Bremen Roland
Oldest surviving Roland statue, symbol of civic liberties.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
The Bremen Roland is a stone statue of the legendary knight Roland, a paladin of Charlemagne and a hero from the Battle of Roncevaux Pass. It was erected in 1404 and stands on Bremen’s market square, facing the cathedral. Across the former Holy Roman Empire, Roland statues were erected as symbols of city liberties, or *Stadtrechte*. The Bremen Roland is the oldest surviving example of these statues.
Roland is depicted as the city’s protector. His legendary sword, Durendal, is drawn, and his shield bears the two-headed Imperial eagle. The figure itself is 5.47 meters tall, standing on a 60-centimeter rostrum. A supporting column topped with a baldachin brings the total height to 10.21 meters. The statue was carved from Elm limestone and commissioned by the city council to replace a wooden version burned in 1366 by Prince-Archbishop Albert II. It was positioned to face the church, asserting city rights against the prince-archbishop’s territorial claims.
The shield bears an inscription in Low German: “vryheit do ik yu openbar / de karl und mēnnich vorst vorwar / desser stede ghegheven hat / des dankt gode is mīn radt.” In English, this reads: “Freedom I do manifest to you / which Karl and many noblemen indeed / have given to this place. / For this thank God, that is my advice.”
According to legend, Bremen will remain free and independent as long as Roland stands watch. It is said that a second Roland statue is kept hidden in the town hall’s underground vaults, ready to be quickly installed if the original ever falls.
A smaller version, the Kleiner Roland, was erected in Neustadt in 1737 by the 1st Neustädter Bürgerkompanie. It was built because Neustadt citizens had only limited citizenship rights since 1642, and it is based on the larger 1404 Roland. Its inscription reads: “You have the big one standing there, we stand before the little one. We are not the big city, we are the little one and the appendage, but we are as much city as you are.”
Since 1973, the statue has been protected by the Monument Protection Act. In July 2004, along with the town hall, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List for its outstanding architecture and its symbolism of an important historical figure.
- Erected
- 1404
- Material
- Limestone from the Elm
- Height
- 10.21 m (including column and baldachin)
- Location
- Market square (Rathausplatz), Bremen, Germany
- Subject
- Roland, paladin of Charlemagne
- Protected since
- 1973 (Monument Protection Act)
- UNESCO World Heritage
- Since July 2004
Lore & Background
The statue was commissioned by the city fathers to replace a wooden one burnt in 1366 by Prince-Archbishop Albert II. It confronts the church as a representation of city rights opposed to the territorial claims of the prince-archbishop. Roland is shown as protector of the city: his legendary sword (known in chivalric legend as Durendal) is unsheathed, and his shield is emblazoned with the two-headed Imperial eagle. The standing figure is 5.47 m tall, and stands on a 60 cm rostrum. A supporting column, crowned by a baldachin, brings the combined height to 10.21 m.
Reader's Guide
The Bremen Roland is the oldest surviving example of Roland statues that appear in numerous cities of the former Holy Roman Empire as emblems of city liberties, Stadtrechte. From Bremen the symbol of civic liberty and freedom spread to other cities and has become a symbol of the new Europe. It has been protected by the Monument Protection Act since 1973. In July 2004, along with the town hall, the statue was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in recognition of its outstanding architecture and symbolism of an important historical figure. The inscription on the shield reads: 'Freedom I do manifest to you / which Karl and many noblemen indeed / have given to this place. / For this thank God, that is my advice.' According to legend, Bremen will remain free and independent for as long as Roland stands watch over the city. A smaller Roland, Kleiner Roland, was erected in Neustadt in 1737, based on the larger Roland of 1404.
Did You Know?
- The statue was carved in limestone from the Elm.
- A supporting column, crowned by a baldachin, brings the combined height to 10.21 m.
- According to legend, a second Roland statue is kept hidden in the town hall's underground vaults as a substitute should the original fall.
- The Kleiner Roland in Neustadt was erected in 1737 by the 1st Neustädter Bürgerkompanie.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bremen Roland?
It is a limestone statue of the legendary knight Roland standing on Bremen's Rathausplatz (market square), facing the cathedral. The full structure, including its column and canopy, measures 10.21 meters in height.
Who is Roland, the figure depicted in the statue?
Roland is a legendary paladin who served Charlemagne and is celebrated as a hero of the Battle of Roncevaux Pass. In the Bremen sculpture he is shown as a civic protector with his sword Durendal drawn and the two-headed Imperial eagle on his shield.
Why is the Bremen Roland considered unique among similar statues?
It is the oldest surviving Roland statue from the former Holy Roman Empire, where such figures were raised to symbolize a city's granted liberties (Stadtrechte). No earlier example of this tradition still stands anywhere today.
When was the Bremen Roland erected and where can visitors see it?
The statue was completed in 1404 and stands on Bremen's market square (Rathausplatz). It has been formally protected under Germany's Monument Protection Act since 1973.
What material was the Bremen Roland carved from?
The figure was sculpted from limestone quarried in the Elm region. This pale, warm-toned stone has weathered over more than six centuries and gives the statue its distinctive appearance.
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