What is the name of the medieval poem about Roland, linked to Charlemagne’s world?

The story behind the answer

Because it’s the classic Old French chanson de geste that tells of Roland, Charlemagne’s foremost paladin, cut down at the Battle of Roncevaux Pass (778). It dramatizes feudal loyalty, Christian heroism, and betrayal, embedding Roland’s fate within the political and cultural orbit of Charlemagne’s empire, which is why it’s directly tied to his world.

Composed around the 11th–12th century and preserved most famously in the Oxford manuscript, it likely began as oral performance material for jongleurs. The poem reshapes history: a Basque ambush becomes a clash with Saracens to suit crusading-era ideals. By contrast, The Song of Guillaume features William of Orange, while “Ballad of Roland” and “Song of Charlemagne” are not recognized titles in the medieval corpus.