Charles Mattel's Influence On Christianity

Charles Martel and his Frankish Christian army paved the way for Christianity to spread throughout Europe when he defeated the Umayyad army in the Battle of Tours in 732 (Kennedy Hickman). The Islamic Moors, initially of Arabian and Berber descent, had invaded the Visigothic controlled Iberian Peninsula from North Africa in 711. (Paul Halsall) The Christians, after many years of countless setbacks and defeats, finally were victorious and the spread of Islam did not advance any further into Europe. This crucial victory changed the world forever.

One definition of success is the accomplishment of the desired goal, but another definition is the impact the achieved goal has on others. One measures success upon the lasting impact that something

Being the son of Pippin, the previous ruler of the Franks, it would seem that he would be entitled to the throne. However, according to Historpedia,”Charles started out life at a disadvantage because just before Pippin’s death he was forced to disown any of the bastard children he had created which included Charles. Therefore, Charles was no longer in line to become the next Mayor of the Palace and he lost all political standing while one of Pippin’s grandsons, Theudoald, was named Pippin’s successor.”(Historpedia). In the years leading up to the battle, Martel successfully brought the kingdom of the Franks under one banner in spite of the many challenges he faced. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, “The king, Chilperic II, was in the power of Ragenfrid, mayor of the palace of Neustria, who joined forces with the Frisians in Holland in order to eliminate Charles. Plectrude imprisoned Charles and tried to govern in the name of her grandchildren, but Charles escaped, gathered an army, and defeated the Neustrians in battles at Amblève near Liège (716 [CE]) and at Vincy near Cambrai (717 [CE]).”(Duckett, Eleanor Shipley) Martel had a lot of military experience before the Battle of Tours by uniting the Frankish Kingdom (most of the present-day France, and some of Belgium, Luxembourg, Holland, and Germany), so he was prepared to fight the battle that would ultimately decide the fate of the western world’s religion. The fact that he was able to do it at all, against all odds also adds to his repertoire as a military genius. This skill as a military tactician ultimately allowed him to muster the forces to defeat the Moors at the Battle of Tours and secure the future success of Christianity in