Battle of Tours 732 AD One of the

Battle of Tours 732 AD One of the most important battles in your life!!!

Early Fights ► Why no power? § Germanic tribes were small § Princes within tribes fought each other § King Clovis had in fighting § Princes divided father’s kingdom further ► This invasion is happening over years – They are coming!

Moslem/Muslim Control

Charles Martel – The Hammer

Charles Martel background ► Jailed by stepmother – escaped ► Fought with surrounding territory – took it ► Forced Duke of Aquitaine – Eudes to recognize his authority

Abd-ar-Rahman

Abd-ar-Rahman ► Used troops from Spain ► Cavalry – from Africa chosen specifically based on skill and valor ► 80, 000 to 100, 000 s – depending on Arab or Christian writers

Saracens

Tours to Poitiers

Muslims on the move ► Duke Eudes attempted to stop Abd-ar. Rahman § Did not want to ask The Hammer for help. Why? § Did not have enough resources ► Muslim army sent north - west side of Pyrenees ► Small group sent east to confuse enemy ► Eudes arrived too late at Bordeaux § Muslims looted and burned § Eudes tries to stop them, but is defeated

Charles slow to arrive ► Why would he be slow to attack the Muslims? § Let them destroy his rival § Let them get loaded down with loot and have difficulty fighting ► Get an army together – pay them with church money

Argument against ► Did not have the resources to fight a drawn out war § Had to borrow from the church ► Frankish warriors would not have been able to contain themselves as they watched Muslims ravage the land ► Arabs writers thought it was perfectly timed

Frank advantage over previous armies ► Mohammedans – had lost the desire to die for Allah – wanted loot

Saracen Army ► Light § § cavalry Lances Swords Most without shields Little armor Frankish Army ► Foot § § § soldiers Chain mail Shields Javelin Sword ax

Frank Sword

War hammer – actually Viking but very cool

Saracen Scimitar

Chainmail with whimsical approach

Battle tactics ► Muslim Fly in on horse Attack Retreat Attack again – different locale? § Ran downhill to attack the Franks – Why? § § ► Franks § Fight off charge § Advantage

Triangle phalanx

Human nature ► The battle lasted for a day or seven? ► Towards the end of the battle § Rumor spread and darkness fell across the Saracen riders ►The enemy was plundering their plunder ►The desire to die for Allah was trumped by their desire for loot ► As Mohammedan went to check their booty – the Franks surrounded them and slaughtered.

Adr-ar-Rahman – The End ► DEAD § The troops left in the night ► Casualties § 375, 000 Arabs § 1500 Christians (Franks) § Do you buy this? What questions would you ask? § Why didn’t Charles pursue the Mohammedan?

Most Important result ► Charles Martel began to be called “the Hammer” ► Really – Spread of Islam stopped 118 EU