Posted on 01/09/2012 3:46:38 PM PST by VU4G10
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.
(Excerpt) Read more at youtu.be ...
The Hammer must be spinning in his grave. His descendants have let the Saracens into the heart of Europe, in numbers dwarfing those of any Muslim army, whether that of the Moors or the Turkish sultan.
Great reminder of the watershed event that saved Western Civilization.
In college we translated “The Chanson de Roland.”
Charles the Hammer, Great Grandfather of Charlemagne, lost the first battle against the Muslim barbarians and won all of the 16 remaining battles against them. Europe would have been Muslim for a long time if not for him.
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what was the change in strategy??
Actually, the first defeat of the Moors took place at the battle of Covadonga, in NW Spain, around 722 A.D. or about 10 years before the battle of Tours. The Spanish kingdom of Asturias was NEVER conquered by the Moors and became the center of resistance leading to the Reconquista.
mark
“crusading search for land” Who writes such crap?
I believe he was Charlemagne's Grandfather. His son, Pippen, was Charlemagne's father. I could, as always, be wrong...but there you have it.
You are correct. I couldn't even read my own family tree. Charles Martel is my 41st Great Grandfather
I just watched the video. Smart guy this “Hammer”.
1) train soldiers
2) equip with heavy shields and spears
3) form a line on high ground, negating the momentum of the Muslim cavalry charge
4) send a 2nd force to steal gold, creating a “general retreat” whether the Muslim general wanted one or not
Nice!
Wow. Let’s be Frank... Charlemagne also named one of his sons Pippen. All of his sons died before him which possibly extended the dark ages by centuries. Charlemagne was WAY ahead of his time and one of his sons, following his lead, could have blossomed the enlightenment far earlier than actually occurred.
Did MC Hammer descend from CM Hammer?
Yep. And there was a ship named Covadonga that went back and forth between the Peruvians and the Chileans around the War of the Pacific. Its wheel is still in a museum in Santiago, Chile.
(There is also a well-known seafood restaurant in Miami named Covadonga after this battle.)
Interesting that this battle was several centuries before the better-known El Cid made his appearance.
My wife is a Panamanian whose mother was Spanish, from that area. I have told her that when we go to Spain I most assuredly want to get up to Asturias.
Realli? Proud to call him kin!!!
Cheers!
Cheers!
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