Charles Martel

Albrecht Classen (University of Arizona)

Ed. by Gerhard P. Knapp, University of Utah
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.5.2.01: French Writing and Culture: Old French to the Middle Ages , 500-1400.
Vol. editors: Marianne Ailes (University of Bristol), Matthew Siôn Lampitt (University of Bristol), Tim Unwin (University of Bristol), David Williams (University of Sheffield)

Dates

Born 23 Aug 686
Died 22 Oct 741
Activity 714-741

Places

Born in Belgium
Active in Belgium; France; Germany; Italy; Netherlands

Activities

Primary

Military commander
Monarch/ King/ Queen

Resources

Martel's Works

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Charlemagne’s grandfather, Charles Martel (Charles the Hammer), practical ruler of the Frankish kingdom, has gained fame through his military skills and leadership qualities which made it possible for him to defeat the Arabic forces that threatened not only his kingdom, but also Western Christendom altogether. In 732 Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi, Umayyad ruler of the Iberian Peninsula, crossed the Pyrenees and attacked the country north of it. At first he defeated Duke Eudes (Odo) of Aquitaine, who had already been weakened the year before through a defeat at the hand of Charles Martell. Abdul Rahman reached the Loire, but in October of that year he suddenly, perhaps unexpectedly, encountered the Frankish military ruler between Tours and Poitiers who beat him decisively in the ensuing…

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763 words

Citation: Classen, Albrecht. "Charles Martel". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 29 February 2008 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=11904, accessed 23 November 2024.]