The Battle of Roncevaux Pass is a historical event that took place on August 15, 778, in the Pyrenees, between the army of Charlemagne, the King of the Franks and Emperor of the West, and the Vascones, a mountain-dwelling people who are ancestors of the Basques. It is primarily known through the Song of Roland, an epic poem from the 11th century, which portrays it as a confrontation between Christians and Muslims, depicting the heroic death of Roland, Charlemagne’s nephew, and his companions.
Who Was Roland of Roncevaux?
Roland of Roncevaux was the nephew (or cousin) of King Charlemagne, the prefect of the territory of the March of Brittany. His mission was to defend the kingdom of the Franks against the Bretons. He died in 778 at Roncevaux in an ambush led by the Basques against Charlemagne’s army. His sacrifice became famous thanks to the “Chanson de Roland,” which popularized his heroic deeds. According to legend, Roland was part of the group of 12 knights known as Charlemagne’s Paladins (Twelve Peers). He possessed the mythical sword Durandal (or Durendal) and rode a valiant warhorse named Veillantif.
Causes of the Battle of Roncevaux Pass
The Battle of Roncevaux Pass occurred within the context of Charlemagne’s campaigns in Spain, where he aimed to expand his influence and protect Christians from the Muslim rulers who controlled the Iberian Peninsula. In 778, Charlemagne responded to the plea of Sulayman ibn al-Arabi, a Muslim governor of Barcelona, who requested his assistance against the Emir of Cordoba, Abd al-Rahman I.
Charlemagne hoped to capture Zaragoza, a strategically important city on the Ebro River, but failed in its siege. He then marched toward Pamplona, a Christian city under his control, which he plundered and demolished as a punishment for its alliance with the Muslims. Subsequently, he retreated to France, crossing the Pyrenees through the Roncevaux Pass.
Roncevaux Pass is located in the Pyrenees Mountains, near the border of modern-day France and Spain. It was strategically important as a key passage through the mountains, making it a critical route for military campaigns and trade between the two regions.
Course of the Battle of Roncevaux Pass
The Vascones, a mountain-dwelling people who resided on both sides of the Pyrenees, ambushed Charlemagne’s army at Roncevaux on August 15, 778. The Vascones took advantage of the narrow pass and wooded terrain to set up an ambush for the rearguard of the Frankish army, which was responsible for transporting the baggage and plunder taken from Pamplona. The Vascones were likely motivated by the desire to recover the loot and to defend their independence against Charlemagne’s expansion. The Franks, taken by surprise and disadvantaged by the terrain, fought valiantly but were massacred by the Vascons.
Among the casualties were several nobles and knights, including Anselme, the Count of the Palace; Eggihard, the Seneschal; and Roland, the Count of the Breton March, who were presented as Charlemagne’s nephew or cousin. According to legend, Roland sounded his horn, the olifant, to call for help, but it was too late, as Charlemagne, who had already crossed the pass, did not hear the signal. The Battle of Roncevaux Pass was a humiliating defeat for Charlemagne, resulting in the loss of a portion of his troops and loved ones, and he could not avenge the deaths as the Vascones dispersed into the mountains.
The Legend of the Battle of Roncevaux Pass
The Song of Roland, the oldest and most well-known work of French literature, is responsible for immortalizing the Battle of Roncevaux Pass. The Song of Roland transforms historical reality into a heroic epic where the Franks battle the Saracens, and Roland and his companions, the Twelve Peers of France, sacrifice themselves for the Christian faith and the glory of Charlemagne.
The Song of Roland also introduces fictional elements, such as the treachery of Ganelon, Roland’s stepfather, who is said to have betrayed the rearguard to the Saracens, or the wondrous weapons of Roland, like his sword Durandal, which is said to contain a tooth of Saint Peter, blood of Saint Basil, a hair of Saint Denis, and a piece of the Virgin Mary’s robe.
The Song of Roland is a masterpiece of medieval literature, inspiring numerous other poems, including the Song of William, the Song of Aspremont, and the Song of Ogier. It has also influenced modern writers, such as Victor Hugo, who wrote “The Legend of the Ages,” and Jean Giono, who wrote “The Horseman on the Roof.”
