General Notes

Name Prefix:<NPFX> KING OF FRANCE
(märtel´) [O.Fr.,=Charles the Hammer], 688?-741, Frankish r
uler, illegitimate son of Pepin of Heristal and grandfathe
r of Charlemagne. After the death of his father (714) he se
ized power in Austrasia from Pepin's widow, who was rulin
g as regent for her grandsons, and became mayor of the pala
ce. He subsequently subdued the W Frankish kingdom of Neust
ria and began the reconquest of Burgundy, Aquitaine, and Pr
ovence. Charles Martel defeated the Spanish Muslims at th
e battle of Tours (732-33) and began the military campaign
s that reestablished the Franks as the rulers of Gaul. Alth
ough he never assumed the title of king, he divided the Fra
nkish lands, like a king, between his sons Pepin the Shor
t and Carloman.
Bibliography: See F. Lot, The End of the Ancient World an
d the Beginnings of the Middle Ages (1927, tr. 1961); E. Ja
mes, The Origins of France: Clovis and the Capetians, AD 50
0-1000 (1982).
Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, Copyright (c) 2004.
(Research):"Savior of Christiandom". Bastard. Succeded hi
s father via winning a civil war.
Mayor of the Palace & chief minister to the Merovingian Kin
g of the Franks.  In 732 Halted the advance of the Moors a
t Poitiers/Tours & drove them back to Iberia.
Provided army for Boniface to convert the Saxons in Germany
.
Advanced Christiandom eastward to the Elbe River.
Leader of the tall Frankish swordsmen. "Savior of the West"
.
The defeat of the Saracens at Tours in 732 saved Europe.
Buried: Monastery, St Denis, Seine, France.
Ruled the Merovingian Franks from A.D. 719 to 741.
Used only the title of Mayor of the Palace, but had the pow
er of a king.
For repeatedly attacking the Moslems he recd the title of M
artel, meaning Hammer
Built an army of mounted men by seizing church estates.
Supported Saint Boniface in his reform of the Frankish chur
ch.
[large-G675.FTW]
Charles 'Martel', Mayor Of The Palace Of Austrasia ruled th
e Merovingian Franks from A.D. 719 to 741. He used only th
e title of Mayor of the Palace, but he actually had the pow
er of a king. Most of the lawful Frankish kings of this per
iod were weak. In 732, Charles defeated the invading Moslem
s in the famous Battle of Tours near Poitiers. For repeated
ly attacking the Moslems, Charles later received the titl
e of Martel, meaning the Hammer. He built an army of mounte
d men by seizing church
estates. Charles supported Saint Boniface in his reform o
f the Frankish church.
Source: 'The World Book Encyclopedia', 1968, C295. 'Royalt
y for Commoners', Roderick W. Stuart, 1993, p 129, 196.
'Pedigrees of Some of the Emperor Charlemagne's Descendants
', Langston & Buck, 1986, p cvi.