Charles Martel (son of Pepin, Of Herstal) was born Abt. 688760, and died October 22, 741 in Quierzy-suroise760.
Notes for Charles Martel: [Brøderbund WFT Vol. 3, Ed. 1, Tree #2553, Date of Import: Jun 20, 1997]
The Hammer
CHARLES MARTEL (688?-741). In 732 Charles Martel and his barbarian Frankish army fought a battle near Tours, France, that affected the history of Europe. Their foes were inspired Muslim, or Saracen, troops who were bent on world conquest for the religion of Islam. In a hundred years the Saracens had established a vast empire that stretched from Persia (now Iran) westward across northern Africa. They had gained a foothold in Europe by taking Spain. As they advanced into the region that is now France, the fate of Christian Europe hung in the balance. Charles met the Muslim forces between Poitiers and Tours. In a fierce and bloody battle the Muslims were defeated and their leader killed. In later campaigns Charles drove them back into Spain. His vigorous blows earned him the nickname Martel, from a French word meaning "hammer." This forceful leader never became king of the Franks. As mayor of the palace under ineffectual Merovingian kings, however, he was the true ruler. He increased the influence of the Frankish kingdom in wars against the Alemanni, Bavarians, and Saxons. These and other Germanic tribes had overrun Europe when the Roman Empire crumbled. Only the Franks established a permanent kingdom. (See also Middle Ages; France, "History.") Charles aided St. Boniface and other missionaries in spreading Christianity and civilization among the barbarians (see Boniface). He strengthened the hold of the kingdom over the powerful nobles and bishops who sought to set up independent rule in their districts. He distributed land to his nobles to gain their loyalty and service as warriors. Charles prepared the way for his son, Pepin the Short, to gain the Frankish throne. Together they laid the foundation for the reign of Pepin's son Charlemagne. (See also Charlemagne; Holy Roman Empire.)
--------------------------------------------------------- Excerpted from Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia Copyright c 1993, 1994 Compton's NewMedia, Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------- Charles Martel (circa 688-741), Carolingian ruler of the Frankish kingdom of Austrasia (in present northeastern France and southwestern Germany). Charles, whose surname means "the hammer," was the son of Pepin of Herstal and the grandfather of Charlemagne. Pepin was mayor of the palace under the last kings of the Merovingian dynasty. When he died in 714, Charles, an illegitimate son, was imprisoned by his father's widow, but he escaped in 715 and was proclaimed mayor of the palace by the Austrasians. A war between Austrasia and the Frankish kingdom of Neustria (now part of France) followed, and at the end of it Charles became the undisputed ruler of all the Franks. Although he was engaged in wars against the Alamanni, Bavarians, and Saxons, his greatest achievements were against the Muslims from Spain, who invaded France in 732. Charles defeated them near Poitiers in a great battle in which the Muslim leader, Abd-ar-Rahman, the emir of Spain, was killed. The progress of Islam, which had filled all Christendom with alarm, was thus checked for a time. Charles drove the Muslims out of the Rhone valley in 739, when they had again advanced into France as far as Lyon, leaving them nothing of their possessions north of the Pyrenees beyond the Aude River. Charles died in Quierzy, on the Oise River, leaving the kingdom divided between his two sons, Carloman (circa 715-54) and Pepin the Short.
"Charles Martel," Microsoft (R) Encarta. Copyright (c) 1993 Microsoft Corporation. Copyright (c) 1993 Funk & Wagnall's Corporation
More About Charles Martel and <Unnamed>: Marriage: WFT Est. 702-731761
Children of Charles Martel are:
+Pepin, b. 714761, d. September 24, 768, Saint-Denis762.
Charles Martel (b. Abt. 688, d. October 22, 741)
Notes for Charles Martel: