Charles Martel
Charles Martel, Frankish Ruler
ca. 688 – 22 October 741
Charles Martel is primarily famous for his
victory at the Battle of Tours, his stopping the
Umayyad invasions of Europe during the
Muslim Expansion Era, and his laying the
foundation for the Carolingian Empire. (oil on
canvas, painted by Charles de Steuben from
1834 till 1837)
Nickname
"the Hammer"
Place of birth
Herstal (Belgium)
Carolingian dynasty
Pippinids
• Pippin the Elder (c. 580–640)
• Grimoald (616–656)
• Childebert the Adopted (d. 662)
Arnulfings
• Arnulf of Metz (582–640)
• Chlodulf of Metz (d. 696 or 697)
• Ansegisel (c.602–before 679)
• Pippin the Middle (c.635–714)
• Grimoald II (d. 714)
• Drogo of Champagne (670–708)
• Theudoald (d. 714)
Carolingians
• Charles Martel (686–741)
• Carloman (d. 754)
• Pepin the Short (714–768)
• Carloman I (751–771)
• Charlemagne (d. 814)
• Louis the Pious (778–840)
After the Treaty of Verdun (843)
• Lothair I, Holy Roman Emperor (795–855)
(Middle Francia)
• Charles the Bald (823–877)
(Western Francia)
• Louis the German (804–876)
(Eastern Francia)
Charles "The Hammer" Martel
(Latin:
Carolus Martellus, English: Charles "the
Hammer")
(ca.
688
–
22
October
741)[1][2][3][4][5] was proclaimed Mayor of the
Palace and ruled the Franks in the name of a
titular King. Late in his reign he proclaimed
himself Duke of the Franks (the last four
years of his reign he did not even bother with
the façade of a King) and by any name was
de facto ruler of the Frankish Realms. In 739
he was offered an office of Roman consul by
the Pope, which he rejected.[6] He expanded
his rule over all three of the Frankish king-
doms: Austrasia, Neustria and Burgundy.
Martel was born in Herstal, in present-day
Belgium, the illegitimate son of Pippin the
Middle and his concubine Alpaida
(or
Chalpaida).[7] He was described by Gustave
Louis Maurice Strauss in his book "Moslem
and Frank; or, Charles Martel and the rescue
of Europe" as a tall, powerfully built man,
who was more agile than his size would lead
men to believe.
He is best r