Legend of Charlemagne - Founder of Andorra

 Andorra is one of the smallest nations in Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees Mountains, between Spain and France. The capital, Andorra la Vella, is the highest capital city in Europe, at an elevation of 1,023 meters (3,356 ft). A legend has it that Charlemagne founded Andorra.

In a year of 711, a storming force from North Africa crossed the Mediterranean sea landing in Europe. The Moorish invasion of the Iberian Peninsula began. However, the people of the Iberian Peninsula went around about their daily activities not thinking much about the approaching vessels as they were similar to trading vessels. The ones they did business with on a regular basis. After realizing what was happening, they fled to the hills in hope that it was just a temporary attack. But as it turned out the Moors had more in mind than just a temporary attack. The army conquered one town after another moving towards the north.

Charles the Great, the ruler of the Frankish Kingdom, today’s France, was not going to give his lands so easily. He put a strong fight against the Moors with the help from the inhabitants living in the Pyrenees Mountains. In return Charles founded Andorra for the inhabitants of those lands.

The Moorish invasion lasted for over seven centuries until 1492, which collided with the year when Christopher Columbus discovered America.