Battle of Tours, October 10, 732
Wikimedia Commons“Bataille de Poitiers” by Charles de Steuben, shows Charles Martel’s victory over Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi.
Today, the Battle of Tours is a little-known fight that nevertheless had huge consequences over the course of European history.
Also called the Battle of Poitiers, it took place in 732 and was fought between the Carolingian Franks (led by Charles Martel) and Umayyad Caliphate forces (led by Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi).
Though the Muslim forces outnumbered the Franks by thousands when they invaded Europe, the Carolingians under Martel’s guidance managed to drive the intruders off the continent.
Wikimedia Commons“The Saracen Army outside Paris” by Julius Schnorr, 1822-1827
Historians regard this as the turning point of Christianity and Islam in Europe, with the Franks’ victory securing the role of Christianity as the continent’s primary religion to this day.
