charlemagne is Rogero's Christian emperor and commander, leading him in battle.

### [Rinaldo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/characters/rinaldo)

_professional_

Charlemagne is Rinaldo's emperor and commander, leading the Christian forces.

### [Rinaldo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/characters/rinaldo)

_professional_

Charlemagne is Rinaldo's emperor and commander, leading the Christian forces.

### [Rogero](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/characters/rogero)

_professional_

Charlemagne is Rogero's Christian emperor and commander, leading him in battle.

### [Rogero](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/characters/rogero)

_professional_

Charlemagne is Rogero's Christian emperor and commander, leading him in battle.

## In the story

### [Orlando Furioso](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/orlando-furioso)

The Emperor of the Franks, leader of the Christian forces against the Saracen invasion.

### [Canto I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-i)

Camped with his army, he seized Angelica to prevent rivalry between Orlando and Rinaldo.

### [Canto VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-viii)

Besieged by the Moorish army; prays for divine aid.

### [Canto XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xiv)

Prays humbly for divine aid as Paris is besieged by the Moors.

### [Canto XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xv)

Defends Paris with a host of paladins including Ogier, Duke Namus, and others.

### [Canto XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xvi)

Receives the British band, then learns of Rodomont's destruction and rushes to confront him.

### [Canto XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xvii)

Leads his forces against Rodomont, rallies his fleeing people, and confronts the destruction in Paris.

### [Canto XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xviii)

Leads the attack against Rodomont to protect his people.

### [Canto XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xxvii)

Flees to Paris after defeat.

### [Canto XXXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xxxviii)

Accepts the proposal for single combat; chooses Rinaldo as his champion.

### [Canto XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xliv)

Charlemagne grants Bradamant's request to choose her husband through combat, praising her valor.

### [Canto XLV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xlv)

Receives Leo's embassy, orders the combat, awards Bradamant to Leo.

### [Canto XLVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xlvi)

Mentioned as the ruler at whose court the embassy arrives.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/characters/charlemagne
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/characters