A research paper presented at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York 1997. The Charlemagne legend existed in Kerala during the 16th century in two forms, namely in poetry in Malayalam-tamil (hybrid language of tamil and malayalam) and prose in tamil. The legend later became the story narrated during the performance of Chavittunatakam (ചവിട്ടുനാടകം) , a Christian theatrical performing art popular in central Kerala.