In the year 777, a deputation of Saracen princes from Spain came to the Emperor Charlemagne to request his assistance against certain enemies of theirs, who were also of the Moslem faith.  Charlemagne, who was already at war with the Saxons, accepted their invitation and after placing strong garrisons on his frontiers marched into Spain.  He split his army into two parts and latter part crossed the Pyrenees and went on to take the city of Gerona whilst he crossed the Basque Pyrenees and took Pampeluna.  The armies then both marched onto Saragossa, which they besieged without success, however at this moment the Saxons restarted hostilities and Charlemagne was obliged to abandon his Spanish expedition.  As he was returning through the Pyrenees the rear-guard of his army 'was ambushed by a treacherous party of Basques' and were slaughtered to the last man.  Dying in this lonely place besides the many knights were Egginhardt, the king's Senschal, Anselm, count of the palace and Roland duke of the Marches of Brittany.  It was from this that the Song of Roland, the most famous and the earliest of the 'Songs of Deeds' comes.