I read about the Battle of Tours in college. I recall my professor commenting on Charles Martel, stating that had the Frankish army not turned back the Muslim invaders then and there, all of our history may have changed. No Christian Europe, possibly no Christendom at all - and certainly the explorers that came to the western hemisphere (if they came at all...) would have brought a vastly different culture.
One man, victorious in one battle, was *that* important. And all the French do to commemorate his life is name a fencing tournament after him. Given all that, I just thought Charles deserved a little more recognition.