The Battle of Tours and Poitiers

Charles Martel defeats the Arabs

In the 8th century, Muslim armies used their conquest of the Germanic Visigoth Empire in Spain as a springboard to launch raids into the area north of the Pyrenees. A Muslim incursion into this area in the autumn of 732 convinced Charles – the Frankish Mayor of the Palace and power behind the Frankish throne – to assemble the forces of the Germanic tribes and march south. The two armies faced off for several days in the area around the cities of Tours and Poitiers in what is now south-western France, without any significant developments. The war clouds burst on 18 or 25 October 732, and the allied forces of Franks, Saxons, Frisians and Lombards routed the Arabs and Berbers. With their leader dead, the Muslim armies withdrew from the Frankish Empire.

Although Charles used his newfound fame to consolidate his position, his military success was not considered especially significant during his lifetime, and he did not acquire the nickname “Martel”, meaning “the Hammer”, until after his death. 19th-century historians chose to stylise Charles as the saviour of the Christian West from the Islamic threat. Today, this interpretation carries little weight: the “Moors” continued their military campaigns after 732, and had never really attempted long-term conquest. Like the Vikings or the Hungarians, who also launched repeated invasions of the Frankish Empire, the Muslim marauders were primarily interested in robbery, plunder and tribute.