10
October 732 A.D. Charles Martel “Hammers”
Islamo-Jihadi-Imperialist Invaders at Tours
Graves,
Dan. “Martel v. Islam at Tours.” Christianity.com. Jul 2007.
http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/601-900/martel-vs-islam-at-tours-11629746.html. Accessed
30 May 2013.
In 610 Mohammed received his call. He began to
preach and after many hardships developed a significant following. Within a
hundred years Islam had grown into a mighty empire. It conquered much of the
Middle East, North Africa, Spain and Southern Italy. The Mediterranean became
an Islamic lake. This had tremendous implications for Christianity, because those areas had formerly been Christian.
That Islam did not capture all
of Europe and wipe out Christianity is owing in part to the Franks' Mayor of
the Palace, Charles Martel, his sturdy Merovingian knights and a courageous
infantry. On this day, October 10, 732* Charles met
the Islamic invaders between Poiters and Tours in a battle that lasted either
two days (Arab sources) or seven (French sources). The Muslims were mounted and
their cavalry employed an innovation--the stirrup. The Franks were on foot. Yet
the Franks stood like a wall and the Muslims withdrew defeated. Their leader,
Abd-ar-Rahman was killed. In their rout, the Arabs suffered heavy losses of
men. Europe would remain Christian territory.
At that time, Europe was not
wholly Christian. The great mission work which brought it into the Christian
fold was still in process. The church appreciated Charles Martel because he
supported Christian expansion among the German races, protecting the notable
missionaries Boniface and Willibrord. The church also appreciated his
willingness to challenge the Islamic invaders. The church gladly loaned the
Carolignian leader church lands to help defray the costs of the resistance
against the Muslims.
After his victory, however,
Charles incurred ecclesiastical wrath. He required his knights to provide
themselves with horses, saddles and spurs; in order that they might pay for
these costly innovations, Charles presented them with church lands. Even more
exasperating to the church, he awarded its positions to ungodly, untrained
laymen. Church discipline declined as is the recurring pattern when it is made
into a branch of the civil service.
At one time it seemed unlikely
Charles would ever amount to anything. He was an illegitimate son, not entitled
to authority. When his father died he was even imprisoned, but managed to
escape and build his power base in four short years. He solidified his holdings
with unceasing effort, battling the Frisians, Saxons, Alamanni, Bavarians and
Aquitanians until the most of modern France was brought under his control.
After beating the Muslims at Poiters, Charles also conquered Burgundy. Later
the title "Martel" was added to his name. Martellus means
"hammer." Charles' prowess won him that name. Charles' descendants
had great influence on European history. Pepin the Short, his son, aided the
popes at crucial moments. His grandson was the famous emperor Charlemagne.
As for Islam, for centuries it
continued its assaults on Europe through the East.
--------
*This is the date usually given, although consensus is not universal.
*This is the date usually given, although consensus is not universal.
Bibliography:
1. Adapted from an earlier Christian History Institute story.
2. Arnold-Baker, C. and Dent, Anthony. Everyman's Dictionary of Dates. London
: Dent, 1954.
3. "Battle of Tours." http://campus.northpark.edu/history/
WebChron/WestEurope/ Tours.CP.html
WebChron/WestEurope/ Tours.CP.html
5. Fremantle, Anne and the editors of Time-Life. Great Ages of
Man. Age of Faith. Time Incorporated, 1965.
6. Harbottle, Thomas Benfield. Dictionary of Battles. New York, Stein
and Day, 1971.
7. Kurth, Godefroid. "Charles Martel" in the Catholic
Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton, 1914.
8. "Arabs, Franks, and the Battle of Tours, 732: Three Accounts."
Medieval Sourcebook: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/732tours.html
9. Various histories and encyclopedia and internet articles.
Last updated July,
2007
No comments:
Post a Comment