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To: RoosterRedux

It is relevant to point out that the limits of Muslim expansion reached at Tours, Vienna and Malta were to a considerable extent the consequence not so much of defeat in these battles as of shee distance.

Give the tech of the time, France was an enormous distance from the center of Muslim power in Syria/Iraq. With every mile the Muslims advanced their logistics became more difficult while that of their enemies, driven back onto their own centers of power, became easier.

Same thing was the most important single reason for the defeats of Charles XII, Napoleon and Hitler when they invaded Russia.

Amateurs talk battles, professionals study logistics.

A not inconsiderable additional factor at Tours was the coalition and freebooting nature of the Muslim invasion. When their accumulated booty, the reason they’d invaded in the first place, was threatened, soldiers began sneaking off to secure their loot, and the Muslim army fell apart.


15 posted on 03/08/2013 6:28:30 AM PST by Sherman Logan
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To: Sherman Logan

Oh, stop. While that may be true in part, the fact is that the Muslims greatly outnumbered the Christians at Tours and had cavalry where the Christians did not. The Muslims also went on to conquer most all of Iberia, and there’s no reason to think they could have done the same with Gaul.

Morocco is also a long way from Syria and Iraq, but the Muslims had no trouble holding it and turning it into a Muslim land.

Martel was a great military leader who employed brilliant tactics at Tours. This should not be downplayed.


17 posted on 03/08/2013 8:13:21 AM PST by Paladins Prayer
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