Charles Martel

Charles Martel (i. e. "Charles the Hammer") (689-741) was mayor of the Palace, and as such ruler of the Franks. He was son of Pépin d'Héristal and grandfather of Charlemagne. He is notable chiefly for his signal victory over the Saracens at Poitiers in 732, whereby the tide of Mussulman invasion was once for all rolled back and the Christianisation of Europe assured. No greater service was ever rendered to Europe by any other fighting man.

Nearby pages
Charles Mathews, Charles Maurice, Charles Mayne Young, Charles Merivale, Charles Meryon