Why did Charlmagne invade Spain?

by nottyron

I know that he lost his nephew Roland in Spain when they were leaving(retreating?) But what else happened while they were there? And why?

Loonquawll

According to 'The Basque History of the World'

Suleiman, a Muslim who was feuding with the emir of Cordoba...wishing to take the Ebro away from the emir's control, had crossed the Pyrenees to offer Charlemagne a list of cities...that he had arranged to have fall to the Franks without a fight

The author then goes on to explain that the real incident behind the Song of Roland is actually a Basque ambush, in revenge for the Franks attacking Pamplona, rather than a Moorish one.