# Orlando — Orlando Furioso character guide > Orlando in Orlando Furioso by Ludovico Ariosto. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Roland, Count Orlando, good Orlando, bold Orlando, crazed Orlando **First appearance:** 0003-canto-i ## Snapshot Christendom's mightiest paladin, whose sword Durindana spares sleeping enemies but cannot defend him from a love that will unmake his mind. ## Who they are Orlando is Charlemagne's nephew and the church's champion, a warrior so generous he refuses to strike a sleeping foe even when hunting through an enemy camp. Yet love for Angelica has begun to hollow out his loyalty, driving him to disguise himself in Arab dress and wander France and Africa for months, asking strangers whether they have seen her. His slow unraveling is the poem's dark spine: the stronger his arm, the more helpless he becomes. ## Relationships ### [Angelica](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/characters/angelica) _psychological_ Angelica is the object of Orlando's obsessive love, driving him to madness when she rejects him. ### [Rogero](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/characters/rogero) _friendship_ Orlando is a fellow Christian knight who becomes an ally and friend to Rogero. ### [Zerbino](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/characters/zerbino) _friendship_ Orlando is a close friend and ally to Zerbino, the Scottish prince. ### [Rinaldo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/characters/rinaldo) _friendship_ Orlando and Rinaldo are fellow Christian knights and cousins who fight together. ### [Gradasso](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/characters/gradasso) _rivalry_ Gradasso is a Saracen king who seeks to defeat Orlando and claim his sword Durandal. ### [Rogero](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/characters/rogero) _friendship_ Orlando is a fellow Christian knight who becomes an ally and friend to Rogero. ### [Gradasso](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/characters/gradasso) _rivalry_ Gradasso is a Saracen king who seeks to defeat Orlando and claim his sword Durandal. ### [Angelica](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/characters/angelica) _psychological_ Angelica is the object of Orlando's obsessive love, driving him to madness when she rejects him. ### [Zerbino](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/characters/zerbino) _friendship_ Orlando is a close friend and ally to Zerbino, the Scottish prince. ### [Rinaldo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/characters/rinaldo) _friendship_ Orlando and Rinaldo are fellow Christian knights and cousins who fight together. ## In the story ### [Orlando Furioso](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/orlando-furioso) The central hero, a paladin of Charlemagne, whose love for Angelica and martial prowess drive much of the story. ### [Canto I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-i) Mentioned as Angelica's former lover and as the target of Ferraù's quest for a helmet. ### [Canto VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-viii) Departs Paris after a vision warns him of Angelica's peril. ### [Canto IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-ix) Disguised in Arab weeds, searches the Moorish camp for Angelica; later encounters Olympia and promises to rescue her and Bireno. ### [Canto XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xi) Frees Olympia from the orc by thrusting an anchor down its throat, then meets Oberto and recounts Bireno's treachery. ### [Canto XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xii) Pursues a knight carrying his lady-love, enters Atlantes' enchanted palace, and later fights Ferraù. ### [Canto XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xiii) Hears Isabella's tale of woe and later punishes her captors. ### [Canto XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xiv) Has slain two squadrons of Agramant's army, wearing black surcoat and shield as a sign of mourning. ### [Canto XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xxiii) Learns of Angelica's love for Medoro from a shepherd and descends into madness, wandering the forest in grief. ### [Canto XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xxiv) Mentioned as having cast away Durindana in his madness. ### [Canto XXX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xxx) Continues his mad rampage, killing a shepherd and stealing his horse, then riding into the sea after a boat. ### [Canto XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xxxiv) Astolpho recovers Orlando's lost wits in the terrestrial paradise. ### [Canto XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xxxix) Found as a mad wild man wielding a club; restored to his senses by Astolpho. ### [Canto XL](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xl) Leads the assault on Biserta, ordains fast and prayer, and later walks on the shore with companions. ### [Canto XLI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xli) Charges fiercely with Brandimart and Olivier; fights Sobrino and Gradasso; uses Balisarda to cleave Sobrino's shield and wound him. ### [Canto XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xlii) Slays Agramant and Gradasso in vengeance for Brandimart's death. ### [Canto XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xliii) Mentioned as having conquered his foes but in no joyful mood. ### [Canto XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xliv) Orlando, along with Olivier, lauds the counsel for Rogero and Bradamant's union. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/endnotes) Referenced in the contrast with Rinaldo's conduct and in the note about his claim to Hector's arms. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/characters/orlando - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/characters