Luis Guillermo Solís Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera ( born 25 April 1958 ) is a Costa Rican politician who has been President of Costa Rica since 2014 . He is a member of the center - left Citizens ' Action Party ( PAC ) . Solís led the field in the 2014 presidential election , and he was effectively handed the presidency after the runner - up in the first round , San José mayor Johnny Araya Monge , ceased active campaigning . Solís has a long academic and political career , culminating in his election as the first President of Costa Rica to be a member of the PAC . Contents ( hide ) 1 Early life , education , and academic career 2 Political beginnings 3 2014 presidential campaign 4 Presidency 4.1 Economic issues 4.1. 1 Liquidity problems 5 Political , economic , and social philosophy 6 Personal life 7 References 8 External links Early life , education , and academic career ( edit ) Solís was born in San José , Costa Rica , to Vivienne Rivera Allen , an educator , and Freddy Solís Avendaño , an uneducated shoemaker . Both his parents lived in Turrialba , and as such many residents consider him Turrialban . His family has Afro - Caribbean and Chinese roots , coming from Jamaica to Costa Rica in the early 1900s . Solís grew up in San Pedro de Montes de Oca and Curridabat , neighborhoods of San José . He attended Methodist High School in San José , where he was president of the student body , before studying history at the University of Costa Rica , where he earned a degree with academic honors in 1979 . He earned a master 's degree in Latin American Studies at Tulane University in New Orleans . Solís has held various academic and consulting positions . Between 1981 and 1987 , he was an associate professor at the University of Costa Rica . In addition , he was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Michigan from 1983 to 1985 . During this time , Solís worked with the Arias administration and eventually became director of the Center for Peace and Reconciliation ( CPR for its Spanish initials ) . From 1992 to 1995 , Solís worked with the Academic Council of the United Nations System . Starting in 1999 , Solís worked for Florida International University as coordinator in the Center for the Administration of Justice and as a researcher for the Latin American and Caribbean Center , where he analyzed political and social events in Latin America . A writer and editorial writer , Solís has published numerous essays and books about national and international affairs . In the 1990s , he wrote for La República , a daily newspaper based in San José . His writing has been published by Foreign Affairs Latinoamérica , Frontera Norte , Espacios and Global Governance . His writing has focused on civil society , international relations , and trade . Political beginnings ( edit ) While still at UCR , Solís joined the National Liberation Party ( PLN for its Spanish initials ) in 1977 . Solís was an adviser to Óscar Arias in the Foreign Ministry , working on the Esquipulas Peace Agreement for which Arias would later win a Nobel Peace Prize . Solís served as Director of International Relations for the PLN . During José María Figueres Olsen 's time in office , Solís was ambassador of Central American Affairs . In 2002 , Solís followed Rolando González Ulloa as General Secretary of the PLN , a position he resigned from the following year , citing his disappointment with the Alcatel - Lucent bribery scandal that many PLN leaders were involved in . In 2005 , he denounced the PLN for irregularities and corruption during party elections , along with a host of former PLN members . Solís went as far as to call the PLN leadership `` Napoleonic '' and `` anti-democratic '' . He officially renounced his affiliation with the party and returned to academics . After the 2006 election , Solís ' name began to come up in PAC circles , particularly at meetings of the `` ungroup , '' an informal gathering of PAC officials , led by former deputy and former Vice President of the National University of Costa Rica Alberto Salom Echeverría . Ottón Solís , one of PAC 's founders and three - time presidential candidate , suggested that Luis Guillermo Solís run as a vice presidential candidate in 2010 . Luis Guillermo Solis rejected the offer because he was working for the General Secretariat of Ibero - America ( SEGIB for its Spanish initials ) , and employees of SEGIB were not allowed to participate in elections . In 2009 , Luis Guillermo Solís began his official affiliation with PAC . He began attending meetings of the `` ungroup '' in 2010 . Within the party , PAC leader María Eugenia Venegas recognized Solís ' potential and pushed for him to be elevated within the party . Solís undertook several trips around the country to meet with national and provincial PAC leaders . 2014 presidential campaign ( edit ) Solís announced his candidacy for president on 27 November 2012 . In the PAC 's primary , he ran against Epsy Campbell Barr , Juan Carlos Mendoza García , and Ronald Solís Bolaños , winning with 35 percent of the vote , only 110 votes more than Juan Carlos Mendoza García . In October 2013 , he chose Helio Fallas and Ana Helena Chacón Echeverría as his Vice-Presidential running mates . Among his aims , Solís claimed he would clean up corruption , create major investments in infrastructure , and shore up Costa Rica 's universal health care and social security system . He also promised to continue initiatives to keep Costa Rica environmentally friendly . He said that he would `` put the brakes '' on new free trade agreements and would begin correctly administrating current free trade agreements . As such , Solís received a tremendous amount of political support from the country 's trade unions . On 2 February 2014 , Solís won the most votes in the election with 30.95 percent . PLN candidate Johnny Araya came second with 29.95 percent of the vote . Most of Solís ' support came from the Central Valley provinces of San José , Alajuela , Heredia and Cartago . PAC supporters wave their traditional colors to celebrate Luis Guillermo Solís ' victory on 6 April 2014 Because no candidate exceeded 40 percent of the vote , a runoff was scheduled for 6 April , as required by the constitution . However , on 5 March , Araya announced that he would abandon his campaign after polls showed him far behind Solís ; one poll showed him losing by over 43 percent . However , under Costa Rican law the runoff still had to take place , and Solís won with over 77 percent of the vote , the largest margin ever recorded for a free election in Costa Rica . Unlike the first round , Solís earned a majority in every province , including Puntarenas , Limón , and Guanacaste . When he took office on 8 May , he was the first president in 66 years not to come from the PLN or what is now the PUSC . Immediately after the election , Solís thanked Costa Rican voters . He received congratulatory notes from world leaders , including US Secretary of State John Kerry , Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa , Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto , Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro , Bolivian President Evo Morales , and the spokesperson from the French Ministry of International Affairs . For his part , Araya congratulated Solís on his victory , calling for national unity . Presidency ( edit ) Solís speaking in 2014 A little over a week before taking office , in April 2014 , Solís announced the creation of his cabinet . His cabinet consists of mostly PAC members or non-aligned citizens . However , two PUSC members were also added : María del Rocío Sáenz , Abel Pacheco 's former health minister , heads the Costa Rican Social Security System ( Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social ) . Delia Villalobos , another former health minister , heads the Social Protection Council ( Consejo de Seguridad ) . Solís took office on 8 May 2014 , amid festive fanfare . Delegations from more than 80 countries attended his inauguration at La Sabana Metropolitan Park , including Prince Felipe de Borbón of Spain , Evo Morales of Bolivia , Rafael Correa of Ecuador , and the Secretary General of the Organization of American States , José Miguel Insulza . Solís said , in Costa Rican vernacular , that he is taking over a `` weed farm '' ( finca encharralada ) , pointing out growing income inequality and poverty , as well as a national teachers ' strike . Economic issues ( edit ) In 2014 , President Solís presented a budget with an increase in spending of 19 % for 2015 , an increase of 0.5 % for 2016 and an increase of 12 % for 2017 . When the 2017 budget was finally proposed , it totaled US $15.9 billion . Debt payments account for one - third of that amount . Of greater concern is the fact that a full 46 % of the budget will require financing , a step that will increase the debt owed to foreign entities . The country 's credit rating was reduced by Moody 's Investors Service in early 2017 to Ba2 from Ba1 , with a negative outlook on the rating . The agency particularly cited the `` rising government debt burden and persistently high fiscal deficit , which was 5.2 % of GDP in 2016 '' . Moody 's was also concerned about the `` lack of political consensus to implement measures to reduce the fiscal deficit ( which ) will result in further pressure on the government 's debt ratios '' . In late July 2017 , the Costa Rica Central Bank estimated the budget deficit at 6.1 percent of the country 's GDP . A 2017 study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development warned that reducing the foreign debt must be a very high priority for the government . Other fiscal reforms were also recommended to moderate the budget deficit . Liquidity problems ( edit ) In early August 2017 , the President promised admitted that the country was facing a `` liquidity crisis '' and promised that a higher VAT tax and higher income tax rates were being considered by his government . Such steps are essential , Solís told the nation , because it was facing difficulties in paying its obligations and guaranteeing the provision of services . '' `` Despite all the public calls and efforts we have made since the start of my administration to contain spending and increase revenues , there is still a gap that we must close with fresh resources , '' he said . The crisis was occurring in spite of growth , low inflation and continued moderate interest rates , Solís concluded . He explained that the Treasury will prioritize payments on the public debt first , then salaries , and then pensions . The subsequent priorities include transfers to institutions `` according to their social urgency . '' All other payments will be made only if funds are available . Political , economic , and social philosophy ( edit ) The past generated two different economies : one very dynamic , modern and generally oriented toward international markets , with limited possibilities for new sources of employment , and the other , traditional , which created many jobs with low pay where small and medium - sized businesses concentrated . Luis Guillermo Solís , Plan Rescate , 2014 - 2018 Like most members of PAC , Solís identifies himself as a progressivist . His Plan Rescate , or Rescue Plan , outlines his political beliefs . This plan focused on three central issues : anti-corruption , economic growth , and reducing income inequality . Solís claims that economic neoliberalism has created too much income inequality for Costa Rica . Past governments have avoided collecting taxes on large companies and high - income earners , leading to budget deficits which Solís claims his administration will fix through better enforcement . Banks should not encourage exports at the expense of income growth among the poor , according to Solís . He believes that economic liberalization has generally harmed women more than men because they have traditionally had less access to higher - income jobs . Part of that liberalization , he claims , included ignoring the financial and growth needs of the agricultural industry . Solís supports environmental protections , which he believes Costa Rica has forgotten . As such , Solís believes that water must be safeguarded from private development and mismanagement , something that has caused water shortages in many of the country 's municipalities . Solís claims that he will prosecute violators of the Water Resources Management Bill . In addition , Solís supports increased rights for rights for lesbians , gays , bisexuals , and transsexuals . In May 2014 , he ordered that a rainbow flag be flown over the Presidential House as a show of solidarity with gays on International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia . Solís is a Catholic . As a presidential candidate , he visited the basilica of Our Lady of Angels , home to the Costa Rican patron saint La Negrita , a traditional pilgrimage for many Costa Ricans and tourists . He supports the separation of church and state despite Catholicism being the country 's official religion . With regard to ethical issues , he also supports civil unions , and in - vitro fertilization . Personal life ( edit ) Solis has ten children from his previous marriage to his first wife , Nancy Olive Worsfold Richards ( 1987 -- 2006 ) : Monica , Cristina , Beatriz , Charlie , Carly , Jennifer , John , Carlos , Diego and Ignacio . Solís is not married to Mercedes Peñas Domingo , but she is altogether considered the First Lady of Costa Rica . He and Peñas , who began dating in 2006 , have one daughter , Inés . Peñas said that she hopes to be active as an adviser to Solís , who called her `` Jiminy Cricket . '' Saying that some of her duties as First Lady are machista , she will nevertheless greet dignitaries and perform other obligations . In addition to public service and academics , Solís enjoys farming . References ( edit ) ^ Jump up to : Romo , Jose Luis ( 2015 - 03 - 15 ) . `` Mercedes Peñas , la primera dama española y atípica de Costa Rica '' . El Mundo . Retrieved 2016 - 06 - 14 . Jump up ^ Hernández , Josué ( 24 March 2014 ) . `` ' He vuelto una vez más a la tierra de mis padres ' , dijo Luis Guillermo Solís en Turrialba '' ( `` I 'm back again in the land of my parents '' , said Luis Guillermo Solís in Turrialba ) . La Nación ( in Spanish ) . San José , Costa Rica . Retrieved 27 March 2014 . ^ Jump up to : Dyer , Zach ( 3 November 2013 ) . `` Costa Rican presidential candidate Luis Guillermo Solís : ' It 's not going to be business as usual ' '' . The Tico Times . Retrieved 3 February 2014 . ^ Jump up to : Ortiz de Zárate ( editor ) , Roberto ( March 2014 ) . `` Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera , CIDOB '' ( in Spanish ) . Barcelona : Barcelona Centre for International Affairs . Retrieved 1 April 2014 . CS1 maint : Extra text : authors list ( link ) ^ Jump up to : `` Biografía '' ( Biography ) . Campaign web site ( in Spanish ) . Archived from the original on 27 January 2014 . Retrieved 3 February 2014 . Jump up ^ Guerén Catepillán , Pablo ( 18 January 2005 ) . `` Corrales dice adiós a Liberación '' ( Corrales says goodbye to the National Liberation Party ) . Al Día ( in Spanish ) . San José . Retrieved 3 February 2014 . ^ Jump up to : Oviedo , Estaban ( 8 April 2014 ) . `` Luis Guillermo Solís : El profesor desconocido que , en tres años , llegó a ser el presidente '' ( Luis Guillermo Solís : The unknown professor who , in three years , became president ) . La Nación ( San Jose ) ( in Spanish ) . San José . Retrieved 8 April 2014 . Jump up ^ Murillo , Álvaro ( 13 October 2013 ) . `` PAC completa su fórmula presidencial con el exministro Helio Fallas '' ( PAC completes presidential ticket with ex-minister Helio Fallas ) . La Nación ( in Spanish ) . San José . Retrieved 25 March 2014 . ^ Jump up to : Díaz , Luis Edo. ( 27 January 2014 ) . `` Luis Guillermo Solís llama a sus seguidores a ' cambiar la historia ' patria '' ( Luis Guillermo Solís calls on his supporters to ' change history ' for the country ) . La Nación ( in Spanish ) . San José . Retrieved 3 February 2014 . Jump up ^ Sequeira , Aaron ( 20 February 2014 ) . `` Luis Guillermo Solís propone evitar firma de nuevos tratados comerciales '' ( Luis Guillermo Solís proposes avoiding the signing of new free trade agreements ) . La Nación ( in Spanish ) . San José . Retrieved 20 February 2014 . Jump up ^ name = optimism > Kane , Corey ( 1 May 2014 ) . `` Labor voices optimism over new administration , takes parting shots at Costa Rica 's Chinchilla '' . The Tico Times . San Jose . Retrieved 4 May 2014 . Jump up ^ `` Mapa de Resultados Elecciones Costa Rica '' ( Costa Rican Map of Electoral Results ) . RESULTADOS ELECTORALES EN MAPA ELECTORAL ( in Spanish ) . San José : La Nación . Retrieved 20 February 2014 . Jump up ^ Oviedo , Esteban ( 3 February 2014 ) . `` Luis Guillermo Solís sorprende y entra a segunda ronda con Johnny Araya '' ( Luis Guillermo Solís surprises and enters second round with Johnny Araya ) . La Nación ( in Spanish ) . San José . Retrieved 3 February 2014 . Jump up ^ `` Costa Rica government 's presidential candidate withdraws '' . BBC . 5 March 2014 . Retrieved 12 March 2014 . Jump up ^ `` Solís advierte que aún no es presidente a pesar de retirada de Araya '' ( Solís warns that he is not yet president despite Araya 's withdrawal ) . Prensa Libre ( in Spanish ) . Guatemala City . AFP . 5 March 2014 . Archived from the original on 12 March 2014 . Retrieved 12 March 2014 . Jump up ^ Live Costa Rica presidential election results The Tico Times , 2014 - 04 - 06 . Jump up ^ `` Mapa de Resultados Elecciones Costa Rica Abril 2014 '' ( Costa Rican Map of April 2014 Electoral Results ) . RESULTADOS ELECTORALES EN MAPA SEGUNDA RONDA ELECTORAL ( in Spanish ) . San José : La Nación . Retrieved 7 April 2014 . ^ Jump up to : Bermúdez Aguilar , Andrés ; Efrén López Madrigal ( 7 April 2014 ) . `` PAC ganó elecciones con más de un millón de votos '' ( PAC wins election with more than one million votes ) . La Prensa Libre ( Costa Rica ) ( in Spanish ) . San José . Retrieved 7 April 2014 . Jump up ^ Agüero R. , Mercedes ; Álvaro Murillo ( 8 April 2014 ) . `` Gobiernos amigos desean éxitos y ofrecen apoyo a Luis Guillermo Solís '' ( Friendly goverernments wish success and offer help to Luis Guillermo Solís ) . La Nacion ( in Spanish ) . San José . Retrieved 8 April 2014 . Jump up ^ Agüero R. , Mercedes ; David Delgado ( 7 April 2013 ) . `` Luis Guillermo Solís gana con 1 , 3 millones de votos '' ( Luis Guillermo Solís wins 1.3 million votes ) . La Nación ( in Spanish ) . San José . Retrieved 8 April 2014 . Jump up ^ Oviedo , Esteban ; Esteban Mata ( 29 April 2014 ) . `` Solís confía a exministros del PUSC dos cargos clave '' . La Nacion ( Costa Rica ) ( in Spanish ) . San Jose . Retrieved 29 April 2014 . ^ Jump up to : Oviedo , Esteban ( 8 May 2014 ) . `` Luis Guillermo Solís recibe una economía estable pero amenazada '' . La Nacion ( in Spanish ) . San Jose . Retrieved 8 May 2014 . Jump up ^ Guevara , Paula Ruiz ( 0 May 2014 ) . `` Fiesta democrática se vivió desde las gradas del Nacional '' . La Nacion ( in Spanish ) . San Jose . Retrieved 9 May 2014 . Check date values in : date = ( help ) Jump up ^ Arias , L. ( 8 May 2014 ) . `` Representatives from 80 countries to attend Luis Guillermo Solís ' inauguration on Thursday '' . The Tico Times . San Jose . Retrieved 8 May 2014 . Jump up ^ Fonseca , Graciela ( 8 May 2014 ) . `` Luis Guillermo Solís : `` Hay un poco de nerviosismo , pero es normal '' `` . Costa Rica Hoy ( in Spanish ) . San Jose . Retrieved 8 May 2014 . Jump up ^ http://qcostarica.com/costa-rica-government-faces-liquidity-problems/ Jump up ^ http://www.ticotimes.net/2016/09/05/costa-rica-national-budget-2017 Jump up ^ https://www.moodys.com/research/Moodys-downgrades-Costa-Ricas-government-bond-rating-to-Ba2-continued--PR_361770 Jump up ^ http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/hoy-san-diego/news/ Jump up ^ http://news.co.cr/costa-rica-playing-fire-delaying-fiscal-reform-says-intl-expert/63565/ Jump up ^ http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/hoy-san-diego/news/ Jump up ^ https://www.efe.com/efe/english/business/costa-rica-will-have-trouble-paying-bills-president-says/50000265-3342508# Jump up ^ http://qcostarica.com/costa-rica-government-faces-liquidity-problems/ ^ Jump up to : Kane , Corey ( 9 April 2014 ) . `` President - elect Solis ' plan : Balance the budget and protect the environment without raising taxes '' . The Tico Times . Retrieved 10 April 2014 . ^ Jump up to : Jiménez Badilla , Eillyn ( 16 October 2013 ) . `` Me gusta sembrar chayotes , por eso soy sensible al campo '' ( I like growing chayotes , because of that I 'm a simple farmer ) . Diario Extra ( in Spanish ) . San Jose . Retrieved 11 April 2014 . Jump up ^ Dyer , Zach ( 16 May 2014 ) . `` Social conservative lawmakers incensed over LGBT flag at Casa Presidencial '' . The Tico Times . San Jose . Retrieved 19 May 2014 . Jump up ^ Mata , Esteban ( 8 April 2014 ) . `` Luis Guillermo Solís impulsará Estado laico desde nuevo Gobierno '' ( Luis Guillermo Solís to push for secular state with new government ) . La Nacion ( in Spanish ) . San Jose . Retrieved 11 April 2014 . ^ Jump up to : `` Meet Costa Rica 's future First Lady , Mercedes Peñas Domingo '' . Inside Costa Rica . 2014 - 04 - 15 . Retrieved 2016 - 06 - 14 . ^ Jump up to : Murillo , Álvaro ( 11 May 2014 ) . `` La primera dama , Mercedes Peñas : ' Me pondré las tenis y estaré en el terreno ' '' . La Nacion ( in Spanish ) . San Jose . Retrieved 12 May 2014 . External links ( edit ) Wikimedia Commons has media related to Luis Guillermo Solís . Biography by CIDOB ( in Spanish ) Political offices Preceded by Laura Chinchilla President of Costa Rica 2014 -- present Incumbent Presidents and heads of state of Costa Rica Juan Mora Fernández Gallegos Carrillo Joaquín Mora Aguilar Carrillo Morazán Pinto Alfaro Oreamuno Gallegos Alfaro Castro Miguel Mora Juan Mora Porras Montealegre Jiménez Zamora Castro Jiménez Zamora Carranza Guardia Esquivel Sáenz Herrera Guardia Lizano Fernández Soto Rodríguez Zeledón Yglesias Esquivel Ibarra González Víquez Jiménez Oreamuno González Flores Tinoco Quirós Aguilar Acosta Jiménez Oreamuno González Víquez Jiménez Oreamuno Cortés Calderón Guardia Picado Figueres Ferrer Ulate Figueres Ferrer Echandi Orlich Trejos Figueres Ferrer Oduber Carazo Monge Arias Calderón Fournier Figueres Olsen Rodríguez Echeverría Pacheco Arias Chinchilla Solís Current heads of state in Central American countries Elizabeth II ( Belize ) Luis Guillermo Solís ( Costa Rica ) Salvador Sánchez Cerén ( El Salvador ) Jimmy Morales ( Guatemala ) Juan Orlando Hernández ( Honduras ) Daniel Ortega ( Nicaragua ) Juan Carlos Varela ( Panama ) Citizens ' Action Party Partido Acción Ciudadana National Executive Committee Olivier Pérez González ( President ) Olga Marta Sánchez Oviedo ( Secretary General ) Leda Zamora Chaves ( Treasurer ) 2014 - 2018 Deputies ( 13 / 57 ) San José Epsy Campbell Barr Ottón Solís Víctor Hugo Morales Zapata Marcela Guerrero Campos Ruperto Marvin Atencio Delgado Alajuela Nidia María Jiménez Vásquez Javier Francisco Cambronero Arguedas Franklin Corella Vargas Cartago Emilia Molina Cruz Marco Vinicio Redondo Quirós Heredia Henry Mora Jiménez Marlene Madrigal Flores Puntarenas Laura María Garro Sánchez Notable Members Luis Guillermo Solís Helio Fallas Ana Helena Chacón Echeverría Ottón Solís Epsy Campbell Barr Guido Miranda Juan Carlos Mendoza García Elizabeth Fonseca Corrales Juan Manuel Villasuso Wilfrido Blanco Víctor Morales Mora Jorge Antonio Salas Bonilla Alberto Salom Echeverría Alberto Cañas Escalante Hernán Solano Gloria Valerín Rodríguez Ronald Solís Bolaños Issues and beliefs Christian socialism Social democracy Progressivism Portal : Politics List of political parties Politics of Costa Rica VIAF : 189160567 LCCN : n87939039 ISNI : 0000 0001 0467 6401 GND : 13384739X SUDOC : 129603198 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title= Luis_Guillermo_Solís&oldid = 800228897 '' Categories : Citizens ' Action Party politicians 1958 births Catholicism in Costa Rica Costa Rican people of Chinese descent Costa Rican people of Jamaican descent Costa Rican Roman Catholics Fulbright Scholars Government ministers of Costa Rica Living people People from San José , Costa Rica Costa Rican politicians of Chinese descent Presidents of Costa Rica Tulane University alumni University of Michigan alumni University of Costa Rica alumni Hidden categories : CS1 Spanish - language sources ( es ) CS1 maint : Extra text : authors list CS1 errors : dates Pages using infobox officeholder with an atypical party value Pages using infobox officeholder with unknown parameters Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Azərbaycanca Català Dansk Deutsch Eesti Ελληνικά Español فارسی Français 한국어 Հայերեն Ido Bahasa Indonesia Italiano ქართული Latina Lëtzebuergesch Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Русский Sámegiella Scots Simple English Српски / srpski Suomi Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 12 September 2017 , at 06 : 06 . 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The Song of Roland The Song of Roland ( French : La Chanson de Roland ) is an epic poem ( Chanson de geste ) based on the Battle of Roncevaux Pass in 778 , during the reign of Charlemagne . It is the oldest surviving major work of French literature and exists in various manuscript versions , which testify to its enormous and enduring popularity in the 12th to 14th centuries . The date of composition is put in the period between 1040 and 1115 : an early version beginning around 1040 with additions and alterations made up until about 1115 . The final text has about 4,000 lines of poetry . The epic poem is the first and , along with The Poem of the Cid , one of the most outstanding examples of the chanson de geste , a literary form that flourished between the 11th and 15th centuries and celebrated legendary deeds . Contents 1 Manuscripts and dating 1.1 AOI 2 Critical opinions 2.1 Oral performance of the Song compared to manuscript versions 3 Plot 4 Form 5 Characters 5.1 Principal characters 5.2 Secondary characters 6 Durandal 7 Historical adaptations 8 Modern adaptations 9 See also 10 Notes 11 Further reading 12 External links Manuscripts and dating ( edit ) Bodleian Library , MS Digby 23 , Part 2 Set in the Carolingian era , it was written much later . There is a single extant manuscript of the Song of Roland in Old French , held at the Bodleian Library at Oxford . This copy dates between 1129 and 1165 and was written in Anglo - Norman . There are also eight further manuscripts , and three fragments , of other poems on the subject of Roland . Some scholars estimate that the poem was written , possibly by a poet named Turold ( Turoldus in the manuscript itself ) , between approximately 1040 and 1115 , and most of the alterations were performed by about 1098 . Some favor an earlier dating , because it allows one to say that the poem was inspired by the Castilian campaigns of the 1030s , and that the poem went on to be a major influence in the First Crusade . Those who prefer a later dating do so based upon what they interpret as brief references made in the poem to events of the First Crusade . In the poem , the term d'oltre mer or l'oltremarin comes up three times in reference to named Muslims who came from oltre mer to fight in Spain and France . Oltre mer , modern French Outremer , literally `` oversea , beyond sea , other side of the sea '' , is a native French term from the classical Latin roots ultra = `` beyond '' and mare = `` sea '' . The name was commonly used by the Crusaders to refer to Palestine . The occurrence of this term in the poem can not be interpreted as showing influence from the Crusades in the poem ; on the contrary , the way it is used in the poem , in which it is simply a Muslim land , indicates that the author of the poem was unacquainted with the Crusades , and that the term was in French before the Crusades began meaning the far side of the Mediterranean Sea . The bulk of the poem is adjudged to date from before the Crusades ( which started in 1098 ) , but there are a few items where questions remain about these items being late additions shortly after the Crusades started . After two manuscripts were found in 1832 and 1835 , the Song of Roland became recognized as France 's national epic when an edition was published in 1837 . AOI ( edit ) Detail of manuscript showing `` AOI '' Certain lines of the Oxford manuscript end with the letters `` AOI '' . The meaning of this word or annotation is unclear . Scholars have hypothesized that the marking may have played a role in public performances of the text , such as indicating a place where a jongleur would change the tempo . Critical opinions ( edit ) Oral performance of the Song compared to manuscript versions ( edit ) Scholarly consensus has long accepted that the Song of Roland differed in its presentation depending on oral or textual transmission ; namely , although a number of different versions of the song containing varying material and episodes would have been performed orally , the transmission to manuscript resulted in greater cohesiveness across versions . Early editors of the Song of Roland , informed in part by patriotic desires to produce a distinctly French epic , could thus overstate the textual cohesiveness of the Roland tradition . This point is expressed by Andrew Taylor , who notes , `` ( T ) he Roland song was , if not invented , at the very least constructed . By supplying it with an appropriate epic title , isolating it from its original codicological context , and providing a general history of minstrel performance in which its pure origin could be located , the early editors presented a 4,002 line poem as sung French epic '' . Plot ( edit ) The death of Roland at the Battle of Roncevaux , from an illuminated manuscript c. 1455 -- 1460 . Charlemagne 's army is fighting the Muslims in Spain . They have been there for seven years , and the last city standing is Saragossa , held by the Muslim King Marsile . Threatened by the might of Charlemagne 's army of Franks , Marsile seeks advice from his wise man , Blancandrin , who councils him to conciliate the Emperor , offering to surrender and giving hostages . Accordingly , Marsile sends out messengers to Charlemagne , promising treasure and Marsile 's conversion to Christianity if the Franks will go back to France . Charlemagne and his men , tired of fighting , accept his peace offer and select a messenger to Marsile 's court . The protagonist Roland , Charlemagne 's nephew , nominates his stepfather Ganelon as messenger . Ganelon , who fears to be murdered by the enemy and accuses Roland of intending this , takes revenge by informing the Saracens of a way to ambush the rear guard of Charlemagne 's army , led by Roland , as the Franks re-enter France through the mountain passes . As Ganelon predicted , Roland leads the rear guard , with the wise and moderate Oliver and the fierce Archbishop Turpin . The Muslims ambush them at Roncesvalles and the Christians are overwhelmed . Oliver pleads with Roland to blow his horn to call for help , but Roland tells him that blowing his horn in the middle of the battle would be an act of cowardice . If Roland continues to refuse , Oliver will not let Roland see his sister again whom Roland loves the most . However , Archbishop Turpin intervenes and tells them that the battle will be fatal for all of them and so instructs Roland to blow his horn oliphant ( the word is an old alternative to `` elephant '' , and was used to refer to a hunting horn made from an elephant tusk ) to call for help from the Frankish army . The emperor hears the call on their way to France . Charlemagne and his noblemen gallop back even though Count Ganelon tries to trick them . The Franks fight well , but are outnumbered , until almost all Roland 's men are dead and he knows that Charlemagne 's army can no longer save them . Despite this , he blows his olifant to summon revenge , until his temples burst and he dies a martyr 's death . Angels take his soul to Paradise . When Charlemagne and his men reach the battlefield , they find the dead bodies of Roland 's men , who have been utterly annihilated . They pursue the Muslims into the river Ebro , where the Muslims drown . Meanwhile , Baligant , the powerful emir of Babylon , has arrived in Spain to help Marsile . His army encounters that of Charlemagne at Roncesvalles , where the Christians are burying and mourning their dead . Both sides fight valiantly . When Charlemagne kills Baligant , the Muslim army scatters and flees , leaving the Franks to conquer Saragossa . With Marsile 's wife Bramimonde , Queen of Saragossa , Charlemagne and his men ride back to Aix , their capital in France . The Franks discover Ganelon 's betrayal and keep him in chains until his trial , where Ganelon argues that his action was legitimate revenge , not treason . While the council of barons assembled to decide the traitor 's fate is initially swayed by this claim , partially out of fear of Ganelon 's friend Pinabel who threatens to fight anyone who judges Ganelon guilty , one man , Thierry , argues that because Roland was serving Charlemagne when Ganelon delivered his revenge on him , Ganelon 's action constitutes a betrayal . Pinabel challenges Thierry to trial by combat . By divine intervention , Thierry kills Pinabel . By this the Franks are convinced of Ganelon 's treason . Thus , he is torn apart by having four galloping horses tied one to each arm and leg and thirty of his relatives are hanged . Bramimonde converts to Christianity , her name changing to Juliana . While sleeping , Charlemagne is told by Gabriel to ride to help King Vivien and bemoans his life . Form ( edit ) Charlemagne finds Roland dead ( 14th - century miniature ) . The poem is written in stanzas of irregular length known as laisses . The lines are decasyllabic ( containing ten syllables ) , and each is divided by a strong caesura which generally falls after the fourth syllable . The last stressed syllable of each line in a laisse has the same vowel sound as every other end - syllable in that laisse . The laisse is therefore an assonal , not a rhyming stanza . On a narrative level , the Song of Roland features extensive use of repetition , parallelism , and thesis - antithesis pairs . Roland proposes Ganelon for the dangerous mission to Sarrogossa ; Ganelon designates Roland to man the rearguard . Charlemagne is contrasted with Baligant . Unlike later Renaissance and Romantic literature , the poem focuses on action rather than introspection . The characters are presented through what they do , not through what they think or feel . The narrator gives few explanations for characters ' behavior . The warriors are stereotypes defined by a few salient traits ; for example , Roland is loyal and trusting while Ganelon , though brave , is traitorous and vindictive . The narrator is openly biased towards the Franks . His moral view is very black - and - white : the Franks are good , and the pagans are bad . The story moves at a fast pace , occasionally slowing down and recounting the same scene up to three times but focusing on different details or taking a different perspective each time . The effect is similar to a film sequence shot at different angles so that new and more important details come to light with each shot . Characters ( edit ) Principal characters ( edit ) Andriodos , helpless boy ; despite the honor came from King Charlemagne . Baligant , emir of Babylon ; Marsile enlists his help against Charlemagne . Blancandrin , wise pagan ; suggests bribing Charlemagne out of Spain with hostages and gifts , and then suggests dishonouring a promise to allow Marsile 's baptism Bassalt , came from the name of rocks that are solid and may occur in the second phrase of the poem ; captured the horse of the king . Bramimonde , Queen of Saragossa , King Marsile 's wife ; captured and converted by Charlemagne after the city falls . Charlemagne , Holy Roman Emperor ; his forces fight the Saracens in Spain . Ganelon , treacherous lord and Roland 's stepfather who encourages Marsile to attack the French army . King Marsile , Saracen king of Spain ; Roland wounds him and he dies of his wound later . Naimon , Charlemagne 's trusted adviser . Oliver , Roland 's friend ; mortally wounded by Margarice . He represents wisdom . Roland , the hero of the Song ; nephew of Charlemagne ; leads the rear guard of the French forces ; bursts his temples by blowing his olifant - horn , wounds from which he eventually dies facing the enemy 's land . Turpin , Archbishop of Rheims , represents the force of the Church . Secondary characters ( edit ) Aude , the fiancée of Roland and Oliver 's sister Basan , French baron , murdered while serving as Ambassador of Marsile . Bérengier , one of the twelve paladins killed by Marsile 's troops ; kills Estramarin ; killed by Grandoyne . Besgun , chief cook of Charlemagne 's army ; guards Ganelon after Ganelon 's treachery is discovered . Geboin , guards the French dead ; becomes leader of Charlemagne 's 2nd column . Godefroy , standard bearer of Charlemagne ; brother of Thierry , Charlemagne 's defender against Pinabel . Grandoyne , fighter on Marsile 's side ; son of the Cappadocian King Capuel ; kills Gerin , Gerier , Berenger , Guy St. Antoine , and Duke Astorge ; killed by Roland . Hamon , joint Commander of Charlemagne 's Eighth Division . Lorant , French commander of one of the first divisions against Baligant ; killed by Baligant . Milon , guards the French dead while Charlemagne pursues the Saracen forces . Ogier , a Dane who leads the third column in Charlemagne 's army against Baligant 's forces . Othon , guards the French dead while Charlemagne pursues the Saracen forces . Pinabel , fights for Ganelon in the judicial combat . Thierry , fights for Charlemagne in the judicial combat . Durandal ( edit ) According to the Song of Roland , the legendary sword called Durandal was first given to Charlemagne by an angel . It contained one tooth of Saint Peter , blood of Saint Basil , hair of Saint Denis , and a piece of the raiment of the Blessed Virgin Mary , and was supposedly the sharpest sword in all existence . In the story of the Song of Roland , the weapon is given to Roland , and he uses it to defend himself single - handedly against thousands of Muslim attackers . According to one 12th - century legend from the French town of Rocamadour , Roland threw the sword into a cliffside . You can still see a sword there , allegedly Durandal , embedded into the cliff - face . Historical adaptations ( edit ) A Latin poem , Carmen de Prodicione Guenonis , was composed around 1120 , and a Latin prose version , Historia Caroli Magni ( often known as `` The Pseudo-Turpin '' ) even earlier . Around 1170 , a version of the French poem was translated into the Middle High German Rolandslied by Konrad der Pfaffe ( formerly thought to have been the author of the Kaiserchronik ) . In his translation Konrad replaces French topics with generically Christian ones . The work was translated into Middle Dutch in the 13th century . It was also rendered into Occitan verse in the 14th - or 15th - century poem of Ronsasvals , which incorporates the later , southern aesthetic into the story . An Old Norse version of the Song of Roland exists as Karlamagnús saga , and a translation into the artificial literary language of Franco - Venetian is also known ; such translations contributed to the awareness of the story in Italy . In 1516 Ludovico Ariosto published his epic Orlando Furioso , which deals largely with characters first described in the Song of Roland . There is also Faroese adoption of this ballad named `` Runtsivalstríðið '' ( Battle of Roncevaux ) . The ballad is one of many sung during the Faroese folkdance tradition of chain dancing . Modern adaptations ( edit ) The Chanson de Roland has an important place in the background of Graham Greene 's The Confidential Agent , published in 1939 . The book 's protagonist had been a Medieval scholar specialising in this work , until the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War forced him to become a soldier and secret agent . Throughout the book , he repeatedly compares himself and other characters with the characters of `` Roland '' . Particularly , the book includes a full two pages of specific commentary , which is relevant to its 20th - century plot line : `` Oliver , when he saw the Saracens coming , urged Roland to blow his horn and fetch back Charlemagne -- but Roland would n't blow . A big brave fool . In war one always chooses the wrong hero . Oliver should have been the hero of that song , instead of being given second place with the blood - thirsty Bishop Turpin. ( ... ) In the Oxford version Oliver is reconciled in the end , he gives Roland his death - blow by accident , his eyes blinded by wounds . ( But ) the story had been tidied up . In truth , Oliver strikes his friend down in full knowledge -- because of what he has done to his men , all the wasted lives . Oliver dies hating the man he loves -- the big boasting courageous fool who was more concerned with his own glory than with the victory of his faith . This makes the story tragedy , not just heroics '' . It is also adapted by Stephen King , in the Dark Tower series in which Roland Deschain wishes to save the Dark Tower from the Crimson King . The Song of Roland is part of the Matter of France ( the Continental counterpart to the Arthurian legendarium known as the Matter of Britain ) , and related to Orlando Furioso . The names Roland and Orlando are cognates . Emanuelle Luzzati 's animated short film , I paladini di Francia , together with Giulio Gianini , in 1960 , was turned into the children 's picture - story book , with verse narrative , I Paladini de Francia ovvero il tradimento di Gano di Maganz , which translates literally as `` The Paladins of France or the treachery of Gano of Maganz '' ( Ugo Mursia Editore , 1962 ) . This was then republished , in English , as Ronald and the Wizard Calico ( 1969 ) . The Picture Lion paperback edition ( William Collins , London , 1973 ) is a paperback imprint of the Hutchinson Junior Books edition ( 1969 ) , which credits the English translation to Hutchinson Junior Books . Luzatti 's original verse story in Italian is about the plight of a beautiful maiden called Biancofiore -- White Flower , or Blanchefleur -- and her brave hero , Captain Rinaldo , and Ricardo and his paladins -- the term used for Christian knights engaged in Crusades against the Saracens and Moors . Battling with these good people are the wicked Moors -- North African Muslims and Arabs -- and their Sultan , in Jerusalem . With the assistance of the wicked and treacherous magician , Gano of Maganz , Biancofiore is stolen from her fortress castle , and taken to become the reluctant wife of the Sultan . The catalyst for victory is the good magician , Urlubulu , who lives in a lake , and flies through the air on the back of his magic blue bird . The English translators , using the original illustrations , and the basic rhyme patterns , slightly simplify the plot , changing the Christians - versus - Muslim - Moors conflict into a battle between good and bad magicians and between golden knights and green knights . The French traitor in The Song of Roland , who is actually Roland 's cowardly step - father , is Ganelon -- very likely the inspiration for Luzzati 's traitor and wicked magician , Gano . Orlando Furioso ( literally , Furious or Enraged Orlando , or Roland ) , includes Orlando 's cousin , the paladin Rinaldo , who , like Orlando , is also in love with Angelica , a pagan princess . Rinaldo is , of course , the Italian equivalent of Ronald . Flying through the air on the back of a magic bird is equivalent to flying on a magic hippogriff . On July 22 , 2017 , Michael Eging and Steve Arnold released a novel '' The Silver Horn Echoes : A Song of Roland , '' inspired by the La Chanson de Roland . This work is more closely based on a screenplay written by Michael Eging in 2008 , simply known as `` Song of Roland '' and first optioned to Alan Kaplan at Cine LA that same year . The book explores the untold story of how Roland finds himself at Ronceveaux , betrayed by Ganelon and facing the expansive Saragossan host . Primary characters in the novel include Charles ( Charlemagne ) , Ganelon , Bishop Turpin , Oliver , Aude , Marsilion , Blancandarin and others recognizable from the poem . Introduced in this tale are additional characters that inject intrigue and danger to the story , including Charles oldest son , Pepin , Marsilion 's treacherous son , Saleem , and the scheming Byzantine emissary , Honorius . The cover artwork was hand painted by Jordan Raskin . The authors determined when writing both the screenplay and the novel to remain in the world created by the poem ; thus Charles remains an older man near the end of his long reign rather than in 778 when the attack on the rearguard actually occurred . Further , this novel bookends the story with William the Conqueror 's use of the poem as a motivator for Norman forces prior to the Battle of Hastings in 1066 . See also ( edit ) La Brèche de Roland Matter of France Herzog Ernst Lamprecht Notes ( edit ) Jump up ^ `` The Song of Roland '' . FordhamUniversity.edu . Archived from the original on 2015 - 02 - 04 . Retrieved 2015 - 02 - 04 . Jump up ^ ( in French ) La Chanson de Roland on Dictionnaire Étymologique de l'Ancien Français Jump up ^ Short , Ian ( 1990 ) . Introduction . France : Le Livre de Poche . pp. 5 -- 20 . Jump up ^ La Chanson de Roland on Archives de littérature du Moyen Âge Jump up ^ Gaunt , Simon ; Pratt , Karen ( 2016 ) . The Song of Roland , and Other Poems of Charlemagne ( 1st ed . ) . New York , NY 10016 , United States of America : Oxford University Press . p. xi . ISBN 978 - 0 - 19 - 965554 - 0 . Jump up ^ Love , Nathan ( 1984 ) . `` AOI in the Chanson de Roland : A divergent hypothesis '' . Olifant. 10 ( 4 ) . Société Rencesvals . Jump up ^ Taylor , Andrew , `` Was There a Song of Roland ? '' Speculum 76 ( January 2001 ) : 28 - 65 ^ Jump up to : Brault , Gerard J. , Song of Roland : An Analytical Edition : Introduction and Commentary , Penn State Press , 2010 ISBN 9780271039145 Jump up ^ Part of Runtsivalstríðið with Dansifelagið í Havn Jump up ^ `` The Confidential Agent '' , Part 1 , Ch. 2 , quoted in `` Graham Greene : an approach to the novels '' by Robert Hoskins , p. 122 ( 1 ) Jump up ^ Author 's Notes , The Silver Horn Echoes : A Song of Roland , iUniverse , July 2017 ( http://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000995830 ) Further reading ( edit ) Brault , Gerard J. Song of Roland : An Analytical Edition : Introduction and Commentary ( Penn State Press , 2010 ) . DiVanna , Isabel N. `` Politicizing national literature : the scholarly debate around La chanson de Roland in the nineteenth century . '' Historical Research 84.223 ( 2011 ) : 109 - 134 . Jones , George Fenwick . The ethos of the song of Roland ( Johns Hopkins University Press , 1963 ) . Vance , Eugene . Reading the Song of Roland ( 1970 ) . External links ( edit ) Wikisource has original text related to this article : The Song of Roland French Wikisource has original text related to this article : La Chanson de Roland Wikiquote has quotations related to : The Song of Roland Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chanson de Roland . The Song of Roland at Project Gutenberg ( English translation of Charles Kenneth Scott Moncrieff ) The Song of Roland -- ( Dorothy L. Sayers ) at Faded Page ( Canada ) The Song of Roland public domain audiobook at LibriVox La Chanson de Roland ( Old French ) The Romance of the Middle Ages : The Song of Roland , discussion of Oxford , Bodleian Library MS Digby 23 , audio clip , and discussion of the manuscript 's provenance . Earliest manuscript of the Chanson de Roland , readable online images of the complete original , Oxford , Bodleian Library MS Digby 23 ( Pt 2 ) La Chanson de Roland , in Anglo - Norman , 12th century , ? 2nd quarter `` . Old French Audio clips of a reading of The Song of Roland in Old French Timeless Myths : Song of Roland `` Roland , The Song of '' . New International Encyclopedia . 1905 . King Charlemagne and the Matter of France Key people Charlemagne Roland Ganelon Naimon Oliver Renaud de Montauban Paladins and other characters Agolant Albracca Angelica Astolfo Atlantes Aude Aymon Baligant Blancandrin Bradamante Bramimonde Brandimarte Brunello Charlot Doon de Mayence Ferragut Fierabras Garin de Monglane Girart de Roussillon Huon of Bordeaux Marfisa Marsile Maugris Melissa Ogier the Dane Pinabel Rodomonte Ruggiero Sacripante Turpin William of Gellone Zerbino Horses and other animals Barbamouche Bayard Gaignun Gramimond Hippogriff Marmorie Passecerf Rabicano Sautperdu Sorel Tachëbrun Tencendur Veillantif Swords and other objects Almace Curtana Durendal Hauteclere Joyeuse Murgleys Olifant Précieuse Places Aachen La Brèche de Roland Roncevaux Pass Chansons de geste and other works The Song of Roland Le Pèlerinage de Charlemagne Chanson de Guillaume Gormond et Isembart The Four Sons of Aymon Karlamagnús saga Orlando Innamorato Orlando Furioso Morgante The Song of Roland Source Battle of Roncevaux Pass Films The Song of Roland ( 1978 ) Other versions Carmen de Prodicione Guenonis Historia Caroli Magni Karlamagnús saga The Dark Tower Characters Baligant Blancandrin Bramimonde Charlemagne Ganelon King Marsile Naimon Oliver Roland Turpin Aude Ogier Pinabel BNF : cb12008442d ( data ) NKC : unn2010568621 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Song_of_Roland&oldid=865446055 '' Categories : Chansons de geste Matter of France French folklore French poems Epic poems in French Anglo - Norman folklore The Song of Roland Works of unknown authorship Cultural depictions of Charlemagne Hidden categories : Articles with French - language external links Articles needing additional references from December 2014 All articles needing additional references Articles containing French - language text All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from September 2017 Articles with unsourced statements from May 2018 Articles with Project Gutenberg links Articles with LibriVox links Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the New International Encyclopedia Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Wikipedia articles with NKC identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikiquote Wikisource Afrikaans Aragonés Asturianu Беларуская Беларуская ( тарашкевіца )  Български Brezhoneg Català Čeština Dansk Deutsch Eesti Ελληνικά Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Føroyskt Français Galego 한국어 Հայերեն Hrvatski Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית Қазақша Кырык мары Latina Latviešu Magyar Македонски Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Occitan Polski Português Română Русский Simple English Slovenčina Slovenščina Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska தமிழ் Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt 吴语 粵語 中文 Lingua Franca Nova 47 more Edit links This page was last edited on 24 October 2018 , at 00 : 51 ( UTC ) . 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