Definition of Battle of Poitiers

After the death of the prophet Muhammad in 632 AD. C the leaders of Islam began a period of expansion in the north of Africa and Southwest Asia. Likewise, at the beginning of the Vlll century, a large part of the Iberian Peninsula was occupied by Muslim troops and in present-day Spain Al-Andalus was established.

A few years later they reached the territory of the Franks in present-day France. A few kilometers from the location from Poitiers a decisive battle took place.

The event that stopped the Muslim invasion of Europe

The territory of the Franks in present-day France was governed by the dynasty Merovingian. The Muslims of the Iberian Peninsula entered present-day France on several occasions and They obtained important spoils in their raids and in the year 725 they took some regions of the south of France.

In the town from Narbonne a Muslim governor was appointed. With these conquests, the followers of Islam intended to continue their expansion throughout the continent European.

In 732 the Muslim troops led by Gafiki took the city of Bordeaux

The Franks did not intervene initially since the occupied territories were part of the kingdom of Aquitaine.

However, the frank Carlos Martel organized a powerful army to stop the Muslim advance in his territory. The troops of the Franks were located in Poitiers for its strategic value.

The military confrontation took place in October 732 on the shores of the River Loire. For several days both armies watched each other and finally the Muslim cavalry launched a first attack, but the Franks managed to resist.

The Muslim army encountered an unforeseen situation, since in its rear they were being attacked by the Aquitaine people. This circumstance caused great confusion among the Muslims and, taking advantage of it, Carlos Martel gave the order to attack the camp enemy.

When they arrived they found that the invaders had abandoned their positions heading towards the Iberian Peninsula.

A decisive battle in the history of Europe

At the Battle of Poitiers there were heavy casualties among the Muslims and very few among the Franks. The victory of Carlos made that from then on he was known by his nickname, Martel (the hammer).

The Muslims initially held their dominions in southern France, but when Charles' son Martel (Pipino) inherited the crown of the Franks and got the expulsion of all the invaders from the territory French.

The occupation of Islam in the Iberian Peninsula continued for the next eight centuries, until in 1492 they lost the territory of the Kingdom of Granada and were definitively expelled.

Photos: Fotolia - Erica Guilane-Nachez / Graphitheque

Themes in Battle of Poitiers