In 732 AD, a Muslim army swept into France.
Nothing had stopped them before. Kingdoms had fallen. Cities had burned.
Then, at Tours, one man stood in their way—Charles Martel.
What happened next decided the fate of Europe: x.com
Nothing had stopped them before. Kingdoms had fallen. Cities had burned.
Then, at Tours, one man stood in their way—Charles Martel.
What happened next decided the fate of Europe: x.com
In 732 AD, a Muslim army from the Umayyad Caliphate invaded the Frankish Kingdom.
Their goal was not just conquest but domination—Europe lay open before them. x.com
Their goal was not just conquest but domination—Europe lay open before them. x.com
The Umayyads had already conquered Spain with lightning speed.
The Visigothic kingdom had collapsed under their assault, and now they pushed north, raiding deep into what is now France. x.com
The Visigothic kingdom had collapsed under their assault, and now they pushed north, raiding deep into what is now France. x.com
Led by Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi, the Muslim forces burned towns, looted churches, and enslaved thousands.
Their army, composed of elite Berber and Arab cavalry, was feared across the continent. x.com
Their army, composed of elite Berber and Arab cavalry, was feared across the continent. x.com
No European force had been able to stop them.
The kingdoms of Christendom were weak, divided, and disorganized.
Many believed that nothing stood between the Umayyads and total conquest. x.com
The kingdoms of Christendom were weak, divided, and disorganized.
Many believed that nothing stood between the Umayyads and total conquest. x.com
But one man refused to accept this fate: Charles Martel.
He was not a king, but the Mayor of the Palace, the true power behind the Merovingian throne.
In war, however, titles meant nothing—only victory did. x.com
He was not a king, but the Mayor of the Palace, the true power behind the Merovingian throne.
In war, however, titles meant nothing—only victory did. x.com
Martel understood that this was not just another raid.
If the Umayyads established a foothold in Francia, the entire continent could fall.
He needed to stop them, not just for his kingdom, but for all of Christian Europe. x.com
If the Umayyads established a foothold in Francia, the entire continent could fall.
He needed to stop them, not just for his kingdom, but for all of Christian Europe. x.com
He gathered an army, but it was not a professional force.
The Franks had no standing army like the Romans before them.
Martel had to summon his warriors from noble households and peasant levies. x.com
The Franks had no standing army like the Romans before them.
Martel had to summon his warriors from noble households and peasant levies. x.com
He trained them relentlessly, forging a disciplined force unlike any in Europe.
The Franks would not rely on cavalry like their Muslim enemies.
Instead, Martel’s army would fight as heavy infantry, forming an unbreakable shield wall. x.com
The Franks would not rely on cavalry like their Muslim enemies.
Instead, Martel’s army would fight as heavy infantry, forming an unbreakable shield wall. x.com
In October 732, Martel positioned his army near the city of Tours, blocking the Muslim advance.
He chose the battlefield carefully—high ground, surrounded by forests, forcing the enemy to fight on his terms. x.com
He chose the battlefield carefully—high ground, surrounded by forests, forcing the enemy to fight on his terms. x.com
For six days, the two armies stared at each other.
The Umayyads hesitated.
They were used to fast, overwhelming victories, but Martel refused to engage on their terms. x.com
The Umayyads hesitated.
They were used to fast, overwhelming victories, but Martel refused to engage on their terms. x.com
On the seventh day, Abdul Rahman ordered the attack.
Thousands of Muslim cavalry charged uphill, expecting to smash through the Frankish lines.
But Martel’s men held firm. x.com
Thousands of Muslim cavalry charged uphill, expecting to smash through the Frankish lines.
But Martel’s men held firm. x.com
Wave after wave of cavalry slammed into the Frankish shield wall, but it did not break.
The Franks, clad in chainmail and wielding heavy axes and spears, cut down their enemies with brutal efficiency. x.com
The Franks, clad in chainmail and wielding heavy axes and spears, cut down their enemies with brutal efficiency. x.com
The battle raged for hours.
The Umayyads had never faced such resistance.
They were used to fighting disorganized foes who scattered at the first charge. The Franks, however, stood their ground. x.com
The Umayyads had never faced such resistance.
They were used to fighting disorganized foes who scattered at the first charge. The Franks, however, stood their ground. x.com
Then, a critical moment changed everything.
A rumor spread through the Muslim ranks—their camp was being looted.
Many of the soldiers, concerned for their plunder, broke formation and retreated to protect their spoils. x.com
A rumor spread through the Muslim ranks—their camp was being looted.
Many of the soldiers, concerned for their plunder, broke formation and retreated to protect their spoils. x.com
Seeing this, Martel seized the opportunity.
He ordered his forces to advance, cutting deep into the enemy ranks.
The Franks fought with fury, killing Abdul Rahman and throwing the Umayyads into full retreat. x.com
He ordered his forces to advance, cutting deep into the enemy ranks.
The Franks fought with fury, killing Abdul Rahman and throwing the Umayyads into full retreat. x.com
By nightfall, the battlefield belonged to Martel.
The Muslim army had been shattered, and the survivors fled back to Spain, never to return. x.com
The Muslim army had been shattered, and the survivors fled back to Spain, never to return. x.com
The Battle of Tours was a turning point.
Had Martel failed, Islam might have spread across Western Europe, changing history forever. x.com
Had Martel failed, Islam might have spread across Western Europe, changing history forever. x.com
After his victory, Charles Martel was given a name: The Hammer.
He had crushed the greatest threat to Christian Europe and ensured its survival.
Without Martel, there would have been no Charlemagne, no Holy Roman Empire, and possibly no Christendom as we know it today. x.com
He had crushed the greatest threat to Christian Europe and ensured its survival.
Without Martel, there would have been no Charlemagne, no Holy Roman Empire, and possibly no Christendom as we know it today. x.com
His grandson, Charlemagne, would go on to build a great Christian empire—but it was Martel who made that future possible.
The Battle of Tours was not just a military victory. It was the moment Europe fought for its survival—and won. x.com
The Battle of Tours was not just a military victory. It was the moment Europe fought for its survival—and won. x.com
If you found this thread valuable, please:
âś…RT the first tweet and help others find this thread
✅Join 3,900+ others and join my FREE newsletter — it goes deeper on topics like this:
athenaeum.beehiiv.com
âś…RT the first tweet and help others find this thread
✅Join 3,900+ others and join my FREE newsletter — it goes deeper on topics like this:
athenaeum.beehiiv.com
Loading suggestions...