Sections CXC-CCXVI

The author describes the arrival of Baligant's enormous naval forces illuminated by lanterns and carbuncles that light the night sea, arriving at Sarragus and Spain's shores.

Baligant declares before his assembled kings, counts, and dukes that he will not eat bread by his own command and will relentlessly pursue Charles, refusing to cease until the Emperor is slain or captured.

Baligant sends two chevaliers, Clarifan and Clarien, to inform Marsile that Baligant has come to aid him against the Franks and demands Marsile acknowledge his overlordship or face dispossession.

The messengers reach Sarragus and discover its inhabitants weeping and cursing their gods, grieving the loss of Marsile's hand to Roland and the devastation of their kingdom.

Queen Bramimunde criticizes the pagan gods for their cowardice, particularly their failure at Rencesvals where Roland defeated Marsile, and despairs over the loss of Spain to Charlemagne.

Clarien informs Marsile that Baligant has sent him a glove and wand of authority, commanding massive forces of ships and warriors ready to seek vengeance on Charlemagne.

Bramimunde counters that the Franks are much nearer than Baligant supposes and that Charlemagne is a fearless warrior who will not flee battle.

The dying Marsile offers Baligant dominion over Spain and the keys to Sarragus, providing strategic information about Charlemagne's proximity and pledging to defeat him within a month.

Marsile informs Baligant that Charlemagne camped on the Sebre river, seven leagues away, and urges him to bring his army for imminent battle.

The messengers deliver news that Marsile is dying, explain Roland's defeat of him at Rencesvals, and convey Marsile's surrender of Spain to Baligant, causing the admiral both grief and determination.

Clarien recounts that Roland and the twelve peers, along with twenty thousand Franks, have been slain at Rencesvals, with Marsile's right hand severed by Roland and the surviving king now seeking Baligant's aid.

Baligant's grief transforms into resolve as he commands his forces to disembark and mount their horses, vowing to pursue Charlemagne and avenge Marsile's right hand with the Emperor's head.

The pagan Arab army swiftly disembarks and mounts their horses and mules to march toward Sarragus under Baligant's command, with Gemalfin appointed to lead the main host.

The dying Marsile, physically supported by his men, surrenders his glove, territory, and all authority over Spain to Baligant, acknowledging his own complete defeat.

Baligant leaves the palace and rides forth, rallying his pagan forces with the cry that the Franks are already fleeing, urging rapid pursuit.

Charles wakes at dawn, blessed by Saint Gabriel, and rides to Rencesvals where he finds the battlefield strewn with the bodies of his knights, particularly seeking his nephew Roland.

Charles finds the grass stained with his barons' blood, locates Roland's corpse beneath two trees, and in overwhelming anguish cradles his nephew's lifeless body.

Revived by his barons, Charles mourns Roland as a peerless knight and recognizes that his honor and strength have declined with the loss of such a warrior.

Charles laments Roland's death, foreseeing the rebellion of Saxon and other enemies without his nephew's strength, and tears his beard in profound anguish as thousands of Franks weep beside him.

Charles grieves that he has no one left to lead his armies and wishes his soul might join Roland's in Paradise, tearing his white beard in despair.

Gefrei d'Anjou counsels Charles to moderate his grief and instead gather and bury all the fallen French knights in a charnel with proper rites.

The Franks gather their fallen comrades and commit them to a charnel where bishops, abbots, and monks perform absolution, incense the bodies, and bury them with honor.

Charles commands that the hearts of Roland, Oliver, and Archbishop Turpin be extracted and wrapped in silk, placed in marble coffins, and the bodies preserved in wine and spice for transport to Aix.

As Charles prepares to depart with the sacred remains, Baligant's pagan forces arrive and messengers deliver an ultimatum declaring the admiral's approach and challenging Charles's military power.

Charles rapidly dons his iron shirt, helmet, and draws his sword Joiuse; he mounts his horse Tencendur and charges forth with his five score thousand warriors, invoking God and the Apostle.

More than one hundred thousand Franks equip themselves with superior arms and horses, forming a formidable military array that Charles reviews with confidence in his vassals' strength.