Medieval Battles

The Battle Of Tours 732 A.D.

 A depiction of Charles Martel facing Abd Al-Rehman in the battle of Tours

Introduction:

The battle of Tours, which is also called the battle of Poitiers, was fought between the armies of Umayyad Caliphate and Franks in 732 . This battle was fought at a place which was between two French cities named as Tours and Poitiers. Muslim army was being led by Emir Abd Al-Rehman Al Ghafiqi, Governor General of Al-Andulus and Frankish army was being led by Charles Martel of France. Around 15,000 to 20,000 Frankish warriors fought with around 20,000 to 25,000 Muslims. Casualties were very low on Frankish side but 12,000 Muslim warriors with their Emir were killed. Some historians are of opinion that battle of Tours was a decisive battle as that brought Islam's penetration into Europe to a standstill. On the other hand few historians reject this notion and argue that only after 3 years of this defeat, Umayyad caliphate again invaded Gaul and conquered much important cities.However both Christian and Muslim historians acknowledge importance of this battle in regional and world history.

A map showing place of battle

Background: 


Muslims set foot on Iberian peninsula in 711 under command of Umayyad general Tariq Ibn-Ziyad. Most of the Iberian peninsula was named as Al-Andalus in Umayyad rule. Soon Tariq's master Musa Bin Nusayr joined him and both conquered most of what is today Spain, Portugal and some parts of France. Muslims established Umayyad province of Al-Andalus on those conquered lands. Umayyad armies crossed the mountains of Pyrenees and carried on expanding northward into Frankish territories of Gaul until Charles Martel stopped them for a short period. 

Umayyads easily set up a base at Narbonne in northern Spain, from where they kept on sending armies into old Roman Gaul. In 721 Duke Odo of Aquitaine decisively defeated a big Umayyad sieging army but this didn't stop ever-growing Muslims' aim to penetrate deep in Europe through old Roman Gaul. Muslim armies' penetrations even reached the city of Auton in Burgundy in year 725. In 730 Duke Odo allied with Berber Emir Uthman and this resulted in cease of Umayyad invasions in his territory. However in 731 Emir Uthman rebelled against the governor of Al-Andalus, Emir Abd Al-Rehman. Abd Al-Rehman immediately crushed the rebellion and sent armies towards Duke Odo . That army defeated Duke Odo badly at Bordeaux and devastated southern Gaul and split off into several raiding parties looting and destroying everywhere. One of the main raiding parties advanced on Tours where Mayor of Palace, Charles Martel was waiting for them. Both armies fought where the river Clain joins the river Vienne between Tours and Poitiers.

A depiction of Charles Martel

Important Events: 

Here are a few important events which happened before the day of battle came;

Duke Odo's Submission To Frankish Authority: Duke Odo, after his ultimate defeat at Bordeaux, asked Franks for help against common enemy. Help was granted on condition that Duke Odo had to submit to Frankish authority for this deal. This united two powerful enemies of Umayyads. Till that time Umayyads were not aware of Charles Martel's power.

Regrouping Of Saracen Raiding Parties: For seven days Saracens waited for the rest of their raiding parties until those joined the main raiding party. This gave Umayyads the maximum strength which they could gather but this also let Charles Martel collect his seasoned infantry and some militia from the outskirts of the kingdom . Saracen forces established a camp where they kept supplies, loot from Bordeaux and slaves.

Favorable Conditions For Charles Martel: Charles Martel was lucky that Saracens took some time to reunite their strength as this provided him a chance to call his infantry from outskirts of the kingdom. He chose high ground and defensive phalanx-like formation. Forest trees and high ground helped him to reduce effects of Saracens' cavalry attacks and to deceit them about number of Frankish soldiers.

A depiction of a Frankish Knight fighting assaulting a Saracen horseman, from 19th century.

10th October The Battle Day:

Charles Martel was fully aware of the abilities and power of his enemies, on the other hand Umayyads were not aware of this new enemy and his strength. He formed his troops uphill in a phalanx-like, tight and defensive formation. He had the edge of high ground and forest trees to lower intensity of Saracen cavalry's attack. Best strategy for him was to wait for Saracens to either retreat or leave their edge of open field to the ambush set uphill by Frankish seasoned warriors. Saracens wanted to lure him into open field where Saracen cavalry could slaughter them like they did in Bordeaux. To avoid coming winter season, Abd Al-Rehman decided to launch a devastating cavalry attack on enemy uphill. Till that war Saracens' confidence on their mounted mujahidin was never proved wrong.

 Umayyad army was about 25,000 and Frankish army was about 20,000. Saracens had big number of cavalry with heavy armor, on the contrary Charles Martel's men were mostly foot soldiers with very heavy armor made of wood and steel. They were seasoned infantry soldiers and they have fought many battles in command of Charles Martel. 

Umayyad heavy cavalry launched many attack in hope to break the tight defensive wall of Frankish soldiers but they failed. In one attempt to kill Charles Martel they broke into his defense but his loyal guards failed Umayyads' desperate attempt to kill their commander. Meanwhile Charles Martel made his militia attack and harass Saracens' camp which resulted in escape of many Frank slaves. To secure their loot from Bordeaux, a big number of Saracen heavy cavalry returned to their camp. Charles Martel was successful in diverting their attention to their camp. Abd Al-Rehman tried to stop the routing cavalry. He got surrounded by many Frankish knights and got killed that fateful day. This made all Saracen cavalry and foot soldiers withdraw to their camp. That night Saracen army stayed at their camp and Franks rested in their tight defensive formation to stop any possible attack.

At the dawn of other day when no attack was launched from Saracens, Charles Martel thought that they wanted to lure him down the hill. It was discovered later on investigation that Umayyad camp was abandoned in haste. They even left their tents. Umayyads left for Iberia with whatever loot they had left after Frankish attack on their camp. Umayyads unexpectedly retreated that night. 

Tomb of Charles Martel at Basilica of St. Denis in Peris

 Aftermath:

This defeat brought Umayyad invasion of France to a standstill. Charles got his name 'Martel' because of this battle, which means 'hammer'. Umayyad confidence on their heavy cavalry was lost in this war and never again they or their successor Moors trusted fully upon their cavalry. Umayyad army retreated south over the Pyrenees. Odo died in 735 and his son refused to acknowledge Charles as his overlord, soon but he had to do the opposite when Umayyads invaded again.

Second Umayyad invasion took the cities of Arles and Avignon. Those armies of second invasion launched raids on Lyons, Burgundy, and Piedmont. Charles Martel defeated second invasion armies everywhere and took all the land back. After this invasion Muslims never caused any big problem to Gaul.

Narbonne was the only city which was not conquered by Charles Martel. Muslim rulers of that city foresaw that Charles Martel can only be stopped by making agreements of mutual defense with local Visigoth populace of Narbonne and other towns. In 737 Charles Martel's siege of Narbonne failed due to joint defense by Muslim Arabs, Berbers and Christian Visigoths of that city. 

Though Narbonne was never conquered in Charles Martel's life, but his son Pippin the Short forced Narbonne to surrender in 759. His grandson Charlemagne became the first Christian king to begin the reconquista. Charles Martel is thus rightfully called savior of Christianity in Europe.

 A brief narrative of battle by History TV.

Conclusion:

Importance of the battle of Tours to Christian historians is as much as Gibbon wrote that if Charles Martel had not defeated Muslims at Tours "Perhaps the interpretation of the Koran would now be taught in the schools of Oxford, and her pulpits might demonstrate to a circumcised people the sanctity and truth of the revelation of Mahomet."

On the contrary few historians are of opinion that Muslim wave of invasion was already a thousand miles away from its base in Gibraltar, let alone their base in Africa. It had reached its natural limit. Some believe that there was nothing valuable in France of that time to attract invaders, so attack at Tours was 'just another attempt' to occupy a place in France and to loot another city. However it is true that Charles Martel's victory against Muslims at Tours is very significant in regional and world history. 

Muslims were relying on their heavy cavalry till that war. It was their fault that they made wrong guess about opponent's power, which was its strong and seasoned infantry. According to some sources Charles Martel's infantry soldier had around 35 KG armour on his body, which was made of steel and wood. Moreover he took the benefit of taking an initiative in a war. So when Saracens' army reached the city of Tours, they saw a tight defensive wall of well-equipped foot soldiers on a high ground. However it was Frankish militia's threat to booty and Abd Al-Rehman's decision to attack first which became reason of this defeat.