Charles Martel
The non-White Moorish advance into Europe seemed unstoppable when in 732 AD
they launched a massive invasion of present day France. The king of the leading
White tribe in that country, Charles Martel of the Franks (who had their
headquarters in present day Paris) mobilized a counter attack. A great race
battle took place between the towns of Tours and Potiers in central France in
October 732 AD. The battle was one of the most momentous in the history of the
White race. Defeat would have meant that all of Western Europe might have fallen
under the sway of Islam, and the mixed races from the East would have poured
into continental Europe. Accounts have it that 375,000 Moors were killed - the
White army was utterly victorious over the non-White army and the Moorish
invasion of Europe was halted in its tracks. Charles Martel earned his name
-Martel means 'hammer' - at this battle - he personally bludgeoned to death a
large number of non-Whites with his favorite weapon, a mighty
hammer.
In 732 Charles Martel and his barbarian Frankish army fought
a battle near Tours, France, that affected the history of Europe. Their foes
were inspired Muslim, or Saracen, troops who were bent on world conquest for the
religion of Islam. In a hundred years the Saracens had established a vast empire
that stretched from Persia (now Iran) westward across northern Africa. They had
gained a foothold in Europe by taking Spain. As they advanced into the region
that is now France, the fate of Christian Europe hung in the balance.
Charles
met the Muslim forces between Poitiers and Tours. In a fierce and bloody battle
the Muslims were defeated and their leader killed. In later campaigns Charles
drove them back into Spain. His vigorous blows earned him the nickname Martel,
from a French word meaning "hammer."
October 10, 732 AD marks the
conclusion of the Battle of Tours, arguably one of the most decisive battles in
all of history.
A Moslem army, in a crusading search for land and the end
of Christianity, after the conquest of Syria, Egypt, and North Africa, began to
invade Western Europe under the leadership of Abd-er Rahman, governor of Spain.
Abd-er Rahman led an infantry of 60,000 to 400,000 soldiers across the Western
Pyrenees and toward the Loire River, but they were met just outside the city of
Tours by Charles Martel, known as the Hammer, and the Frankish
Army.
Martel gathered his forces directly in the path of the oncoming
Moslem army and prepared to defend themselves by using a phalanx style of
combat. The invading Moslems rushed forward, relying on the slashing tactics and
overwhelming number of horsemen that had brought them victories in the past.
However, the French Army, composed of foot soldiers armed only with swords,
shields, axes, javelins, and daggers, was well trained. Despite the
effectiveness of the Moslem army in previous battles, the terrain caused them a
disadvantage. Their strength lied within their cavalry, armed with large swords
and lances, which along with their baggage mules, limited their mobility. The
French army displayed great ardency in withstanding the ferocious attack. It was
one of the rare times in the Middle Ages when infantry held its ground against a
mounted attack. The exact length of the battle is undetermined; Arab sources
claim that it was a two day battle whereas Christian sources hold that the
fighting clamored on for seven days. In either case, the battle ended when the
French captured and killed Abd-er Rahman. The Moslem army withdrew peacefully
overnight and even though Martel expected a surprise retaliation, there was
none. For the Moslems, the death of their leader caused a sharp setback and they
had no choice but to retreat back across the Pyrenees, never to return
again.
Not only did this prove to be an extremely decisive battle for the
Christians, but the Battle of Tours is considered the high water mark of the
Moslem invasion of Western Europe.
