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Individual Record for: Charles MARTEL (male)

Source:

bulkeley.txt

Notes:

Mayor of the Palace in Austrasia
Victor over the Saracens at Tours


Charles Martel (688?-741) ruled northern Gaul from 719 to 741. Gaul w as a region in Europe that included what are now France, Germany west of t he Rhine River, and Belgium. Charles was not a king but ruled as "may or of the palace" in the name of several weak kings from the Merovingian d ynasty (family of rulers). From 714 to 719, Charles fought to establish h is rule in northern Gaul. Later, he brought Burgundy, the southeastern pa rt of present-day France, under his control. He also conquered Frisia in w hat is now the Netherlands. He helped convert Germany to Christianity by s ponsoring the missionary work of Saint Boniface. In 732, Charles defeat ed an invading Muslim army at the Battle of Poitiers, also called the Batt le of Tours. The fighting began near Tours, France, and ended near Poitier s. Charles was later called Martel, meaning the Hammer, because of his vic tory over the Muslims.

Charles's son Pepin the Short was the first king in the Carolingian dynast y. Charles's grandson Charlemagne conquered a vast empire.

Contributor: Bernard S. Bachrach, Ph.D., Prof. of Medieval History, Uni v. of Minnesota.
Notes Source: bulkeley.txt

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