Charles Martel: The Battle of Tours, 732 AD ⚔️
The Battle of Tours was a significant military conflict that occurred in 732 near the city of Tours, in modern-day France. Charles Martel, the leader of the Frankish army, was pitted against the Islamic forces of the Umayyad Caliphate, who had recently conquered Spain and sought to expand their territory into Europe.
This battle was a turning point in European history, with the outcome having far-reaching consequences. It ensured the survival of Christianity in Western Europe and stopped the Islamic armies from advancing further into the continent. The historical significance of this clash between two great armies cannot be overstated, and it remains a fascinating topic of study to this day.
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🧾 Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:05 The Umayyads invade Iberia
9:16 The Battle of Tours, 732 AD
14:43 Aftermath
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@House of History I have been following your channel for a while now as i appreciate your attention to detail and was more than willing to dwelve into prussian history, however i didnt expect at all this sudden turn of events so to say and you switching to a much different era and subject with Charles Martel. My grandma's family name wich i use as common name is "Martheleur", descendant of one of the many bastard sons Charles Martel had as any king, that was lucky enough to be recognized and given a derivate name, title and a bit of land in the flanders region. Once again, you didnt miss anything about the larger context and appropriate explanations. The frankish army was slow back then and mainly consisted of heavy infantry while the Umayyads relied on expert light cavalry; their whole army was generally speaking much more mobile than the frankish pone, therefore a lot of actions where conducted to slow down their progression as much as possible to give the multiple slow frankish troops coming from different parts of the realm enough time to gather. As you pointed out, it is now considered after several debates that the ratio was indeed somewhere along 2 to 1 in favour of the Umayyads that day, however the terrain was favorable to the franks and denied the Umayyads a lot of their mobility, therefore allowing the frankish heavy cavalry to make contact with the ennemy for the first time. Before that battle, the frankish cavalry had been thouroughly destroyed in a few skirmishes by the much more mobile Umayyads. Well done sir, I had chills just like when i was a kid. Very enjoyable content as usual, keep up your high quality work with the support of the community !
Also appreciate the fact that you mentionned the casualties are widely exagerated, wich is entirely true. The frankish army would have never been able to catch up the Umayyads even while they were in retreat after they got the upper hand, both because of heavier armor but also fatigue. The battle was used as propaganda to cement Charles Martel's power and reputation as a legit king has as he had stolen the throne and wasnt meant to rule originally.
Last but not least, it is not certain a loss at Tours would have made the frankish kingdom crumble entirely unless Charles died himself, wich would have likely cause civil war. A larger frankish army was already gathering in the north when the battle of Tours took place and several troops didnt have enough time to reach the battlefield that day even though a lot of efforts were made to slow down the ennemy and gather as many men as possible. It is debatable, but i tend to believe as i just stated that unless Charles died in battle, the kindgom wouldnt fall after a defeat at Tours. It would have been a serious blow for sure but not a killing one in my opinion depending on the circumstances and aftermath. The frankish army had no possibility to flee the battlefield just like they couldnt catch up with their ennemy, therefore they were willing to stand their ground. A total destruction of the frankish army entranched in the woods that day would have been very costly for the Umayyads.
death of stalenist Voronin from the hands of UPA
YES! Early medieval history is so underrepresented, like it's weird how so many people know about the Reconquista but most don't know about Asturias or Pamplona
It’s a difficult era to study because the written sources are rare, literacy collapsed and economic activity shrunk After the fall of Rome, Western Europe went through a terrible crisis for centuries, recovery began from the 10 th as Viking and Magyar invasion ceased and the Muslim pressure was contained
@@guzy1971 yes. There still are some accounts about the time tho. Not as much as during later times but still enough for some key events to be described, such as the first battle of the kingdom of Asturias and the invasion of the basque lands made by the franks
@@guzy1971 You're going off an outdated view of history. Western Europe was going through a terrible crisis long before Rome fell. Recovery began with Charlemagne, before the Vikings were even active.
@@LordVader1094 thanks for your comment I simplified of course The collapse of Rome was a process, 476 bc is just a symbolic date The Carolingian Renaissance was a temporary recovery The viking and Magyar invasions began then, Caroligian state failed to stabilize The royal power get fragmented into multiples local powers creating feudalism But at the end of the 10h century the situation began to stabilize : creation of a Christian Magyar kingdom, end of the Viking raids Drang nach Osten of the Germans containment of muslims It was then possible to build something in the long run
@@guzy1971 they learned a lot from the Muslims as well, one of the catalysts for the renaissance was the Norman’s conquering Sicily from the Arabs
Huge fan of the Old Franks, this battle was epic!
It was depressing!
This might be the most important battle won in European history. If he didn't win, we might not have had the great Charlemagne as Frankish Emperor (what I believe to be the most influencal Man in early Medieval history)
If he didn't win, we European would speak arabic and be muslim now. This battle is the most important in the whole Europe history
@@Catholichnikov😂
Battle Of Poitiers is actually the right name . By his victory Charles Matel saved Latin and German worlds from Muslim conquest
why did europe capitulate to christianity, which had origin in the east
Didn’t save! He deprived them!
And it’s Battle of Tours!
Charles Martel is my hero
A true Christian
I was surprised to see the Duchy of Bavaria on this map. Turns out. It has been a duchy as early as 555 AD. Incredible that it was around so long.
Not just a simple duchy, but also one of the most powerful and populated lands of Early Medieval Europe. During the war against the Magyars, they managed to raise an army of 60.000, the majority of which were Bavarian. By far the greatest army of the entire Dark Ages.
@@rotciv1492 Eastern Roman Empire: 🤨
@@stephenkenney8290 eastern Roman empire fell off a cliff after justinian ran the empire into the ground for a stupid dream
@@Chadius_Thundercock Yup, yet it still remained one of the most, and at times THE most, powerful nation in Europe for much of the Middle Ages.
@@rotciv1492 Umayyads Literally raised more men for the siege of Constantinople and there’s no way Bavaria raised 60,000 men for one campaign when neither the Sassanid or Eastern Roman Empires at their height raised that many men for a field campaign
Thanks for your video. In France we always used to call this battle "Battle of Poitiers" , not "Battle of Tours"
Enfin qui connaît cette bataille aujourd’hui ? Elle n’a plus aucun sens dans l’esprit des Français mais pas dans les autres esprits.
@@Diegomax22 c'est pas parce qu'elle n'est pas enseignée à l'école qu'elle n'a pas de sens. Quand on s'intéresse à l'histoire de France et de l'Europe, cette bataille a une place primordiale. Comme celle de Bouvines en 1214 ou celle de Castillon en 1453 (meme année que la chute de Constantinople). Hastings 1066 aussi dans une certaine mesure... des batailles peu connues du grand public français mais pourtant pivot dans l'histoire de France.
Vous êtes sûr que ce n’est plus enseigné ? Je pense que ce n’est pas vrai même si j’admets qu’on doit y passer moins de temps ou qu’on en minore l’importance dans le contexte idéologique actuel
Well you were wrong!
What an awesome suprise, not hint that this video would be made. Such an amazing time, thank you sir for the hard work what a great stream
I must say, I absolutely love the detailed maps you use. They’re seriously next level. Thank you for your work
I haven't caught one of your episodes in a while; enjoyed every one previous immensely. This one showed up on my new phone's KZhead crawl... Spectacular. Your production quality and well-spoken, in-depth explanations of these critical events has grown in excellence, warms my heart & awakens my deeper understanding. Couldn't ask any more from an excellent history teacher. MegaGratsies!!
Excellent work as always!
Fun fact: In France, we call it the Battle of Poitiers (100 km south west of Tours)
? how many battles of poitiers are there? lol
@@rickmorgan1441 well I only heard about one !
@@thibs2837 1356
@@thibs2837il y a aussi celle de la guerre de cent ans
@@rickmorgan1441there is one we like to remember and one we don’t like 😁
Much better than the other one, really enjoyed it. Thanx
This is absolutely excellent work .
Great video as always!
Nice documentary... thank you. Hope you continue. 🙂
A documentary I saw claimed a major factor in Charles victory was disguised Frankish troops ran through the enemy camp, screaming that they'd been defeated. This led to a chaotic retreat.
Thanks ! I`m not very familiar with this time-period in history, this was great to watch.
Great and informative work as always!
This great battle probably saved Western Europe from Arabic colonisation ( well except Spain) spain and portugal were already colonised. We Europeans owe Charles a great debt.
@@azizahmad9055 shut up momin
The Muslims who fought in the battle were not Arabs, but most of them were currently Moroccans
Sur
What makes you think it was a good thing to remain barbaric
@@lavozdelsur168You think Islam equates to civilized? You’re nuts.
Please more videos! I love these
Most defeats in battles were result of someone panicking and retreating, hold your ground men! It’s crazy because if they didn’t retreat Abd Al rahman might’ve actually won, but well played Odo he doesn’t get enough credit for this.
Unity is a Decisive factor in most wars. One that is more Cohesive/United, outlasts the other. Recovering from setbacks and implementing Complex maneuvers/tactics are also made possible by unity factor
Same could be said about the Muslim conquest of Spain. During the Battle of Guadalete, rivals of the Visigothic king fled the battlefield, allowing the Muslims to overwhelm the remaining Visigothic troops.
@@EmisoraRadioPatio I watched that battle sources claim 3 reasons on why they fled 1: it’s because Tariq(the Umayyad general) led a charge and smashed through the infantry which caused the flanks break and flee 2: the flanks betrayed Roderic and left him there 3: Roderic’s crown was knocked down so they thought his soldiers thought he was gone and they retreated. Am not sure which one to believe but we can safely say that the Visigoths didn’t retreat for no reason at all like the Idiot Umayyads in this battle especially because they were actually winning this battle
@@MJ511KW From the summary of the battle of Tours, Umayyad troops were confused when they saw Odo's troops behind them. That would give the apprehension that they're being outflanked. It's not surprised they would panic. It's quite frightening to all of the sudden see your enemies behind you.
@@EmisoraRadioPatio not that’s not entirely true the Umayyads were greedy they wanted to save their loot while they should send the reserves to deal with odo instead all of them broke and went after odo and they left their leader Rahman alone. Hell they could’ve even ignored odo and left him to ravage their camps and focused on Charles because once they destroyed Charles then it’s done France is under their control, but yeah it was a brain lapse moment for the moors in this battle and yes some of them panicked when they shouldn’t
The carolingian Empire of Charlemagne also laid the foundations of the Kingdom of France, not only the HRE.
Excellent summary!
Thanks for sharing
What a wonderful video!
you deserve way more subs bro. keep it up!
Probably the best presentation I've seen on the battle of Tours and the events leading up to it.
Thanks for This video
Nice documentary on the Battle of Tours. The Europeans fought the Muslim invaders for centuries, and the Slavic peoples defended Eastern Europe during Islamic attacks. Also, the two battles for Vienna are fascinating.
nicely done thank you
Thank you so much for sharing history about my ancestor.
Strange how much this period affects us even today! 👍
New to the channel and thanks for the vid! My favorite battle of Tours video was from BazBattles, which was made 6 years ago. Glad to see someone show love to this time period.
Very interesting. Thanks 👍 I knew about the Charles Martel's victory in Poitiers. But didn't knew what had happened before and after. The reconquest of the iberian peninsula was another epic history.
Great job Ty's
Rodrigo was deserted by half his army (Witiza's brothers) in the middle of the battle, which was not by the Guadalete River but by the lagoon of Janda. Galicia was part of the Visigothic kingdom, I don't know why it appears as a separate entity on the map.
It was semi-independent, visigothic princes learnt how to govern in the recent conquered kingdom
Thank for info
Thanks!
I really enjoy your videos especially those on the Prussian wars. Would you ever do a series or Video on Louis XIV's wars against William III of Orange? Dutch war, 9 Years war, etc Their rivalry and antagonism was one of Modern histories greatest. As an Irishman of mixed Protestant and catholic heritage William III is a figure of both loving and loathing to different communities.
That's a very good suggestion. I am not sure when, if I will cover it. I am currently working on a series about the Hungarian revolution of 1848 and the German wars of unification.
@@HoH The 9 Years War in particular is very rarely mentioned, despite how it covered most of western Europe and beyond. Very underrated war.
Great job.
This man only makes bangers
That was great! Can you do some crusader battles such as Jacobs Ford, Field of Blood, Dorylaeum, etc?
Just wanted to comment to say thank you. Your videos are amazing. Thanks for consistently brightening up my day. It means a lot
Well done sir
amazing art work
Nice job
Thank you
Very happy to see some of those battles finally getting some attention on the Anglo-Saxon YT.
Thanks for this amazing video. Have you already made a video about the Battle of Alesia?
Most wonderful introduction and informative episode about Charles Martel King and his successful strategies repulsed of Amayyed invasions of South of France 🇫🇷 and Dutch territories...thank you (a house 🏠 of history )channel
VERY VERY good production!!
I really enjoyed that take
He was my 37th great grandfather. Philippe Jean Kogler, You → Denise Kogler, your mother → Marcelle Helene Marchoux, her mother → Jean Texier, her father → Jean Texier, his father → Pierre Texier, his father → Marquis Etienne Texier de Javerlhac, his father → Marquis Etienne-Marie Texier de Javerlhac, his father → Marquis Pierre-Francois-Marie Texier de Javerlhac, his father → Marquis Henri-Bernard Texier de Javerlhac, his father → Marquis Bernard Texier de Javerlhac, his father → Comte Jean-Francois Texier de Javerlhac, his father → Henri de Texier, his father → Francois de Texier, Seigneur du Breuil, his father → Catherine de Texier, his mother → Baron Raymond de Lambertye de Montbrun, her father → Seigneur François De Lambertie, his father → Jean De Lambertie, his parent → Catherine De Lambertie, his mother → Allemande de Gontaut Biron, her mother → Gaston de Gontaut, IV, her father → Pierre De Gontaut Biron, his father → Gaston de Gontaut Biron, III, his father → Marguerite Marqueze de Lomagne, his mother → Obrie de L'Isle-Jourdain, her mother → Bernard Jourdain de L'Isle-Jourdain, Comte de L'Isle-Jourdain & de Dunes, her father → Bernard I de L'Isle-Jourdain, his father → Jourdain I de Lisle, his father → Raymond I de Lisle, his father → Emma Taillefer, his mother → Guillaume III Taillefer, comte de Toulouse, her father → Adélaïde la Blanche d'Anjou, Reine consort d'Aquitaine, his mother → Fulk II, Count of Anjou, her father → Fulko I "Le Rouge", Comte de Anjou, his father → Ingelger, count of Anjou, his father → Petronelle d'Auxerre de Gâtinais, Comtesse de Anjou, his mother → Hugo, Archchancellor of the Empire, her father → Charlemagne, Römisch-deutscher Kaiser, his father → Pippin der Jüngere, his father → Karl "der Hammer" Martell, his father
All dead and in Jahanam inchallah
Waaaaw u really know the hearts of people u did a great job reading there hearts and what that were thinking
Charles The Hammer. Awesome nickname.
Look bro you just hate Muslims ok 👍
Absolutely!! Along with Vlad The Impaler!! The two best ones!!
The map following the moves of Tariq in the Iberian peninsula at the start was incredibly inaccurate. The signaled river is not the Guadalete, but the Guadiana. The battle was much more south, in what is actually the province of Cadiz. Tariq landed in Gibraltar (Yabal Tariq or Tariq's mount), not in Almería. The narrative also seams to merge the figures of Tarif and Tariq. Very poorly researched in that aspect, but cool graphics, hope it will improve.
very nicely done! (just unsure if Burgundy have anything to do there in invasion narrative...)
Great video! Now let's go onward to Frederick's continued campaign!
Dutch fellow! YOU ARE CRUSHING THIS! Great topic, great history, keep it up! Seriously, good show- I will eventually send you money I'm sure. You are really stepping up your game-
As always good job ! Just about the prounonciation of the City of "Nîmes", it is said like in "denim" (the blue jeans).
Actually, it's pronounced [neem].
Would love to see a series on Charlemegne
I've always said this would make a great movie.
I'm so glad that I'm not a Muslim today. Thank you Charles Martel.
Yes it wouldn't be the same for women in Europe
Human perceptions are shaped by one's society and the villification of the other. Couple centuries ago Europe hated atheism, today they hate Organized Religion. Perceptions change with time and with societal experiences. Each society has its own experiences that makes its perception. But perception isnt always based on Truth.
@@blaiseragon8142 Muslim women choose Modesty of their own volition to please God, just like Nuns do. Infact all humanity practiced similar modesty to what Muslim women do today. It is only the Modernity and rejection of Religion, God and Morality/Modesty that women like not to cover themselves today.
@@muhammadadeel8639 germany needed to win some decades ago
@@dasitmane7590 Wasnt Hitler also Atheist? Europe would still probably be atheist had he won
This was one of Major-General J.F.C. Fuller's "Decisive Battles of the Western World". Certainly history would have been different if the Franks had lost. Thanks for the video.
Yeah...s*x sl*very of your women, pedophilia, necrophilia, etc. Thank the Franks :)
I'm very happy to see that people are finally becoming aware that Galicia, not Asturias and expecially not Vizcaya was the only part of Iberia that as far as we know was never fully (if at all) occupied. While the reconquista undoubtedly began in Asturias, Asturias was indeed, briefly occupied for two years before Pelayo rebelled and established the Kingdom of Asturias. Asturias only incorporated Galicia in 736, but this doesn't mean Galicia was occupied by the Moors before, Most online maps show Galicia as being occupied, because they assume everything that was not Asturias was necessarily under Ummayad occupation. This is a very simplistic view of history, in reality there were not two clear sides with a fixed frontline, most people everywhere were basically autonomous and self-sustaining, especially in the border regions, and this is most likely the case with Galicians. Considering the political and geographical isolation of the area, the average peasant probably didn't even know the Kingdom of the Visigoths had collapsed until the Alfonso III incorporated the area into his domain.
Favourite history channel 😊 Narrators voice is nice to listen Animations are good
Would love to see video on Spartacus!
My mother thought she was 100% Portuguese she was born there. She did that 23 and me thing. She ended up being 30% North African I guess it makes more sense than I thought.
imagine a Fractured province of Franks havign to face the entirety of Arab colonised Spain despite overwhelming numbers Frankis discipline stood. This is what happens when you face soldiers against raiders more used to pillaging and looting.
That "Fractured province of Franks" was not a pity kingdom. Both Charles Martel and Odo had well experienced army while Umayyad governer didn't have a proper Umayyad army like the ones were operating in Anatolia, Caucasus, Central Asia and India.
So the raiders are traders or something?
"Raiders" couldn't have ruled spain for 800 years. They were definitively "Soldiers" invading Europe. Only the muslim and far left saying they were "raiders"
Would have been interested to know what armaments the two sides fielded at the time. As the Franks were renowned for their throwing axes named after them Franziska (also a popular female name in the Frankish parts of Germany to this day). You spoke of a phalanx like formation used by them, so I guess they used predominantly spears and kite shields? Or did they adapt to the amount of horsemen fielded by their enemies and used lances on foot? Were stirrups already implemented by the Muslim horsemen at that point in time?
French 🇫🇷💪
well done
Some detail: al Ghafighi decided to launch due to the impending cold wet weather. His calvary mounts charged up to the plain where the Hammer was and fell due to being too exhausted.
I would like to see a tutorial about how you do a video like this
And now they’re back
0:30 AND?? Belgium is literally what the heart of the Franks was, and Martel was born there...
The insanity of people as a collective is clearly demonstrated in the beginning of this video. Lack of cooperation, internal strife, wrongbpriotities, and lack of care for one another are fundamental shortcoming of mankind till this day.
I'm pretty sure that Al Gaffiqi invaded Aquitaine via Pamplona and not Narbonne, also the border was not "at the Pyrenees": Narbonne was part of the Visigothic Kingdom, while Pamplona was not.
Frontal assault against prepared position, never a good idea.
Unless they made the effort to flank, which they didn't.
It sometimes worked like at Hastings and Somosierra.
@@markgarrett3647 At Hastings, the Normans feigned retreat, which drew out the enemy from their entrenched position, so no, frontal assault did not work at Hastings.
@@ElBandito The Norman counterattack at Hastings is technically still a frontal attack though.
@@markgarrett3647 But not against a prepared position, since the defenders were drawn out during the counter-attack. hence why hastings does not count.
Islam had reached it extend by the sword and by the sword Charles Martel ended islamisation of northern Europe.
Their tour was surely cut short.
can make a video about the death of stalenist Voronin from the hands of UPA ?
Um dos maiores supererois de todos os tempos,esse Martel! Charles Magno,com seus exercitos carniceiros,sua politica de terra arrasada,que dizer??BRAVO POVE FRANCO!!!
We're all waiting for the next chapter in the Frederick the Great saga. If I want to learn about Charles Martel I'll go to the liquor store.
What software is used to make these animations?
That day the world was saved and not just Europe by defeating the Muslims. Imagine how Europe would have been today as an islamic continent. We would forever be in debt to Charles Martel
Sensacional.
The Muslims had no idea what they were up against here, the first truly professional European army since the fall of Rome. These Franks were tremendously experienced and drilled.
where ressources ?
The Moors did NOT conquer all of the peninsula. Under the leadership of PELAYO at the battle of COVADONGA in 718 A.D., the Muslims were defeated and never able to occupy Asturias. This was the beginning of the glorious RECONQUISTA. ¡Viva España!
I would think the casualty rate would have to be higher than 5% to have both forces abandon the fight. Especially at a time when armies frequently fought to the last man. If the Umayyad army got off that light that may have retreated but would have recovered and re-asserted their invasion.
Charles the Hammer got so much credit in an oversimplified view of the overall campaign, but we owe more credit to Odo. The resolve and quick thinking of that man probably saved his people and the rest of France from Islamic subjugation.
The reason why heavy cavalry will be mainly developped in the carolingian period.
This battle resembles one of the biggest what ifs in history
First row seats. Can't wait
I am particularly divided on the salvific importance of Poitiers. On the one hand, I believe it was a very bitter setback for the Arabs. However, on the other hand, I think it wasn't a "salvific" battle, as many people think. Even military historians were/are divided on the importance of Poitiers. The civilizational importance of the Battle of Poitiers has been dividing the historians. In one category, there are historians who confirm its historical and "salvific" importance in European/Western history, stating that Poitiers did save medieval Catholic civilization from Islamic expansion, just as Marathon and Salamis had saved the Greeks from the Persians. Edward Gibbon himself, in particular, was one of the historians who confirmed the salvific importance of Poitiers. According to Gibbon, if the Muslims had won at Poitiers, the Arabs could have conquered the Frankish Kingdom and, consequently, the rest of Catholic Europe. Other historians, such as the German Hans Delbrück, also claimed that Poitiers DID save Catholic Europe. According to Delbrück, if it weren't for Charles Martel's victory at Poitiers, there would be no Charlemagne, Papal States, and Holy Roman Empire. Therefore, according to Delbrück, there would be no Christian Europe. This historical vision, in my historical perspective, makes perfect sense. It was Charlemagne, the so-called "Father of Europe" (Pater Europae), who laid the foundation of what would become European civilization. It was from the division of the Empire created by him, which took place during the Treaty of Verdun (843), that present-day France 🇫🇷 and Germany 🇩🇪 would be created. Without Charlemagne's Carolingian Empire, there would be no Kingdom of France, which had been the natural political evolution of West Francia (Francia occidentalis), created after the Treaty of Verdun. In other words, West Francia, which was initially ruled by Charlemagne's grandson, Charles the Bald, had been the first political stages of what would become the Kingdom of France and, consequently, the modern French Republic. The same goes for the Holy Roman Empire (future Germany), which evolved from East Francia (Francia Orientalis), initially ruled by Louis II. Without Charlemagne, who was the driving force behind the political reunification of post-Roman Europe, there would be no unified Europe. Furthermore, had it not been for Charles Martel's victory at Poitiers, there would be no Pepin the Short, the one who established the Papal States. Other historians, however, have completely different views. The Italian Alessandro Barbero, for example, claimed that the Arabs did not want to conquer the Frankish Kingdom, but only to conduct a plundering campaign. In other words, the Arab campaign was not a war of conquest but one of plunder. Moreover, other historians claimed that Poitiers did not mean much for the Arabs. Poitiers, therefore, did not stop the Arab advance. It was indeed a terrible setback for the Muslim expansion, but it did not have the decisive and "salvific" aspect that many people think. MY historical perspective, however, carries a bit of both strands of thought. If on the one hand, I believe that Poitiers had been significant, representing a considerable setback for the Muslim expansion; on the other hand, I particularly believe that the Second Arab Siege of Constantinople (717-18) was MUCH worse for the Umayyads, whether in terms of casualties and military morale. Why do I think that Poitiers was not so decisive? It's Very simple. The Frankish Kingdom would be invaded once again by the Umayyad Arabs, even AFTER Poitiers. In 735, three years after Poitiers, Governor Uqba ibn al-Hajjaj (734-740), the governor of Al-Andalus, launched another military campaign against Gaul. This second Arab invasion had been even more devastating than the first offensive carried out by Governor Abd al-Rahman al-Ghafiqi, since the second invasion carried a certain "vengeful" aspect. In an attempt to avenge the "martyrs", as the Muslims called their companions killed at Poitiers, Uqba raided several cities in southern France. The vibrant city of Arles, for example, was looted. Avignon, which would later become the home of the Popes, had also been captured. Moreover, Uqba's forced would carry out raids in Lyon, Burgundy and Piedmont. Despite the defeat at Poitiers, the Umayyads remained in control of Septimania for another 27 years! Septimania, including its main city, Narbonne, "Arbuna" for the Arabs, became a Muslim foothold in Gaul until 759! However, paradoxically, I also believe in the importance of Charles Martel's victory at Poitiers! If Charles Martel had been defeated, all of Gaul/France would have quickly been taken, just as Spain was taken by Tariq ibn Ziyad. Had Martel been defeated, there would have been no other European force capable of defeating the Arabs, at least not in Gaul. Paris, the Frankish capital, would be conquered and plundered. The Rhine, one of Europe's largest rivers, would probably also be crossed. Charles Martel and his army, in a certain sense, were Europe's "last line of defense".
Basically at the time the battle didnt really mean much to the muslims however now looking at it with hindsight it would have completely altered Europes and probably the world's history
Another thing I would like to mention is that when muslims invaded Iberia it was merely a raiding party and was it was not (initially) the goal of the muslims to subdue Iberia however after the visigothic armies were decisively crushed that is what happened I have a feeling that the same would happen if the muslims defeated the Frank's at tours
Pretty much appreciate your analysis bringing up historical sources, appart from a few things like your conclusion. Umayyad central power was being questionned and challenged already, if you take northern Africa for exemple conflict was already appearing between different muslim factions. You also fail to mention that the second wave of raids that took place over the years following the battle of Tours (and not Poitiers... time to give up with the frankish propaganda stating the arabs never crossed the Loire...) where raids indeed, the Ummayads avoided another pitched battle with the franks. You mentionned Governor Uqba ibn al-Hajjaj, he was himself crushed at the battle of the river Berre (739 or 740) by Charles who came to relieve Narbonne wich at the time was still governed by muslims. Whenever it came to pitched battles the Umayyad didnt stand a chance unless fighting on large open ground. Governor Uqba ibn al-Hajjaj himself went on setting outposts in his retreat in an attempt to slow down a frankish counter attack that never came (the franks did hold several outposts in Spain after the Battle of Tours and their deals with berber leaders but considered the natural barrier formed by the pyrenees as a solmid anchor point and therefore never meant to invade Spain). Governor Uqba ibn al-Hajjaj went on going back to northern Africa in order to crush Berber uprisings (caused by the very poor treatment inflicted upon them by the Umayyads: Kids forcibly recruited in the Umayyad army, women taken away to fill the caliph's harem in Damascus, more than unfair taxation and the re-emergence of the Kharijites, Ali's followers since the First Fitna, as a serious counter power and counter ideology to the Umayyads...) wich in turn caused his own downfall. The recent campaigns organised and promoted by questionnable muslims historians trying to depict a unified Umayyad caliphate when it was everything but that is nothing short of fantasy and lies, therefore i tend to disagree with your conclusion both in regards the actual politics reality of the times and as a descendant of a bastard son of Charles Martel that studied the era for decades. I also tend to consider Edward Gibbon's writings as not reliable, you need to take in account he was a member of the english whig party in the 1700's and was part of these british historians obsessed with the old heritage of the Roman Empire saved by the franks as an excuse for Great Britain's expansion in his era over muslim controlled territories in the building of the British Empire.. Take with caution everything he wrote as it is objective propaganda. Lastly when it comes to Umayyad control of southern France that remained after the battle, it is pretty much a grey area since on one hand several small alliances were made between berbers and franks and on the other hand keep in mind Charles usurped his kingship and it took time to bring everyone around him. Don't be fooled though, even with the disagreements between frankish lords over kingship the realm was a much stronger foe than the wisigothic kingdom for the Umayyads and would unlikely fall after one defeat, even an important one. Charles dying at Tours however may have caused a serious civil war the Umayyad could have gained from that's for sure. This question is still debatable nowadays but it does seem very unlikely the frankish kingdom would have fallen considering foreign support was already gathering behind Charles as well, his victory only cemented his claim as King of all franks. One last thing, the battle at Tours was conducted as a slowing effort by Charles since the frankish army was slow moving and took a long time to gather, a second and much larger force was already assembling in the north around Tournai and its surroundings that included foreign support. The franks were not done after a defeat at Tours...
@@raphaelsoulard3371 good comment
Rightly said. Had Charles been defeated, there would be no Strong Christian power in Western europe to christianize pagan Germans and other pagans up north. Plus no French Patronage of Catholic church so no central authority of Catholic Pope. Plus Southern france under Muslim control with no threat of being reversed. Without central Pope authority, no Reconquista either in South france or in Spain. Muslims would have an equal chance of trying to convince french rivals up north to convert to Islam. (Germans, saxons, vikings, polish etc.....) Religious Diplomacy would matter a lot.
wish topic : what was between this and the end of Rome : the Merovingians
Looking at the map....its absolutely amazing that what was once Celtic was relegated to Brittany!
5:50 these plopping sounds are quite a bit too loud compared to your narration. A very good video though!