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| ] the governor (or ''wali'') of ] (al-Andalus) built up a strong army from ], ], and ] to conquer ], a large duchy in the southwest of modern day ], formally under ] sovereignty, but in practice almost independent in the hands of the dukes of Aquitaine. He besieged the city of ], then Aquitaine's most important city, and Duke ] immediately left to find help. He returned 3 months later just before the city was about to surrender and defeated the Muslim invaders on ], ], at what is now known as the '''Battle of Toulouse'''. | ] the governor (or ''wali'') of ] (al-Andalus) built up a strong army from ], ], and ] to conquer ], a large duchy in the southwest of modern day ], formally under ] sovereignty, but in practice almost independent in the hands of the dukes of Aquitaine. He besieged the city of ], then Aquitaine's most important city, and Duke ] immediately left to find help. He returned 3 months later just before the city was about to surrender and defeated the Muslim invaders on ], ], at what is now known as the '''Battle of Toulouse'''. | ||
| Some historians believe this event, more than the celebrated battle fought eleven years later between Tours and Poitiers (], ]), truly halted the Arab advance in ]. This is problematic, however, because even had the Arabs won at Toulouse, they still would have had to conquer the Franks to have retained control of the region. However, virtually all historians agree that the Christian victory at Toulouse was important in a macrohistorical sense; it gave Charles Martel badly needed time to strengthen his grip on power and build the veteran army which stood him in such good stead 11 years later at Tours. | Some historians believe this event, more than the celebrated battle fought eleven years later between Tours and Poitiers (], ]), truly halted the Arab advance in ]. This is problematic, however, because even had the Arabs won at Toulouse, they still would have had to conquer the Franks to have retained control of the region. However, virtually all historians agree that the Christian victory at Toulouse was important in a macrohistorical sense; it gave Charles Martel badly needed time to strengthen his grip on power and build the veteran army which stood him in such good stead 11 years later at Tours. Without his veteran Frankish Army, Martel could not have prevailed at Tours, where his veterans accomplished what was thought impossible -- infantry withstanding armoured cavalry without firearms or even longbows! The 11 years between Toulouse and Tours without question gave him time to fully secure power, inspire the loyalty of his troops, and most importantly, drill the core of veterans who stood so stoutly on October 10, 732. | ||
| ==External link== | ==External link== | ||
Revision as of 17:05, 29 August 2005
Al-Samh ibn Malik al-Khawlani the governor (or wali) of Muslim Spain (al-Andalus) built up a strong army from North Africa, Yemen, and Syria to conquer Aquitaine, a large duchy in the southwest of modern day France, formally under Frankish sovereignty, but in practice almost independent in the hands of the dukes of Aquitaine. He besieged the city of Toulouse, then Aquitaine's most important city, and Duke Odo of Aquitaine immediately left to find help. He returned 3 months later just before the city was about to surrender and defeated the Muslim invaders on June 9, 721, at what is now known as the Battle of Toulouse.
Some historians believe this event, more than the celebrated battle fought eleven years later between Tours and Poitiers (Battle of Tours, 732), truly halted the Arab advance in Europe. This is problematic, however, because even had the Arabs won at Toulouse, they still would have had to conquer the Franks to have retained control of the region. However, virtually all historians agree that the Christian victory at Toulouse was important in a macrohistorical sense; it gave Charles Martel badly needed time to strengthen his grip on power and build the veteran army which stood him in such good stead 11 years later at Tours. Without his veteran Frankish Army, Martel could not have prevailed at Tours, where his veterans accomplished what was thought impossible -- infantry withstanding armoured cavalry without firearms or even longbows! The 11 years between Toulouse and Tours without question gave him time to fully secure power, inspire the loyalty of his troops, and most importantly, drill the core of veterans who stood so stoutly on October 10, 732.
External link
- Ian Meadows, "The Arabs in Occitania": The Battle of Toulouse within a Muslim context.
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