Famous Swords: Cortana

Ogier the Dane, a legendary hero, was the son of Gudfred, king of Denmark. In La Chevalerie Ogier de Danemarche, Ogier had a son who was slain by Charlot, son of Charlemagne. Seeking revenge, Ogier sought out and slew Charlot, and was only barely prevented from killing Charlemagne himself. He resisted Charlemagne for seven years, but made peace with him in order to fight at Charlemagne's side against the Saracens. Legend has it that Ogier walked all the way from his final battle in France to the Castle Kronborg in Helsingør. Ogier is said to dwell in the castle, his beard grown down to the floor. He will awake when Denmark is in mortal danger, at which time he will rise up and deliver the nation.

An inscription on Ogier the Dane's sword Cortana read “My name is Cortana, of the same steel and temper as Joyeuse and Durendal.”

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Famous Swords: Balisard

Ruggiero is a leading character in the Italian romantic epics Orlando Innamorato by Matteo Maria Boiardo and Orlando Furioso by Ludovico Ariosto. According to these epics, Ruggiero was the son of a Christian knight and a Saracen, and a descendant of Hector of Troy. Ruggiero took up his sword, Balisard, joined the Saracen army in its invasion of Europe, and fell in love with the female Christian knight Bradamante. Unfortunately, he was captured and held captive by the enchantress Alcina on her magical island until the good sorceress Melissa freed him. Ruggiero then rescued the princess Angelica who had been offered as a sacrifice to a water-dwelling orc. Finally, he was baptised into Christianity, and married Bradamante. Rodomonte, a Saracen king, appears at the wedding feast and accuses Ruggiero of betraying the Saracen cause. The two knights duel, and Ruggiero succeeds in killing Rodomonte.