As we unmask the Basque…
Remember Song of Roland from high school or college?
Yes, the Song of Roland, an Old French epic poem, does refer to the Basques. The poem describes the Battle of Roncesvalles in 778, where the Basques ambushed and defeated the rearguard of Charlemagne’s army, led by Roland, as it was withdrawing from Spain. The Basques are portrayed as the enemies in the poem, although historical records suggest the Basques were likely the primary force behind the ambush. The poem, however, attributes the attack to Saracens for epic and ideological purposes.
