Charlemagne's Encounter at Roncevaux Pass

The Battle of Roncevaux Pass was a confrontation between the forces of Charlemagne, the King of the Franks, and the Basque tribes. Charlemagne was returning from a military campaign in Spain when his rearguard was ambushed in the narrow mountain pass by local Basque fighters. The Basques capitalized on their knowledge of the terrain, resulting in a surprise attack that decimated Charlemagne's troops.