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The World Chronicle is known as the favourite book of the German Middle Ages. More than 100 manuscripts and fragments have come down to us, including 28 illuminated editions. The copy in the Staatsbibliothek, Berlin is only a fragment consisting of 23 folios.
The manuscript, commissioned by King Conrad IV (reigned 1250-1254) from Rudolf from Ems (c. 1200-1254), contains the world history in verse from the Creation to the death of Solomon, followed by a verse romance, a version of the Song of Roland, describing an idealised image of the Christian ruler, Charlemagne, who is subject to divine protection.
This miniature on folio 3v appears in the verse epic Charlemagne by an otherwise unknown Middle High German poet known as the "Stricker." In the upper scene an angel presents Charlemagne with the sword Durandel and the horn Olifant. The lower scene shows an episode during the campaign against the Saracens when Charlemagne gives the horn and the sword to his nephew and faithful companion Roland, hoping that they will help him to success in the battle.
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