Battle of Tours
Eun Young Shin
Background
After defeating Eudes the Duke of Aquitaine, Abderrahman, the Muslim governor of Córdoba marches towards Tour, France. With the appeal of help from Duke Eudes, Charles Martel brings his forces to withhold the Muslim forces from advancing any further.[1]
Turning Point
The Battle of Tours, or Battle of Poitiers, took place somewhere between Poitiers and Tours, France on October 10, 732 between the Franks and the Muslims. Charles Martel, the illegitimate son of Pepin II became the king after his father’s death[2] and started the Frankish Kingdom in 714.[3] The Muslims had recently taken over Spain and started their march towards Gaul (later France), led by Abderrahman,[4] to conquer the area. Charles Martel took his army to fight against the Muslims and on the seventh day of facing each other, the battle took place.[5] The Franks formed a wall against the charging Muslims and succeeded in preventing them from breaking their defense. "Finally they made ready for combat. And in the shock of the battle the men of the North seemed like North a sea that cannot be moved. Firmly they stood, one close to another, forming as it were a bulwark of ice; and with great blows of their swords they hewed down the Arabs."[6] After a while, the Muslims retreated after Abderrahman’s death and the Franks ended the battle victoriously.
Effect
After the battle, the Muslims stayed in Spain and even though they attempted future attacks, never succeeded in going further than Spain. Charles Martel’s victory led to the Carolingian family’s rule and Martel’s grandson Charlemagne created a vast empire in Europe.[7] This battle stopped the Muslims from advancing into Western Europe and helped sustain the Catholic and Christian beliefs from Islam in Europe.[8]
[1] "Battle of Tours," Encyclopedia Britannica Online, 2013, Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 March 2013 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/600883/Battle-of-Tours>.
[2] Mead, Frank S. The Ten Decisive Battles of Christianity. 1937. 74.
[3] Snyder, Louis L. Great Turning Points in History. 1971. 22.
[4] Snyder. Great Turning Points in History. 23.
[5] Snyder. Great Turning Points in History. 24.
[6] Davis, William S. Readings in Ancient History: Illustrative Extracts from the Sources. 1912. 363.
[7] "Battle of Tours," 2013, History: A&E Television Networks, LLC, 25 March 2013 <http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-tours>.
[8] Mead. The Ten Decisive Battles of Christianity. 77.
Bibliography
"Battle of Tours." Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopedia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 05
May. 2013. <http://www.britannica.com/
EBchecked/topic/600883/Battle-of-Tours>.
Mead, Frank S. The Ten Decisive Battles of Christianity. Bobbs-Merrill. 1937: 74, 77.
Snyder, Louis L. Great Turning Points in History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. New York. 1971: 22, 23, 24.
William Stearns Davis, ed., Readings in Ancient History: Illustrative Extracts from the Sources, 2 Vols. (Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1912-13),
Vol. II: Rome and the West, pp. 362-364.
"Battle of Tours." History. A&E Television Networks, LLC, n.d., n.p. Web. 25, March 2013.
Eun Young Shin
Background
After defeating Eudes the Duke of Aquitaine, Abderrahman, the Muslim governor of Córdoba marches towards Tour, France. With the appeal of help from Duke Eudes, Charles Martel brings his forces to withhold the Muslim forces from advancing any further.[1]
Turning Point
The Battle of Tours, or Battle of Poitiers, took place somewhere between Poitiers and Tours, France on October 10, 732 between the Franks and the Muslims. Charles Martel, the illegitimate son of Pepin II became the king after his father’s death[2] and started the Frankish Kingdom in 714.[3] The Muslims had recently taken over Spain and started their march towards Gaul (later France), led by Abderrahman,[4] to conquer the area. Charles Martel took his army to fight against the Muslims and on the seventh day of facing each other, the battle took place.[5] The Franks formed a wall against the charging Muslims and succeeded in preventing them from breaking their defense. "Finally they made ready for combat. And in the shock of the battle the men of the North seemed like North a sea that cannot be moved. Firmly they stood, one close to another, forming as it were a bulwark of ice; and with great blows of their swords they hewed down the Arabs."[6] After a while, the Muslims retreated after Abderrahman’s death and the Franks ended the battle victoriously.
Effect
After the battle, the Muslims stayed in Spain and even though they attempted future attacks, never succeeded in going further than Spain. Charles Martel’s victory led to the Carolingian family’s rule and Martel’s grandson Charlemagne created a vast empire in Europe.[7] This battle stopped the Muslims from advancing into Western Europe and helped sustain the Catholic and Christian beliefs from Islam in Europe.[8]
[1] "Battle of Tours," Encyclopedia Britannica Online, 2013, Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 March 2013 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/600883/Battle-of-Tours>.
[2] Mead, Frank S. The Ten Decisive Battles of Christianity. 1937. 74.
[3] Snyder, Louis L. Great Turning Points in History. 1971. 22.
[4] Snyder. Great Turning Points in History. 23.
[5] Snyder. Great Turning Points in History. 24.
[6] Davis, William S. Readings in Ancient History: Illustrative Extracts from the Sources. 1912. 363.
[7] "Battle of Tours," 2013, History: A&E Television Networks, LLC, 25 March 2013 <http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-tours>.
[8] Mead. The Ten Decisive Battles of Christianity. 77.
Bibliography
"Battle of Tours." Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopedia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 05
May. 2013. <http://www.britannica.com/
EBchecked/topic/600883/Battle-of-Tours>.
Mead, Frank S. The Ten Decisive Battles of Christianity. Bobbs-Merrill. 1937: 74, 77.
Snyder, Louis L. Great Turning Points in History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. New York. 1971: 22, 23, 24.
William Stearns Davis, ed., Readings in Ancient History: Illustrative Extracts from the Sources, 2 Vols. (Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1912-13),
Vol. II: Rome and the West, pp. 362-364.
"Battle of Tours." History. A&E Television Networks, LLC, n.d., n.p. Web. 25, March 2013.