92 THE HORSE IN HISTORY 



reign of his brother, Ethelred I. Its length is 

 374 feet, and even at a distance of nearly fifteen 

 miles it is distinctly visible in clear weather. This 

 recalls to mind the device of the House of 

 Hanover a white horse galloping ; and of the 

 House of Savoy a white horse rampant. 



Mention must here be made of the immortal 

 Roland and his equally famous horse, Veillantiff, 

 though owing to the pair have figured so largely 

 in romance the actual truth about them can be 

 traced only with difficulty. 



We may take it for granted, however, that 

 Roland was the son of Milo, Duke of Aiglant ; 

 that he was Count of Mans and Knight of Blaives ; 

 and that his mother was Bertha, the sister of 

 Charlemagne. Orlando is the name by which 

 he is known in Italian romance ; Vegliantino the 

 name of his horse ; and he figures prominently 

 in Theroulde's " Chanson de Roland," in the 

 romance, " Chroniq de Turpin," and of course in 

 Ariosto's epic of Mad Roland and Boiardo's 

 " Orlando in Love." He was said to be eight 

 feet tall and to have "an open countenance which 

 invited confidence and inspired respect," also to 

 have been " brave, loyal and simple-minded." 



The story of his slaying at Fronsac, in single 

 combat, the Saracen tyrant and giant, Angoulaffre, 

 as described in " Croquemitaine," naturally is 

 fiction. He desired, it was said, by way of reward 

 to marry Aude, the fair daughter of Sir Gerard and 



