Moussais-la-Bataille - Battlefield

It is believed, that, seen from here, is the field, where on October 25, 732 the Battle of Tours was fought.

Charles Martel, commander of the Frank armee had recruited his troops through a general mobilization order, turning all subjects of the kingdom into soldiers. There were Franks, Burgundians, Alamans, Saxons, Frisians, Bavarians, Visigoths and also Gallo Romans of Aquitaine, led by Eudes, who had been defeated near Bordeaux before.

Charles Martel may have commanded 15.000 - 20.000 soldiers here (some estimate even 80.000).

Approaching from south was the Moorish/Arab army, as well about 20.000 soldiers, commanded by Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi (aka "Abd ar-Rahman"). Since 711, when troops of the "Umayyad Caliphate" had crossed the Strait of Gibraltar, the Visigothic Kingdom was conquered, the Roman province Septimania (today Languedoc-Roussillon) was added to the Caliphate and raids had been made into northern Gaul.

This was a fierce battle, with thousands of casualties in both sides. After Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi had been killed, the Moorish armee retreated.

What may have been a strong action against a looting and plundering armee in Frankish territory, was seen by many 19th century historians
as the decisive turning point in the struggle against Islam, a struggle which preserved Christianity as the religion of Europe. For them Charles Martel the savior of Christendom. German Leopold von Ranke wrote that "Poitiers was the turning point of one of the most important epochs in the history of the world."