The Joyeuse, is a left tributary of the Bidouze

Bidouze

The Bidouze, is a left tributary of the Adour, in the French Basque Country , in the Southwest of France.- Geography :The Bidouze rises at the base of Eltzarreko Ordokia in the Arbailles massif....

, in the French Basque Country (Pyrénées-Atlantiques

Pyrénées-Atlantiques

Pyrénées-Atlantiques is a department in the southwest of France which takes its name from the Pyrenees mountains and the Atlantic Ocean.- History :...

), in the Southwest of France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

.

Name

Its name Joyeuse

Joyeuse

Joyeuse , was the name of Charlemagne's personal sword. The name translates as "joyful".-Joyeuse in legend:Some legends claim that it was forged to contain the Lance of Longinus within its pommel; others state it was smithed from the same materials as Roland's Durendal and Ogier's Curtana.The 11th...

, that applies also to the Aran River

Aran River

The Aran, from Basque Harana, is a left tributary of the Adour, in the French Basque Country, in Aquitaine, Southwest France.The river is also known as the Joyeuse, which is also the name of a tributary of the Bidouze.- Geography :...

 and one of its tributaries, is the name of the sword of Charlemagne

Charlemagne

Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...

. It was attributed after the battle of Roncevaux. At this time, many breaches or narrow passes in the Pyrenees

Pyrenees

The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...

 were renamed in reference to Roland

Roland

Roland was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the Matter of France. Historically, Roland was military governor of the Breton March, with responsibility for defending the frontier of Francia against the Bretons...

.

Geography

The Joyeuse rises in Iholdy

Iholdy

Iholdy is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.It is located in the former province of Lower Navarre.-References:* -External links:*...

 and flows into the Bidouze in Saint-Palais

Saint-Palais, Pyrénées-Atlantiques

Saint-Palais is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.It is located in the former province of Lower Navarre.-External links:*...

.

Départements and towns

• Pyrénées-Atlantiques
  Pyrénées-Atlantiques
  Pyrénées-Atlantiques is a department in the southwest of France which takes its name from the Pyrenees mountains and the Atlantic Ocean.- History :...
  
  : Iholdy
  Iholdy
  Iholdy is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.It is located in the former province of Lower Navarre.-References:* -External links:*...
  
  , Orsanco
  Orsanco
  Orsanco is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.It is located in the former province of Lower Navarre.-External links:*...
  
  , Beyrie-sur-Joyeuse
  Beyrie-sur-Joyeuse
  Beyrie-sur-Joyeuse is a commune of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.It is located in the former province of Lower Navarre.-External links:*...
  
  , Saint-Palais
  Saint-Palais, Pyrénées-Atlantiques
  Saint-Palais is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.It is located in the former province of Lower Navarre.-External links:*...
  
  .