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Ogier The Dane

OGIER THE DANE – Though he would go on to serve as one of Charlemagne’s most storied Paladins, Ogier was born to Geoffrey (Godfred), the first Christian King of Denmark. Shortly before the child was to be baptized, six beautiful fairy maidens appeared and took turns holding the infant in their arms before kissing him and passing him on to the next maiden in line.    

The first Fey gifted Ogier with bravery, the second with ample opportunities to serve in war, the third granted that he would never be vanquished in battle, the fourth gave him the gift of being pleasing for women to look upon and the fifth granted him the capacity to return the love he would inspire.

Morgana and young Ogier

The sixth and youngest maiden was Morgana le Fey, who has a much different history in the legends of Charlemagne than in Arthurian lore. Morgana told the baby Ogier that she claimed him for her own (“imprinted” on him, you Twilight fans might say). She decreed that he would never die until he had come to visit her on the Isle of Avalon.

When Ogier was in his early teens emissaries from Charlemagne arrived in Denmark to demand a pledge of loyalty to Charlemagne as all the other Christian kingdoms had done. Geoffrey refused and so Charlemagne launched a military campaign which soon saw Geoffrey defeated and humbled.

To ensure Geoffrey’s continued loyalty his son Ogier was taken to live in Charlemagne’s court at first as a hostage, but soon the young man charmed Charlemagne and his nephew Roland. Ogier served alongside Roland as a Squire and eventually as a full Paladin. 

Ogier the Dane had one son, Baldwinet, with the castellan’s daughter at Charlemagne’s court. In some versions of the legend, he also had a daughter named Maud, but this is less commonly depicted. 

  • Baldwinet: Ogier fathered a son named Baldwinet (Baudinet) with the daughter of a castellan in France where he was being held hostage.
  • Maud: Some accounts also mention a daughter named Maud.
  • Morgan le Fay: While it’s a popular myth that Morgan le Fay had a son with Ogier, this is not historically or mythologically supported by any sources, though some tales associate her with a role in his life. 
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xxxx coat.jpgCoat: Charlemagne´s coat

Description: The coat of arms associated with Ogier is based on the Danish royal coat of arms.
Elements: It features three gold lions, crowned, surrounded by nine red hearts on a gold background.
Popularization: This imagery was famously used by Hans Christian Andersen in his fairy tale, “Holger Danske”.