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Reitender Roland Haldensleben

Reitender Roland Haldensleben is the Roland statue of the town of Haldensleben, standing in front of the town hall. It is the only mounted Roland in Europe and is regarded as a highlight of Roland sculpture. The monument was originally also rotatable and serves as a symbol of municipal rights. A standing Roland was first mentioned in Haldensleben records in 1419. The present mounted figure, likely replacing an earlier version that was lost, dates to 1528 and may have been inspired by the Magdeburg Rider or contemporary depictions of Maximilian I. The weathered rider was replaced in 1927/28 by a faithful replica carved from Baden limestone; the original is now in the town museum.

Haldensleben Roland statue of a knight on horseback holding a sword upright in front of a town hall
The Haldensleben Roland stands on a pedestal in a square before the town hall.
October 2023 © · CC BY 4.0
Haldensleben Roland equestrian statue with a knight holding a raised sword on a stone pedestal.
The Haldensleben Roland statue shows a knight on horseback with a raised sword, set on a carved stone pedestal.
October 2007 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Haldensleben Roland statue of a crowned figure holding a sword while mounted on a horse.
The Haldensleben Roland monument shown mounted on a stone pedestal beside a building.
August 2006 © Clemensfranz · CC BY 2.5
Haldensleben Roland stone equestrian statue on a pedestal in front of a building
The Haldensleben Roland statue stands on a stone pedestal beside a white building.
September 2005 © Stadt Haldensleben · CC BY-SA 3.0

Identification

NameReitender Roland Haldensleben
TypeRoland statue
SubjectRoland on horseback
Alternative nameHaldensleber Roland

Historical context

First mention1419 in the town books of Haldensleben
Earlier historyAccording to reports, the figure first stood for some years in Hehlingen (now a district of Wolfsburg) and was then taken to Haldensleben
Original figureA standing Roland figure

History and restoration

Condition before 1927/28 replacementThe rider was weather-beaten and damaged by the weather
1927/28 replacementThe weather-damaged statue was replaced by an original-scale replica in 1927/28
Original mobilityThe statue was originally also rotatable
Replacement in 1528The standing figure was replaced in 1528 by a stone Roland on horseback, possibly in connection with the market privilege of 1526

Materials

Material of 1528 sculptureStone
Replica materialBadish limestone

Physical characteristics

Replica height2.40 m

Creator

Replica sculptorA sculptor named Schmidt from Halle

Location and ownership

Current locationIn front of the town hall in Haldensleben, Germany
Original statue locationThe original has been kept in the municipal museum since 1927/28

Iconography and meaning

SymbolismA symbol of municipal rights
StyleRenaissance style armor and beret
ModelProbably the contemporary depictions of Maximilian I were the direct model; the Magdeburg Rider may also have served as a model

Significance

UniquenessThe only mounted Roland in Europe
Art historical significanceConsidered the high point of Roland sculpture

Other

Named afterThe ship Haldenslebener Roland was named after it