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Battle of Tours: Franks Turn the Islamic Tide "Battle of Poitiers [Tours] in October 732" by Charles de Steuben (1788-1856) Oil on canvas painting (1834-1837?); at the Gallery of Battles, Versailles Palace, France [Charles Martel is the mounted figure left-of-center, brandishing a battle axe] In the one hundred years since the death of Muhammad, Muslim armies had swept up out of the Arabian Peninsula and expanded the reach of Islam from the jungles of northern India, across the deserts of North Africa, and into modern-day Spain. In 732, the year of the one hundredth anniversary of the death of Muhammad, Muslim armies of the Umayyad Caliphate crossed the Pyrenees Mountains into Gaul (modern-day France). The duke of Aquitaine, Odo the Great, unable to beat back the invaders, called for assistance from the Franks, who ruled the northern part of Gaul. The current major domo- “mayor of the palace” who was the true power behind the throne- was a man named Charles. Charles marshaled his forces and moved them out to respond to the plea for help. The two armies met somewhere between the towns of Tours and Poitiers in central Gaul; the exact location of the battlefield is unknown. Indeed, much of the information surrounding the battle remains unknown, including the size of the respective armies, how long the battle actually lasted, or the objective of the Muslim army. Some historians believe that it was the leading element of an invasion force, while others believe that it was no more than a raiding force, searching for food and plunder, such as that held at the Abbey of Saint Martin in Tours. However, considering the previous actions of Muslim armies, and especially looking at their resounding success in quickly conquering much area, it seems unlikely that the Muslim force under Abd-ar-Rahman was just a raiding party. Charles was able to position his forces on a field of his choosing, and formed them into a defensive phalanx. The Muslim armies were caught off-guard, not expecting a large force to be opposing them. For several days, the two forces skirmished against each other, trying to force the other to make the first move. Finally, with the northern European winter starting to close in on them, the Muslim forces made the attack. The Umayyad cavalry, victorious in so many previous battles, made charge after charge against the infantry squares of the Franks. However, Charles had made a wise decision and placed his forces on a hill with several clumps of trees on it. Combining the grade of the hill, the trees, and the experienced Frankish infantry, the Muslim horsemen were unable to break through the defenses of the Christians. According to both Frankish and Muslim histories, at some point during the battle a rumor went through the Muslim armies that Frankish scouts were raiding the Muslim camp and supply train, freeing slaves and carrying off the plunder the Muslims had previously taken from several raids. Several Muslims broke off their attack in order to return and secure their camp. To the rest of the Muslim army, this appeared to them as a retreat, and it soon became one as other Muslim forces broke off from the attack. While trying to stop the retreat, the Muslim commander Abd-ar-Rahman was surrounded and killed. As night approached, the two sides retired from the battle, the Franks resuming their defensive positions on the hill. The next morning, the Franks awaited what they presumed would be the resumed attack. However, at some point during the night, the Muslim armies had slipped away quietly to retreat across the Pyrenees. The Franks had secured a victory for Christendom in Western Europe. In recognition of his deeds, Charles gained much prestige and numerous honors, including a new title: Charles Martel, or “Charles the Hammer”. The Battle of Tours is very significant to history as we see the first collision of two institutions, Christianity and Islam. The Battle of Tours is routinely cited as one of the top ten most important battles in history, in which the course of the world would be changed if the outcome of the battle would have been different. Indeed, one must ask the question, “What if the Muslims had won at Tours?” Even if the Muslim force had only been a raiding party, victory and the riches of the Abbey of Saint Martin would have only whetted their appetite for further expansion and conquest. With a Muslim victory at Tours, the doorway to the treasures of the monasteries of Paris, Rome, and possibly even London would have been open. Christianity would have remained a small religion based around the trading centers of Constantinople and Kiev, assuming that they too did not fall. In addition, the Athenian theories of democracy, freedom, and individualism would have been grounded into the dust, changing the world forever. Sources: Hanson, Victor Davis. Carnage and Culture: Landmark Battles in the Rise of Western Culture. New York: Anchor Books, 2001. Kohn, George Childs. “Tours, Battle of.” Dictionary of Wars: Revised Edition. New York: Facts on File, Inc, 1999. 496. Strauss, Barry S. “The Dark Ages Made Lighter.” What If? Ed. Robert Cowley. New York: Berkley Books, 1999. 71-92.