Charles Martel "The Hammer"

Great Men of History #1

The mere fact that Charles Martel hasn’t had a movie made about his life should be considered an actual crime against humanity. That’s no exaggeration. His life and legacy might be the most impactful of any human that isn’t also featured in the Bible.

Charles Martel was born c. 688 the illegitimate son of King Pippin II of Herstal. (In modern day Belgium.) King Pippin’s legitimate son was assassinated. When Pippin died, he left Martel out of his will. In the political turmoil that followed King Pippin’s widow had Martel thrown into prison so that she could rule.

Fortunately for Western Civilization, no prison was a match for The Hammer. Charles Martel escaped and raised an army. Through a series of victories over fellow Franks, the Saxons and the Bavarians he created the Carolingian Empire. His new empire stretched over most of western mainland Europe, including most of France, Belgium, Luxemburg, and Germany. The Carolingian Empire eventually became the Holy Roman Empire under Charles Martel’s grandson Charlemagne, but that’s a story for a different day.

In today’s post I want to talk about Charles Martel’s most important feat, saving Western Civilization as we know it.

Let’s back up a bit…

When Muhammed was born in 570 Christianity was the dominant religion of the Mediterranean and near East. Within 80 years of his death, Islam had conquered these Christian regions including North Africa and parts of Spain. By the early 800s Muslim forces had conquered the Christian areas of modern-day Iraq, Iran, and Sicily. They had even invaded mainland Italy and raided Rome twice.

Though much has been said about the “scientifically enlightened Arabs” of the time, most of it is a myth. Through their conquest, libraries were burned, and technologies were lost. Even the so-called Arabic numerals actually came from the Hindus they had conquered. Though the Mediterranean Sea was controlled by Muslim pirates, they didn’t even possess the technology or skill to build their own ships. They forced other more learned civilizations that they had conquered to build their ships for them. Muslims had little tolerance for other religions and persecuted (read: slaughtered/enslaved) anyone that dared to adhere to any religion outside of Islam. Overtime, societies under Muslim rule were plunged into the dark ages.

During these dire times the Islamic invaders of Spain set their eyes on mainland Europe. The Muslims had launched a handful of expeditions into France in the early 700s, and by 732 a full invasion force entered France. According to Muslim accounts this force was in the hundreds of thousands. In reality, experts believe it was more like 30,000 light cavalry. Historians believe the fate of Europe, from Poland to Scotland, as well as western Christianity hung in the balance of this invasion. Islamic forces pillaged and plundered their way across Southern Gaul. (Modern day France.) Successful resistance to the military aggression of Islam had been minimal over the last century. It was beginning to look like the end of Christianity in the West. The invasion advanced to within 150 miles of Paris near Tours.

Enter Charles Martel “The Hammer”:

In his book “God’s Battalions” sociologist and historian Rodney Stark introduces Martel as “an unusually tall and powerfully built man, the bastard son of King Pippin and famous for his military exploits.” Charles Martel comprised his army of mostly free men serving as infantry and some traditional knights in a heavy cavalry role. Martel arranged his men so that the Islamic forces would have to funnel straight into his well-armored and well-disciplined infantry. Charge after charge the Muslims attacked, but the Frankish infantry were battle hardened from years of war. Martel, like his grandson Charlemagne was equal parts politician and warrior. On this day, in October 732 AD, he brought his war face. He fought alongside his men resisting the onslaught of cavalry charges until eventually the invaders panicked and began to retreat. The Frankish heavy cavalry followed. The result was a blood bath. It’s estimated that the invaders suffered around 10,000 casualties. The Muslims of Spain tried to invade France again three years later, only to be soundly defeated by Charles Martel once more. The Battle of Tours would be the furthest advance of Islamic forces into mainland Europe.

Some modern historians downplay the Battle of Tours for obvious politically correct reasons. Traditionally, historians have credited this battle as saving Western Civilization. Had the invaders defeated Charles Martel, they would have plunged mainland Europe into the same barbarism they had inflicted upon the peoples of the Mediterranean and Middle East. Instead, Europe continued on as a beacon of hope and:

• Banned polygamy and affirmed marriage as a union between one man and one woman which created the stable framework for a thriving society

• Founded universities that still exist to this day such as Oxford and Cambridge

• Founded modern medicine

• Founded modern science

• Invented the heavy plough to allow for more stable forms of farming which reduced famine

• Invented the printing press which allowed for more common literacy

• Created wonderful art and architecture that leaves humanity in awe to this day

• and, most importantly, continued to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every corner of the world

It’s this last point I want to hang on for a moment. Would God have allowed His gospel to be extinguished? No, not for a second. It’s for this reason I believe God “used” Charles Martel.

Was Martel a “good” man? Who knows.

Was he a devout follower of Christ? Sort of, but not really.

Was he a uniquely qualified warrior that lived in the perfect time and place to save Western Christianity and unite the peoples of Europe to fight off the greatest heresy of his time? Yep!

His father excluded him from his will. His “mother” threw him in prison. His God used him to help preserve the gospel for the people of Europe.

He was a bastard, born of sin, and was rejected by his own family, but God has a habit of using the unexpected and unworthy. If you remember in my last post, I left off with the story of Stephen’s martyrdom. Scripture notes that those stoning Stephen left their cloaks at the feet of a man named Saul. That same Saul who oversaw the murder of Stephen eventually became the Apostle Paul. He spread the gospel to the gentiles and wrote much of the New Testament.

Yes, God has a habit of using the unexpected and unworthy.

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Sources:

God’s Battalions by Rodney Stark

Encyclopedia Britanica: Charles Martel

Encyclopedia Britanica: Charlemagne