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In Europe, they continued their rampage. According to one unidentified Arab, “That army went through all places like a desolating storm.” In crossing the river Garonne, they had overwhelmed the count, who had now retreated into his stronghold. But the Muslims would not let him escape from his wrath. They charged into his stronghold, slew him, and took his riches. Next, they fought the ambitious Duke Eudes, a powerful duke, even called king in some places. At first, Eudes only suffered a small defeat, and quickly raised another army. But the wrath of the Muslims had been provoked, and Eudes suffered a second defeat, this one so terrible, that one soldier is quoted as saying, "God alone could reckon the number slain." The nations of Franks were subdued. They turned to their king Charles Martel, whose name means “the hammer,” for assistance.
Taking an army of almost uncountable magnitude, Martel went to meet the Muslim army at the city of Tours. After the ferocious Muslim attack aimed at Tours was stopped, the two armies fought at the River Owar. Thus began the Battle of Tours.
The Battle of Tours was actually fought closer to the city of Poitiers than Tours, and consequently is also often called the Battle of Poitiers. But it is often of help to use the traditional name of Tours for this skirmish, distinguishing it from the other significant "Battle of Poitiers" that have occurred in our world history.
The actual battle was fought with much ferocity, both sides almost evenly matched at first. Soon, though, the Muslim army had hacked its way into the center of the Christian army. In the end, though, it was the Muslims’ thirst for wealth that did them in. As the battle was fought, the thought of the plunder stored back at their camp forever hung in their minds. And when a rumor that Christians were vandalizing their camp and depriving them of their loot arose, a large legion of Muslim soldiers rode back to secure the campgrounds.
To the rest of the Muslims, it seemed that the group was fleeing, and soon a full-scale retreat began. Their leader, Abderrahman, attempted to stop the retreat, but, letting his guard down, he was surrounded by the Christian army and slain. Left leaderless, the Muslims ran for their lives. Many died in their withdrawal.
The actual importance of the Battle of Tours is a topic of much debate. Some, such as the famous Edward Gibbon, contend that if Martel had fallen, then the Muslims would have easily conquered Europe. Gibbon, in fact, wrote a famous passage of prose on the topic, stating that if Martel had lost, "perhaps the interpretation of the Koran would now be taught in the schools of Oxford, and her pulpits might demonstrate to a circumcised people the sanctity and truth of the revelation of Muhammed." But perhaps if Martel had lost, Western Europe might still have mustered up the strength to repel the invaders. The historian Sir Edward Creasy, however, does not think so, sayinOthers, such as the noted historian William E. Watson say this is not the case, that the importance of the Battle of Tours has been greatly exaggerated over the passage of time, and that the only reason it's noteworthy of all, is that after the conclusion of this battle, Muslim invasions of Western Europe ceased.
Whatever your opinion, the death of Abderrahman caused the structure of the Muslim army to collapse. Leaderless and fighting among themselves, the Muslims could not muster up enough to make another stab at Europe. No further invasions of Europe were attempted.
wikipedia.org dumped 2003-03-17 with terodump