King Offa sends his second son to the court of his Frankish ally in 773. Though Astolf is not particularly skilled in combat, he is known for his good looks, courage, wisdom and his chivalrous courtesy: “a courtly, gallant gentleman,/courteous, noble, fair and free.” Orlando Innamorato, 1.7.LXIII

Even before he becomes a paladin in 779 after the battle of Roncevaux, he has acquired some very valuable magic items, like the Golden Lance, the Horn of Terror, and a Book of Spell Breaking. His most notable feat of arms is the capture of the Saracen robber giant Caligorante (775), and, riding a hippogriff, he travels to Africa and the moon to recover Roland’s lost wits (776).