Roland

Overview

A Saber-class Servant appearing in the Fate series, Roland is the chief knight among the Twelve Paladins of Charlemagne and the nephew of King Charlemagne himself. Celebrated in medieval chivalric epics as an unyielding hero, he is equally famous for an infamous breakdown where heartbreak drove him to shed his clothes and run rampant in total nudity. Despite his reputation as a disastrously eccentric knight, he remains a deeply loyal, brave, and noble warrior.

Appearance

Roland is a tall, handsome knight with long blue hair and blue eyes. His outfit features white gloves and a pink necktie alongside knightly armor. Despite his refined gear, he harbors an extreme inclination toward complete nudity, frequently stripping off his clothes whenever the opportunity arises.

Personality

Roland possesses a passionate and high-minded spirit, valuing honor and divine love above material gain. He is fiercely loyal, taking the lead in perilous situations and facing hardship without hesitation. While polite to courteous opponents and furious toward disrespect, he remains naive regarding hidden malice. His noble spirit is heavily contrasted by his shameless flirtatiousness and exhibitionism; after a catastrophic heartbreak drove him to run naked, he became addicted to the sense of liberation. Despite his absurd quirks, he maintains sharp judgment and frequently acts as the voice of reason among his eccentric companions.

Abilities

Renowned as the strongest of Charlemagne's Paladins, Roland boasts top-tier combat prowess. He wields the holy sword Durandal, an indestructible blade containing sacred relics within its hilt that can execute miracles in exchange for heavy costs such as memories or life force. His body possesses the Diamond Body trait, rendering him completely immune to all weapons and magic except at the soles of his feet. His physical strength allows him to slay giant monsters with bare hands or heavy ship anchors. He also carries the horn Olifant, capable of producing turn-around miracles at the cost of severe self-inflicted physical damage, and possesses a unique mental trait that trades charm resistance for battle power.

Background

Born as the nephew of Charlemagne, Roland became the lead knight of the Paladins. Glorified as an ideal hero in The Song of Roland, he was later depicted in Orlando Furioso as losing his mind over his unrequited love for Princess Angelica, roaming Europe entirely nude. During the Battle of Roncesvalles, he fell into an ambush engineered by his stepfather Ganelon's treachery. Hesitating to blow his horn Olifant out of pride, reinforcements arrived too late, and Roland died when his heart burst from exertion. In Fate/Grand Order, he initially appeared as a spirit in Astolfo's interlude before becoming fully playable during Main Chapter 6.5 Traum.

Relationships

Roland holds his uncle and lord Charlemagne in high esteem, though Charlemagne frequently scolds him for stripping. He shares a lighthearted bond with his cousin Astolfo, often acting as the straight man to Astolfo's unpredictable behavior. He maintains camaraderie with Bradamante despite her exasperation with him, while Olivier was his childhood friend and tactician who understood Roland's true nature. Though betrayed by his stepfather Ganelon, Roland harbors complex feelings rather than pure hatred. He deeply idolizes his ancestor Hector, the original owner of Durandal's precursor. Toward his Master, Fujimaru Ritsuka, he acts as an approachable friend, though his urge to strip frequently draws reprimands.

Trivia

The holy sword Durandal appeared early in the Fate franchise within the Gate of Babylon and Unlimited Blade Works, but its specific mechanics and lore were only fully revealed when Roland himself made his playable debut. In classical mythology, Roland possesses absurd feats of strength, such as beating a dragon to death with an elm branch when disarmed.