The Battle of Tours is one of the most iconic battles in early Medieval history. It began with the invasion of the Umayyads in 711 AD. After the death of the holy prophet Mohammed. Before he died, he commanded that all Muslims go forth and spread Islam to the world. What followed is one of the quickest and most aggressive world conquest the world had ever seen.
The Umayyads looked to Europe as their next point of conquest. But the powerful Byzantine Empire prohibited crossing at the Bosporus. So the Umayyads looked west to Iberia.
They crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and conquered the Visigothic kingdom in less than 6 years. This meant they now shared a border with the Franks.
Crossing the Pyrenees, the Umayyads began to ravage the cities and towns in the lower regions of Aquitaine. The Muslims even sieged the city of Bordeaux, but were utterly defeated by Odo the Great, who surprised the Umayyad forces and routed them.
Peace endured for 10 years, but a new governor soon came to power. He wished to renew the conquest of Europe and crossed the Pyrenees again with 30,000 men.
Odo once again tried to stop the Muslims, but this time, his army was almost completely destroyed. The French infantry was run down by the quick and more maneuverable light cavalry.
Now Odo knew that the Umayyad threat was real. He gathered the remainder of his men and rushed north to Paris. There, he found Charles, mayor of the palace and experienced battle commander.
After Odo agreed to submit to direct Frankish rule, Charles assembled the army and moved south. He chose the battlefield perfectly, intercepting the Umayyads on their way to Tours.
The Umayyads were shocked to see such a host of warriors opposing them. It took 7 days to muster their entire host. But with winter quickly approaching, they knew that there was no choice but to charge the Frankish lines.....
