French hero. His real and legendary deeds of valour and chivalry inspired many medieval and later romances, including the 11th-century
Chanson de Roland and Ariosto's
Orlando furioso. A knight of
Charlemagne, Roland was killed in 778 with his friend Oliver and the 12 peers of France at Roncesvalles (in the Pyrenees) by Basques. He headed the rearguard during Charlemagne's retreat from his invasion of Spain.
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