OGIER THE DANE, a hero of romance, identified with the Frankish warrior Autchar (Autgarius, Auctarius, Otgarius, Ogger ius) who in 771 or 772 accompanied Gerberga, widow of Carlo man, Charlemagne's brother, and her children to the court of Desiderius, king of the Lombards, with whom he marched against Rome. In 7 73 he submitted to Charles at Verona. He finally en tered the cloister of St. Faro at Meaux. Colour is lent to the theory of the Bavarian origin of the Ogier of romance by the fact that he, with Duke Naimes of Bavaria, led the Bavarian contingent at Roncevaux.
In the romances of the Carolingian cycle he is, on account of his revolt against Charlemagne, placed in the family of Doon de Mayence, being the son of Gaufrey de "Dannemarche." Ogier, who was the hostage for his father at Charlemagne's court, gained the emperor's favour by his exploits in Italy. One Easter at the court of Laon, however, his son Balduinet was slain by Charle magne's son, Charlot, with a chess-board. Ogier in his rage slew the queen's nephew Loher, and would have slain Charlemagne him self but for the timely intervention of the knights. In his strong
hold at Castelfort he resisted the imperial forces for seven years, but was at last taken prisoner. He was eventually released to fight the Saracen chief Brehus or Braihier, who had defied Charlemagne to single combat. Ogier, after marrying an English princess, re ceived from Charlemagne the fiefs of Hainaut and Brabant.