Battle of Tours
732 CE · France
The Battle of Tours was fought in 732 CE in France between Franks and Aquitanians vs the Umayyad Caliphate; decisive Frankish victory; the Umayyad advance into western Europe was halted.
Battle of Tours: quick facts
- Date
- 732 CE
- Location
- France
- Belligerents
- Franks and Aquitanians vs the Umayyad Caliphate
- Commanders
- Charles Martel vs Abd al-Rahman al-Ghafiqi
- Result
- decisive Frankish victory; the Umayyad advance into western Europe was halted.
- Era
- 🏰 Medieval Europe
- Quiz difficulty
- hard
What happened at the Battle of Tours?
Charles Martel's Frankish army halted the Umayyad Caliphate's advance into Western Europe, a victory many historians consider among the most decisive in world history. The Frankish infantry held firm against repeated cavalry charges, and the Umayyad commander Abd al-Rahman was killed. The battle preserved Christian Western Europe and established the Carolingian dynasty's prestige, paving the way for Charlemagne.
Did you know?
Charles Martel's nickname 'The Hammer' came from the way his infantry smashed the Umayyad cavalry charges at Tours. His grandson Charlemagne would go on to become the first Holy Roman Emperor.
Sources and further reading
- Battle of Tours on Wikipedia for the full account, historiography and primary sources.
- How BattleGuess compiles and checks battle facts: see the About page.
Entry last reviewed 26 September 2026.