Charles Martel

Charles Martel [O.Fr.,=Charles the Hammer], 688?-741, Frankish ruler, illegitimate son of Pepin of Heristal and grandfather of Charlemagne. After the death of his father (714) he seized power in Austrasia from Pepin's widow, who was ruling as regent for her grandsons, and became mayor of the palace. He subsequently subdued the W Frankish kingdom of Neustria and began the reconquest of Burgundy, Aquitaine, and Provence. Charles Martel defeated the Spanish Muslims at the battle of Tours (732-33) and began the military campaigns that reestablished the Franks as the rulers of Gaul. Although he never assumed the title of king, he divided the Frankish lands, like a king, between his sons Pepin the Short and Carloman.

Bibliography: See F. Lot, The End of the Ancient World and the Beginnings of the Middle Ages (1927, tr. 1961); E. James, The Origins of France: Clovis and the Capetians, AD 500-1000 (1982).

Charles Martel (c.690–741), Frankish ruler. An illegitimate son of Pepin II, Mayor of the Palace to the Merovingian kings, he faced opposition, but by 723 his position as Princeps Francorum was assured. He conducted campaigns against the Frisians, Saxons, and Bavarians, and defeated an Arab army at the battle of Poitiers in 732.

Charles Martel (c.688–741) (French, martel, ‘hammer’) Frankish leader. He was the son of Pepin II, ‘mayor of the palace’ under MEROVINGIAN rule. He gained control of the Austrasian province and defeated the Neustrian mayor. Burgundy and Aquitaine were also acquired. His greatest achievement, and the one which made him a traditional French hero, was his defeat of the Muslim forces between Poitiers and Tours in 732, which signalled the end of their northward expansion.