Charles Martel leads two raids across the
Loire River into the
Berry region. The
Franks seize and plunder
Bourges (central
France), but the city is immediately recaptured by Eudes of Aquitaine.
November 1 –
Synod of Rome: Gregory III summons a council at the shrine of
Saint Peter. All western bishops participate, including the Roman nobility. Gregory condemns Iconoclasm as a
heresy.[10]
September – Charles Martel leads his
Frankish army (30,000 men) to
Orléans and crosses the
Loire River, probably accompanied by Eudes of Aquitaine, with his remaining troops. He makes camp near
Tours, probably at
Ballan-Miré south-west of the fortress city, in order to protect the
abbey of
Saint Martin. Charles defeats or forces back Umayyad
scouts or an
advance guard, between the rivers
Indre and
Creuse. Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi pulls back to establish a position at the
Vienne River.[13]
October – The Frankish army crosses the Vienne River and establishes a camp at or around the partially abandoned Roman mansion or
agricultural settlement, now known as 'Vieux-Poitiers' (near
Châtellerault), perhaps using the Roman
theatre with its substantial towers as a
fortification. Charles Martel forms a defensive position across the Roman road, and fends off Muslim
skirmishes during the 'seven days' stand-off, probably involving scouts, and perhaps raiders from both armies.[14]
October 10 –
Battle of Tours: The Frankish and Burgundian forces under Charles Martel defeat a large army of Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi, near Poitiers, halting the
Islamic advance into Western Europe; Rahman Al Ghafiqi is killed during the battle. Charles extends his authority in the south of
France, which gives him the nickname Martellus ("The Hammer"). The outcome of the victory is a turning point, and establishes a balance of power between
Western Europe and the
Byzantine Empire.[15]
Muslim forces withdraw southwards to
Septimania; a separate part probably pulls back along the road it originally came through, across the Pyrenees Mountains. Eudes of Aquitaine pursues the main Muslim army via
La Marche, before returning to Bordeaux; Charles Martel withdraws to Frankish territory through Orléans and
Auxerre, demoting those
bishops whom he thought unreliable.
Abd al-Malik ibn Katan al-Fihri becomes the new governor (wali) of Al-Andalus; a separate Muslim force raids the
Rhône region.[12]
Ecgbert is appointed bishop of
York, by his cousin Ceolwulf of Northumbria.[17] He founds a
library, and makes the city a renowned centre of learning (approximate date).
March 23 – A large earthquake strikes the
Tang Dynasty city of Qinzhou (in the vicinity of modern-day
Tianshui City), causing serious damage and killing around 4000 people.[23]
King
Liutprand of the
Lombards raises his nephew
Hildeprand to co-kingship, after a serious illness (approximate date).
Siege of al-Sakhra:
Moors under
Uqba ibn al-Hajjaj (governor of
Al-Andalus) besiege
Pelagius, king of Asturias, in the uppermost Northern mountain ranges in Iberia. The battle ends inconclusively, with
Pelagius surviving, but 270 out of his 300 followers are killed (at least according to a Muslim chronicle from the 11th century).
King
Óengus I of the
Picts invades the neighbouring kingdom of
Dál Riata, which is subjugated. He takes the fortress of
Dunadd,[34] and establishes his rule in
Scotland for over two decades.
Battle of Narbonne: Frankish forces under Charles Martel besiege
Narbonne, occupied by a Umayyad
garrison, but are unable to retake the fortress city. A
Lombard army under King
Liutprand crosses the
Alps, to aid Charles in expelling the Muslims from
Septimania. Meanwhile
Maurontus, duke or count of
Provence, raises a revolt from his unconquered city of
Marseille, and threatens the rear of the Franks.[37]
Battle of the River Berre: Frankish forces sent by Charles Martel intercept a large Muslim army sent from
Al-Andalus, (modern Spain) sent by
Uqba ibn al-Hajjaj to relieve the
siege of Narbonne. Both sides suffer heavy losses at the battlefield near the mouth of the
River Berre (a short distance south of Narbonne). Some of the Muslims rush back to their ships, and some penetrate through the Frankish forces and make it to the city, effectively saving it from the Franks.[38]
Following the death of
Theuderic IV, king of the Franks, the throne is left vacant for seven years. Charles Martel has his son
Childeric III exiled to a
monastery, and becomes sole ruler of the
Frankish Kingdom.
Emperor
Xuan Zong discards the policy of
conscripting men into the Chinese army to be replaced every three years, replacing them with long-service soldiers who are more battle-hardened and efficient (approximate date).
By topic
Catastrophe
A major
Japanese smallpox epidemic that started in 735 finally runs its course, but only after causing an estimated 25% to 35% mortality among the adult population in the country.[40]
King
Favila of Asturias dies after a 2-year reign (probably killed by a
bear). He is succeeded by his brother-in-law
Alfonso I, husband of his sister
Ermesinda.
Duke
Pemmo of Friuli is deposed by Liutprand, and succeeded by his son
Ratchis. He flees with his followers, but Ratchis secures his father's
pardon.
^Golden, Peter B. (2010). Turks and Khazars: origins, institutions, and interactions in pre-Mongol Eurasia. Farnham, England: Ashgate/Variorum.
ISBN978-1-4094-0003-5.
^Mayr-Harting, "Ecgberht (d. 766)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
^David Nicolle (2008). Poitiers AD 732, Charles Martel turns the Islamic tide (p. 19).
ISBN978-184603-230-1
^Riche, Pierre (1993). The Carolingians: A Family Who Forged Europe. University of Pennsylvania Press, p. 45.
ISBN0-8122-1342-4
^Lynch, Michael, ed. (February 24, 2011). The Oxford companion to Scottish history. Oxford University Press. p. 180.
ISBN9780199693054.
^Halsall, Guy (2003). Warfare and Society in the Barbarian West 450-900. London: Routledge, p. 226.
ISBN0-415-23939-7.
^Mastnak, Tomaz (2002). Crusading Peace: Christendom, the Muslim World, and Western Political Order. University of California Press, p. 101.
ISBN0-520-22635-6.
Charles Martel leads two raids across the
Loire River into the
Berry region. The
Franks seize and plunder
Bourges (central
France), but the city is immediately recaptured by Eudes of Aquitaine.
November 1 –
Synod of Rome: Gregory III summons a council at the shrine of
Saint Peter. All western bishops participate, including the Roman nobility. Gregory condemns Iconoclasm as a
heresy.[10]
September – Charles Martel leads his
Frankish army (30,000 men) to
Orléans and crosses the
Loire River, probably accompanied by Eudes of Aquitaine, with his remaining troops. He makes camp near
Tours, probably at
Ballan-Miré south-west of the fortress city, in order to protect the
abbey of
Saint Martin. Charles defeats or forces back Umayyad
scouts or an
advance guard, between the rivers
Indre and
Creuse. Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi pulls back to establish a position at the
Vienne River.[13]
October – The Frankish army crosses the Vienne River and establishes a camp at or around the partially abandoned Roman mansion or
agricultural settlement, now known as 'Vieux-Poitiers' (near
Châtellerault), perhaps using the Roman
theatre with its substantial towers as a
fortification. Charles Martel forms a defensive position across the Roman road, and fends off Muslim
skirmishes during the 'seven days' stand-off, probably involving scouts, and perhaps raiders from both armies.[14]
October 10 –
Battle of Tours: The Frankish and Burgundian forces under Charles Martel defeat a large army of Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi, near Poitiers, halting the
Islamic advance into Western Europe; Rahman Al Ghafiqi is killed during the battle. Charles extends his authority in the south of
France, which gives him the nickname Martellus ("The Hammer"). The outcome of the victory is a turning point, and establishes a balance of power between
Western Europe and the
Byzantine Empire.[15]
Muslim forces withdraw southwards to
Septimania; a separate part probably pulls back along the road it originally came through, across the Pyrenees Mountains. Eudes of Aquitaine pursues the main Muslim army via
La Marche, before returning to Bordeaux; Charles Martel withdraws to Frankish territory through Orléans and
Auxerre, demoting those
bishops whom he thought unreliable.
Abd al-Malik ibn Katan al-Fihri becomes the new governor (wali) of Al-Andalus; a separate Muslim force raids the
Rhône region.[12]
Ecgbert is appointed bishop of
York, by his cousin Ceolwulf of Northumbria.[17] He founds a
library, and makes the city a renowned centre of learning (approximate date).
March 23 – A large earthquake strikes the
Tang Dynasty city of Qinzhou (in the vicinity of modern-day
Tianshui City), causing serious damage and killing around 4000 people.[23]
King
Liutprand of the
Lombards raises his nephew
Hildeprand to co-kingship, after a serious illness (approximate date).
Siege of al-Sakhra:
Moors under
Uqba ibn al-Hajjaj (governor of
Al-Andalus) besiege
Pelagius, king of Asturias, in the uppermost Northern mountain ranges in Iberia. The battle ends inconclusively, with
Pelagius surviving, but 270 out of his 300 followers are killed (at least according to a Muslim chronicle from the 11th century).
King
Óengus I of the
Picts invades the neighbouring kingdom of
Dál Riata, which is subjugated. He takes the fortress of
Dunadd,[34] and establishes his rule in
Scotland for over two decades.
Battle of Narbonne: Frankish forces under Charles Martel besiege
Narbonne, occupied by a Umayyad
garrison, but are unable to retake the fortress city. A
Lombard army under King
Liutprand crosses the
Alps, to aid Charles in expelling the Muslims from
Septimania. Meanwhile
Maurontus, duke or count of
Provence, raises a revolt from his unconquered city of
Marseille, and threatens the rear of the Franks.[37]
Battle of the River Berre: Frankish forces sent by Charles Martel intercept a large Muslim army sent from
Al-Andalus, (modern Spain) sent by
Uqba ibn al-Hajjaj to relieve the
siege of Narbonne. Both sides suffer heavy losses at the battlefield near the mouth of the
River Berre (a short distance south of Narbonne). Some of the Muslims rush back to their ships, and some penetrate through the Frankish forces and make it to the city, effectively saving it from the Franks.[38]
Following the death of
Theuderic IV, king of the Franks, the throne is left vacant for seven years. Charles Martel has his son
Childeric III exiled to a
monastery, and becomes sole ruler of the
Frankish Kingdom.
Emperor
Xuan Zong discards the policy of
conscripting men into the Chinese army to be replaced every three years, replacing them with long-service soldiers who are more battle-hardened and efficient (approximate date).
By topic
Catastrophe
A major
Japanese smallpox epidemic that started in 735 finally runs its course, but only after causing an estimated 25% to 35% mortality among the adult population in the country.[40]
King
Favila of Asturias dies after a 2-year reign (probably killed by a
bear). He is succeeded by his brother-in-law
Alfonso I, husband of his sister
Ermesinda.
Duke
Pemmo of Friuli is deposed by Liutprand, and succeeded by his son
Ratchis. He flees with his followers, but Ratchis secures his father's
pardon.
^Golden, Peter B. (2010). Turks and Khazars: origins, institutions, and interactions in pre-Mongol Eurasia. Farnham, England: Ashgate/Variorum.
ISBN978-1-4094-0003-5.
^Mayr-Harting, "Ecgberht (d. 766)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
^David Nicolle (2008). Poitiers AD 732, Charles Martel turns the Islamic tide (p. 19).
ISBN978-184603-230-1
^Riche, Pierre (1993). The Carolingians: A Family Who Forged Europe. University of Pennsylvania Press, p. 45.
ISBN0-8122-1342-4
^Lynch, Michael, ed. (February 24, 2011). The Oxford companion to Scottish history. Oxford University Press. p. 180.
ISBN9780199693054.
^Halsall, Guy (2003). Warfare and Society in the Barbarian West 450-900. London: Routledge, p. 226.
ISBN0-415-23939-7.
^Mastnak, Tomaz (2002). Crusading Peace: Christendom, the Muslim World, and Western Political Order. University of California Press, p. 101.
ISBN0-520-22635-6.