Hero of early French ballads (6)
I believe the answer is:
roland
'hero of early french ballads' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for roland that I've seen before include "Man's name" , "Comrade of Oliver" , "Legendary French hero" , "Hero of early French epic poem" , "Celebrated French knight" .)