This Day In History

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[mainepatsfan]

This Day In History | General Interest

October 10

732 Battle of Tours

At the Battle of Tours near Poitiers, France, Frankish leader Charles Martel, a Christian, defeats a large army of Spanish Moors, halting the Muslim advance into Western Europe. Abd-ar-Rahman, the Muslim governor of Córdoba, was killed in the fighting, and the Moors retreated from Gaul, never to return in such force.

Charles was the illegitimate son of Pepin, the powerful mayor of the palace of Austrasia and effective ruler of the Frankish kingdom. After Pepin died in 714 (with no surviving legitimate sons), Charles beat out Pepin's three grandsons in a power struggle and became mayor of the Franks. He expanded the Frankish territory under his control and in 732 repulsed an onslaught by the Muslims.

Victory at Tours ensured the ruling dynasty of Martel's family, the Carolingians. His son Pepin became the first Carolingian king of the Franks, and his grandson Charlemagne carved out a vast empire that stretched across Europe.

[mainepatsfan]

Try as they might the Muslim horseman couldn't break through Martel's infantry.

[SampleMan]

Not for nothing that Charles was called "The Hammer" (Martel).

[mainepatsfan]

His grandson did all right as well.

[ruiner]

Have to give credit where credit is due. Good job France.

[mainepatsfan]

I wonder if Al Qaeda has this date circled as one of their "payback" days.

[Kurt_Hectic]

I wonder what Martel would have said if he saw all the muslims in France today..

[SmartCitizen]

If not for Martel, all of Europe would be facing Mecca today, there would have been no Reformation, none of the big scientific discoveries would have been made by Newton, Copernicus, et al., and the Republic of the United States of America would never have been settled by pilgrims and puritans but would probably be a caliphate today.

Let us also take note of who attacked who first next time some history-challenged person goes on a rant about the Crusades.

[Pharmboy]

Ping

[Unam Sanctam]

Get your "Remember Tours" T shirt here:

http://www.cafepress.com/britius.16135972

[mainepatsfan]

Sadly too many people would look at the shirt and would go, "Huh?".

[Savage Beast]

Perhaps the French who inherited Martel's DNA emigrated during the great French diaspora following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes.

My wife and children are descendants of Charles. They have obviously inhereted his DNA--along with his strength, clarity, and determination. None of them is a Leftist or a Democrat!

[Charles Martel]

Get your "Remember Tours" T shirt here:

Thanks for the ping, and for the link. I'm going to order one of those shirts today!

Nowadays, France "honors" Charles Martel by putting his name on a fencing tournament, or some such. I'm sure that my namesake is less than impressed.