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

2. 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!

3. Moslem/Muslim Control

4. Charles Martel – The Hammer

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

6. Abd-ar-Rahman

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

8. Saracens

9. Tours to Poitiers

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

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

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

15. Frank Sword

16. War hammer – actually Viking but very cool

17. Saracen Scimitar

18. Chainmail with whimsical approach

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

20. Triangle phalanx

22. 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.

23. 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?

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