Gender Masculine
Usage Carolingian Cycle
Meaning & History
French form of the Old German name Wenilo. In the medieval French epic La Chanson de Roland Ganelon is the knight who betrays Charlemagne's army to the Saracens, resulting in the death of Roland and the rest of the rear guard. He was based on Wenilo, a 9th-century archbishop of Sens who betrayed Charles the Bald (Charlemagne's grandson).