In the year 732, a vast Muslim army swept
across Spain and into France, threatening to overrun the Christian kingdoms of Europe. Led by the legendary commander Abdul Rahman
Al Ghafiqi, this force sought to spread the faith of Islam and expand the Islamic empire
into the heart of the continent. Standing in their way was a Frankish army
under the command of a certain Charles. The stage was set for a titanic struggle that
would determine the fate of Europe, and shape the course of world history for centuries
to come. [Background] In the turbulent 8th century, Europe was a
divided land, torn apart by the rivalries of petty dukes and warring kingdoms. Since the fall of the mighty Roman Empire,
the continent had been plunged into chaos, as mighty empires gave way to small, struggling
tribes. Among these fractious factions were the Franks,
a tribe that lived in what is now modern-day France. With the once-mighty Merovingian dynasty in
decline, the true power lay in the hands of a certain Charles, the Mayor of the Palace. By 714, he was the undisputed King of the
Franks in all but name, ruling with an iron fist over a realm wracked by intrigue and
betrayal. Yet despite the dangers that lurked within
his own court, Charles faced a far greater threat - one that came not from within, but
from the East. In the 7th century, a new religion emerged
on the Arabian peninsula. After years of conflict, the followers, known
as Muslims, managed to establish an Islamic State at Medina. After the prophet Muhammed passed away, the
Islamic community known as Ummah elected leaders, known as caliphs. The Umayyad Caliphate was the second of the
four major Islamic caliphates established after Muham med’s death. Founded in 661 AD, its caliph was seated in
Damascus, Syria. With their relentless energy and unbridled
ambition, they expanded their empire across the lands of the Middle East and North Africa,
making Islam the dominant force in the region and ushering in a new era of faith and glory. Within a century of the emergence of Islam
on the Arabic peninsula, the religion expanded itself at a rapid pace. In the east, the Muslim’s gaze was fixed
firmly on the city of Constantinople. In 717, they laid siege to it. But in the west, their focus was directed
elsewhere. It focused on a kingdom that was vastly different
from the Byzantine Empire in the east. In the year 710 AD, the Iberian peninsula
lay in ruins, wracked by famine, disease, and war. Its Visigothic King, Wittiza, was weak and
vulnerable, his people on the brink of collapse. And in the midst of this chaos, as Wittiza
passed away, a nobleman named Roderic seized the throne, his eyes fixed firmly on the crown
that he believed was rightfully his. With a cruel and iron hand, he set about consolidating
his power, eager to stamp out any opposition to his rule. Wittiza’s sons refused to accept his usurpation. They took every chance they could to seize
the throne, leading to an all-out civil war. Against the backdrop of this unstable situation,
the Umayyad governor of Northern Africa sought to keep the Berbers or Moor mercenaries occupied. To do so, he sent the commander Tariq ibn
Ziyad towards the Iberian peninsula, which they referred to as Al-Andalus. He anchored on the Iberian shore after crossing
the strait of Gibraltar in 710 AD. But all he had with him was a force of 400
soldiers. It appeared, Tariq was planning on merely
raiding the Visigothic Kingdom. Tariq did raid the inlands, and realised how
poorly defended the southern region was. He learned the usurper, Roderic, was waging
war against the Franks to the north. This meant there would barely be any resistance
to a serious invasion. Still, the Caliph in Damascus only allowed
for a raiding party, as he considered a full-scale invasion too risky. But Tariq and Musa did not heed these warnings. They saw an opportunity - a chance to strike
at the heart of a weakened and divided kingdom, and to claim for themselves a prize beyond
measure. Tariq set out again to the Iberian peninsula. The invading army was not homogenous or entirely
loyal, however. And despite appearing like a bulwark on the
outside, the initial years of Umayyad presence on the Iberian peninsula were marked by internal
instability. The main root of discontent was the division
between the Arabic elite, discriminating against the Berber majority on the island. Down the line, this would pose significant
problems for the conquest. At Algericas, Tariq comfortably augmented
his army and grew his numbers to around 7000, all the while raiding the vicinity. They captured the Visigothic capital, Toledo,
and rapidly seized territories around it pushing north. Soon, news of the marauding invaders reached
Roderic. He was on a campaign in the north, crushing
Basque dissent. Understanding the severity of the situation,
Roderic gathered his soldiers and embarked on his march south to face the invaders. The long march was not easy on his men. Nearby the mouth of the Guadalete river, his
army faced the invaders. Outnumbering Tariq, the armies clashed. After fierce combat, it appeared the numerical
superiority was not decisive. The Visigoths suffered a crushing defeat,
and Roderic was slain during the battle. The defeat would have far-reaching consequences
for the Iberian Peninsula, and Europe as a whole. Meanwhile behind the invaders’ lines, news
reached more Umayyads about the wealth and treasures Al-Andalus harboured. It sparked the interest of many. Continuing to keep the berbers employed, governor
Musa ibn Nusayr decided to see these lands for himself. Collecting a large army, he crossed into the
new lands, intending to conquer it in its entirety and strengthen the Umayyad grip on
those already conquered. Within five years of setting foot on the peninsula,
the Umayyads conquered most of the peninsula. It appeared they were unstoppable. Often, a conquest was not combined with force. Instead, the Umayyads concluded agreements
with the Visigoths. They allowed them to remain as local administrators,
and they granted them rights of religious freedom. But they weren’t the well-oiled machine
they appeared to be. News of the rapid and profitable conquests
reached the Umayyad Caliph in Damascus. He became worried Musa and Tariq were a little
bit too comfortable acting autonomously and conquering new territories on their own accord. He summoned both commanders to Damascus, where
punishment awaited them. However, even depriving the invasion force
of its commanders did not stop them. Musa’s son succeeded his father and conquered
the remainder of the peninsula. Their thirst for conquest was unquenched and
their next target lay beyond the formidable Pyrenees mountain chain. To the north of the mountains lay the Christian
Duchy of Aquitaine, a land known for its rebellious nature against the Franks. Yet, Duke Odo, the ruler of Aquitaine, was
now more concerned about the threats emerging from the south. The Pyrenees proved no barrier to the Umayyads. Under the command of Abdul Rahman, they launched
a full-scale invasion, sweeping across the Septimania province and laying waste to the
vital settlement of Narbonne. However, their reign of terror would soon
come to a crashing halt. In a titanic clash at Toulouse, Duke Odo met
the invaders. He emerged victorious, expelling them. The internal division among the Muslims living
on the peninsula provided an opportunity for Odo. He concluded an alliance with the Berber chieftain,
governor of Cordoba, and rebel leader Munuza. He married his daughter to him. The alliance angered Abdul Rahman. His defeat at Toulouse proved no decisive
turn, as four years later the Umayyads returned with a vengeance. They occupied Carcassonne and Nimes, before
advancing up the Rhone River Valley and plundering Burgundy. In a relentless push, the Umayyad governor
led his army into the heart of Aquitaine. He crossed the mighty Garonne River with a
force that seemed invincible. Duke Odo, though outnumbered, refused to cower
in the face of such a menacing threat. A fierce and brutal battle ensued, but the
Umayyads' numerical superiority proved too much. Odo was forced to retreat, leaving his land
at the mercy of the marauding conquerors. Their looting and plundering ravaged the land,
giving Odo just enough time to make a desperate plea to the one man who could turn the tide:
Mayor of the Palace, Charles. In the heart of the Frankish realm, Charles
Martel battled the Germanic tribes. With cunning and strength, Charles seized
the opportunity to expand his power. He offered aid to the weakened Duke Odo of
Aquitaine, but demanded his submission to Frankish rule. Odo had little choice but to accept, and thus
the fate of the duchy hung in the balance. As Abdul Rahman continued his advance, conquering
Poitiers and marching onto Tours, Charles marched to meet Abdul Rahman and his horde
of conquerors. [“If you follow my advice, you will not
interrupt their march, nor precipitate your attack. They are like a torrent, which it is dangerous
to stem in its career. Be patient till they have loaded themselves
with the encumbrance of wealth. The possession of wealth will divide their
counsels and assure your victory” -Charles to Duke Odo. (Gibbon, The Decline and Fall of the Roman
Empire, 6:17).] [Battle sequence] At dawn's break, Abdul Rahman and his army
marched towards the legendary St. Martin monastery at Tours. According to contemporaries, he fielded a
mighty host of 80,000 soldiers, though modern estimates place it between 20,000 and 30,000. The Arab army was comprised almost entirely
of Moorish cavalry, and a cumbersome baggage train weighed them down with ill-gotten spoils. Charles commanded between 20- and 30.000 troops. He stood resolute with his battle-hardened
forces between Tours and Poitiers, blocking the only path that the Umayyads would dare
tread. His loyal veterans, who had fought at his
side for over a decade, made up the bulk of his heavy infantry, alongside a plentiful
levy of militiamen. The armies' exact numbers are still fiercely
debated, but it is believed that the Umayyads outnumbered the Franks two to one, consisting
mainly of infantry, with noble cavalry held in reserve. All chronicles agree Abdul Rahman’s forces
were surprised by the major army blocking their path towards Tours. Their ignorance of the Franks and their tactics
stirred apprehension. The sudden appearance of the opposition was
enough to unsettle the burdened army. Although he had the element of surprise on
his side, Charles opted for a defensive approach, positioning his troops amidst the trees, elevations,
and rivers. His infantry deployed in a large square with
their spears pointed outward. The compact phalanx-like formation would break
any cavalry attack before it could severely impact his ranks. Charles himself stood right behind the second
row of his infantry, together with his personal bodyguard. To the Frankish left flank stood duke Odo
with his soldiers. Abdul Rahman understood this and took a passive
stance. For an entire week, occasional skirmishes
happened between Muslim- and militia soldiers. Both sides parried and probed. Several light cavalry contingents launched
minor attacks against the Franks. But no decisive clash occurred. The Muslim army hoped reinforcements would
soon arrive. Their superior numbers would surely allow
them to crush the enemy. However, they remained unsure of the true
size of Charles' army, as he had concealed its true number through strategic positioning. After a week of waiting and skirmishes, Abdul
Rahman had enough. He launched his cavalry in a full-scale, frontal
assault against the well-defended Franks. These still stood shoulder-to-shoulder, in
a compact phalanx formation. Protected by their spears and a tight shield
wall, while the horsemen charged uphill, the odds did not seem to be in Abdul Rahman’s
favour. They crashed into the Frankish lines. The Frankish soldiers, armed with their spears,
swords and battle-axes fiercely fought back. The Battle was intense and brutal, with both
sides determined to emerge victorious. Despite the overwhelming odds, the Frankish
soldiers held their ground, fighting fiercely with spears, swords, and battle-axes. In a moment of chaos, the Muslims managed
to break through the infantry lines and advance towards Charles himself. But the Frankish bodyguard, led by their fearless
leader, launched a counter-attack and engaged in a ferocious melee, pushing back the enemy
cavalry. As the sun began to set, the battle still
raged on, neither side willing to concede defeat. As the fighting intensified, Duke Odo and
his soldiers saw an opportunity to strike. The Arab baggage train was left unprotected. Sources conflict whether they used horses,
or simply ran towards the baggage train. What is for sure, is that around dusk, Duke
Odo and his soldiers launched a counter-attack against the Arab camp. The sudden attack caught the Umayyads off
guard, and several Muslim units were forced to withdraw from the battle to defend their
camp. The battle on both fronts became even more
frenzied, as the Franks fought to secure their victory, and the Umayyads fought to protect
their supplies. The left flank, or at least part of it, perceived
the initial Muslim breakaway to protect the baggage train as a retreat. In the chaos, order disintegrated and many
soldiers broke away to flee. Amidst the turmoil, as discipline crumbled,
and many soldiers abandoned the fight, Abdul Rahman was left exposed. In the heat of the moment, he met his end. With their leader fallen, the Arab army lost
all sense of order and dissolved into panic. Charles emerged victorious from the hard-fought
battle. The following morning, his scouts confirmed
the Umayyads had retreated to the south, cementing his triumph.. Casualties on both sides were significant. Frankish chronicles detail how the Umayyads
suffered up to 360.000 casualties, against only 1500 Frankish. This figure is wildly exaggerated. It is more likely the Umayyads suffered up
to 2000, whereas the Franks suffered between 500 and 1000. Considering Charles’ army consisted mainly
of infantry, he was in no position to pursue the fleeing enemy. [Aftermath] As the dust settled on the battlefield, it
became clear Charles and his army had won the battle. If the Christian Franks had lost at Tours,
it would have been very likely larger parts of Western Europa had fallen to Islam. In essence, this victory stopped the spread
of Islam and preserved the Christian and Germanic cultures in the region. For his role in the battle, Charles received
the moniker “Martel” meaning so much as “the Hammer”. Abdul Rahman retreated towards the Iberian
peninsula. Muslim invasions continued for a couple more
years. In 735 AD they even reached Avignon. But Charles Martel’s victory marked the
beginning of the waning power of the Umayyads. They had conquered the Iberian peninsula at
a record tempo, but would never see their expansion reach Northern France. Charles Martel went on to establish the Carolingian
dynasty. They would go on to become a powerful and
influential dynasty. Their emergence marked a turning point in
the history of Western Europe, as it established a powerful and centralised state and laid
the foundations for the later Holy Roman Empire. Two years after Tours, Odo passed away, and
his two sons inherited his Duchy. Charles quickly overran it, forcing Odo’s
sons to pledge fealty to him. The Carolingian dynasty saw its greatest expansion
under Charles’ grandson, known to us as Charlemagne. Thank you for watching this video.
