750-769 Charles Martel Saves France from Islam Invaders

In this twenty year period Islamic invaders were crossing the Pyrenees into France and had it not been for the actions of Charles Martel (pictured) our ancestors would have grown up under Islamic rule.

The Islamic invasions were caused by a change in the ruling dynasty of Islam. In 750 the Ummayad caliphs were overthrown by the Abbasids who moved their capital to Baghdad, shifting attention to the east and splitting the Islamic empire.

At that time, Persia reasserted itself and North Africa came under the rule of the Aghlabids, Egypt was taken over by the Tulunids and Spain was taken over by the Ummayad exiles who were checked from expanding into France by a victory of Charles Martel in 752.

Charles Martel, a Frank, was the Mayor of the palace at Poitiers and after his victory he was responsible for the Frankish reoccupation of Southern France