{"slug": "charles-martel", "label": "Charles Martel", "wikipedia": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Martel", "wikidata": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3301", "qid": "Q3301", "description": "Frankish military and political leader (c. 688–741)", "entries": 31, "years": 29, "span": [688, 773], "span_label": ["688 CE", "773 CE"], "topics": [{"title": "Conflict & Security", "count": 14}, {"title": "Deaths", "count": 8}, {"title": "Religion & Belief", "count": 7}, {"title": "Births", "count": 2}], "related": [{"slug": "francia", "label": "Francia", "shared": 10}, {"slug": "neustria", "label": "Neustria", "shared": 8}, {"slug": "kingdom-of-burgundy", "label": "Kingdom of Burgundy", "shared": 5}, {"slug": "austrasia", "label": "Austrasia", "shared": 5}, {"slug": "franks", "label": "Franks", "shared": 4}, {"slug": "umayyad-caliphate", "label": "Umayyad Caliphate", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "military-alliance", "label": "Military alliance", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "cologne", "label": "Cologne", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "pepin-of-herstal", "label": "Pepin of Herstal", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "odo-the-great", "label": "Odo the Great", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "carolingian-dynasty", "label": "Carolingian dynasty", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "lombards", "label": "Lombards", "shared": 2}], "items": [{"year": 688, "year_label": "688 CE", "section": "Births", "date": null, "text": "Charles Martel, Frankish statesman and founder of the Carolingian dynasty (d. 741)", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340806290#Births", "title": "688", "revid": 1340806290, "section": "Births"}}, {"year": 714, "year_label": "714 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": "December 16", "text": "December 16 – Pepin II (of Herstal), mayor of the Merovingian palace, dies at Jupille (modern Belgium). His grandson Theudoald (who at age eight was still well into early childhood) becomes the nominal mayor of the palace, while his wife Plectrude holds actual power and imprisons Pepin's illegitimate son Charles Martel.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364468088#Europe", "title": "714", "revid": 1364468088, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 715, "year_label": "715 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "Dagobert III dies of an illness and is succeeded by Chilperic II, son of Childeric II, as king of Neustria. Charles Martel is freed from prison at Cologne, and is proclaimed Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia at the capital Metz.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1367661130#Europe", "title": "715", "revid": 1367661130, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 716, "year_label": "716 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Battle of Cologne: Charles Martel, mayor of the palace of Austrasia, is defeated by the Neustrians under King Chilperic II and his mayor Ragenfrid near Cologne (now part of Germany), who have invaded Austrasia to impose their will on the competing Frankish factions of Theudoald and Plectrude, the child grandson (and designated heir) and widow respectively of Pepin of Herstal. Simultaneously, Radbod, king (or duke) of the Frisians, attacks Austrasia and allies with the Neustrians. Charles is forced to flee into the mountains of the Eifel (Ardennes).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340808331#Europe", "title": "716", "revid": 1340808331, "section": "Events › Byzantine Empire › Europe"}}, {"year": 717, "year_label": "717 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "March 21", "text": "March 21 – Battle of Vincy: Charles Martel invades Neustria and defeats the forces of King Chilperic II at Vincy, near Cambrai. He pursues him and his mayor of the palace Ragenfrid to Paris, before turning back to deal with his stepmother Plectrude at Cologne, to turn over half the wealth of his late father Pepin of Herstal. Charles allows both Plectrude and his nephew Theudoald (who at eleven was still a little child) to live (a gesture uncommon for the time), and obliges her to accept his sovereignty.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340808622#Western_Europe", "title": "717", "revid": 1340808622, "section": "Events › By place › Western Europe"}}, {"year": 718, "year_label": "718 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Battle of Soissons: King Chilperic II of Neustria and his mayor of the palace Ragenfrid, allied with Eudes, independent duke of Aquitaine, march on Soissons in Picardy (northern France) but an army of Frankish veterans under Charles Martel defeat the Neustrian allies, who sue for peace. Chilperic flees to the land south of the River Loire and Ragenfrid escapes to Angers. Charles diplomatically chooses not to execute the enemy leaders, and becomes undisputed dux Francorum, ending the Frankish civil war.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1367661186#Western_Europe", "title": "718", "revid": 1367661186, "section": "Events › By place › Western Europe"}}, {"year": 719, "year_label": "719 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Frisian–Frankish War: Charles Martel defeats Redbad, King of the Frisians. He easily invades Frisia (modern Netherlands) and subjugates the territory. Charles also crosses the Rhine and annexes \"farther\" Frisia, to the banks of the River Vlie.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1367050525#Europe", "title": "719", "revid": 1367050525, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 721, "year_label": "721 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": "February 13", "text": "February 13 – King Chilperic II dies at Attigny (Ardennes), after a five-year reign. He is succeeded by Theuderic IV, infant son of Dagobert III, as Merovingian ruler of the Franks, under the control of the mayor of the palace, Charles Martel.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340808636#Europe", "title": "721", "revid": 1340808636, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 722, "year_label": "722 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": "November 30", "text": "November 30 – Wessex-born Boniface is ordained as bishop of Germany by Pope Gregory II. Under the protection of Charles Martel (mayor of the palace), he concentrates his religious work in Hessia and Thuringia.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340808641#Religion", "title": "722", "revid": 1340808641, "section": "Events › By topic › Religion"}}, {"year": 724, "year_label": "724 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Ragenfrid, ex-mayor of the palace of Neustria, revolts against Charles Martel. He is easily defeated, and Ragenfrid gives up his sons as hostages, in return for being allowed to keep his lands in Anjou.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340808653#Europe", "title": "724", "revid": 1340808653, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 724, "year_label": "724 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "Rotrude of Treves, wife of Charles Martel", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340808653#Deaths", "title": "724", "revid": 1340808653, "section": "Deaths"}}, {"year": 725, "year_label": "725 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Charles Martel invades Bavaria, and kills Duke Grimoald in battle. His son Hugbert submits to Frankish suzerainty, and Charles brings back the Agilolfing princess Swanachild, who becomes his concubine (later his wife).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340808658#Europe", "title": "725", "revid": 1340808658, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 726, "year_label": "726 CE", "section": "Births", "date": null, "text": "Grifo, Frankish duke and son of Charles Martel (d. 753)", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340808661#Births", "title": "726", "revid": 1340808661, "section": "Births"}}, {"year": 730, "year_label": "730 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Charles Martel defeats the last independent dukedom of Alamannia, and incorporates it into the Frankish Empire. He also launches raids on the Saxons beyond the Rhine.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340808684#Europe", "title": "730", "revid": 1340808684, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 731, "year_label": "731 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "Ragenfrid, ex-mayor of the palace of Neustria, meets Duke Eudes of Aquitaine, to accept his rule and independence from the Frankish Kingdom. Fearing an alliance against him, Charles Martel exiles Ragenfrid's supporter Wandon of Fontenelle, and imprisons bishop Aimar of Auxerre.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1358697487#Europe", "title": "731", "revid": 1358697487, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 732, "year_label": "732 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Summer – Eudes of Aquitaine heads for the Frankish city of Reims, to warn Charles Martel, Merovingian mayor of the palace, of the Umayyad invasion in Gaul, and ask for his support against the invaders. The two leaders meet near Paris; Charles issues a 'general ban' to raise an army, which includes large numbers of Austrasians, Neustrians, and Burgundians. Meanwhile, Arabians ravage the cities of Périgueux, Saintes, and Angoulême, then sack the basilica of Saint-Hilaire outside Poitiers.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340808703#Europe", "title": "732", "revid": 1340808703, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 733, "year_label": "733 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "Duke Eudes of Aquitaine, aged almost 80, abdicates and retires to a monastery. His lands are divided between his sons Hunald I and Hatton, who continue the conflict with Charles Martel, mayor of the palace of Neustria and Austrasia. In battles at Benest in Charente and La Rochefoucauld (near Angoulême), Charles probably defeats the Aquitainians. He also campaigns against the Burgundians.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340809659#Europe", "title": "733", "revid": 1340809659, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 734, "year_label": "734 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Battle of the Boarn: The Franks under Charles Martel, mayor of the palace of Neustria and Austrasia, defeat the Frisians near the mouth of the River Boarn (now the Dutch province of Friesland). During the battle, the Frisian army is beaten and King Poppo is killed. The Franks gain control of the Frisian lands west of the Lauwers (Netherlands), and begin plundering the pagan sanctuaries. The Frisians become Frankish vassals, apart from the tribes living in East Frisia in present-day Germany.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340809669#Europe", "title": "734", "revid": 1340809669, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 735, "year_label": "735 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Charles Martel, Merovingian mayor of the palace, invades Burgundy. Duke Hunald I of Aquitaine refuses to recognise the authority of the Franks, whereupon Charles marches south of the River Loire, seizing the cities of Bordeaux and Blaye. Within 4 years he will have subdued all the Burgundian chieftains, while continuing to fight off Moorish advances into Gaul.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340809672#Europe", "title": "735", "revid": 1340809672, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 736, "year_label": "736 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Charles Martel, Merovingian mayor of the palace, forms local alliances with the Burgundians, and imposes Frankish domination on Provence. He defeats Muslim forces at Sernhac and Beaucaire in Septimania (Southern France).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340809679#Europe", "title": "736", "revid": 1340809679, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 737, "year_label": "737 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Battle of Avignon: Frankish forces under Charles Martel, Merovingian Mayor of the Palace, retake Avignon from the Muslim forces, and destroy the Umayyad stronghold. Charles sends his brother Childebrand I, duke of Burgundy, to besiege the city. After his arrival, Charles leads the Frankish troops by using rope ladders and battering rams to attack the fortified walls, which are burned to the ground following its capture.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340809689#Europe", "title": "AD 737", "revid": 1340809689, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 738, "year_label": "738 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Charles Martel, Merovingian mayor of the palace, begins a campaign against the Saxons (in modern-day Westphalia) on the northeast frontier. They are subdued and must pay him tribute.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340809691#Europe", "title": "738", "revid": 1340809691, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 739, "year_label": "739 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "The Lombards under King Liutprand sack the Exarchate of Ravenna, and threaten Rome. Pope Gregory III asks Charles Martel, Merovingian mayor of the palace, to help fight the Lombards (he also requests assistance in fighting the Byzantines and the Arabs). Liutprand signs a peace accord, and pulls back his forces to Pavia. After the pope's appeal to the Franks, a relationship begins that will continue as the Frankish Kingdom gains power.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340809724#Europe", "title": "739", "revid": 1340809724, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 741, "year_label": "741 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": "October 22", "text": "October 22 – Charles Martel, Frankish statesman and founder of the Carolingian dynasty", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1322653390#Deaths", "title": "741", "revid": 1322653390, "section": "Deaths"}}, {"year": 742, "year_label": "742 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "Chrodegang, chancellor of Charles Martel, is appointed bishop of Metz and embarks on a reorganisation of the Frankish church.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340809740#Religion", "title": "742", "revid": 1340809740, "section": "Events › By topic › Religion"}}, {"year": 748, "year_label": "748 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": "January 18", "text": "January 18 – Duke Odilo of Bavaria dies after a 12-year reign. Grifo, youngest son of Charles Martel, seeks to establish his own rule by seizing the duchy for himself, and abducts Odilo's infant son Tassilo III.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340809772#Europe", "title": "748", "revid": 1340809772, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 751, "year_label": "751 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": "November", "text": "November – Pepin the Short, youngest son of Charles Martel, forces the last Merovingian king Childeric III to retire to the monastery of Saint-Bertin. He proclaims himself as king of the Franks with the support of Pope Zachary, and is crowned at Soissons by Boniface, bishop of Mainz, becoming, as Pepin III, the first Carolingian monarch of the Frankish Kingdom.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340809785#Europe", "title": "751", "revid": 1340809785, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 753, "year_label": "753 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Grifo, Frankish duke and illegitimate son of Charles Martel, rebels against King Pepin III (\"the Short\") (his half-brother), in alliance with the Bretons. He flees to Italy to join King Aistulf of the Lombards, but is caught and killed while passing the Alps.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340809798#Europe", "title": "753", "revid": 1340809798, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 753, "year_label": "753 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "Grifo, Frankish duke and son of Charles Martel (b. 726)", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340809798#Deaths", "title": "753", "revid": 1340809798, "section": "Deaths"}}, {"year": 772, "year_label": "772 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "Remigius of Rouen, archbishop, illegitimate son of Charles Martel", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1359487792#Deaths", "title": "772", "revid": 1359487792, "section": "Deaths"}}, {"year": 773, "year_label": "773 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "Summer – King Charlemagne and his uncle Bernard, son of Charles Martel, cross the Alps with a Frankish expeditionary force at the request of Pope Adrian I. At the foot of the mountains in the Susa Valley (Northern Italy), the Franks are hindered by Lombard fortifications. After scouting, Charlemagne attacks the defenders from the flank, and forces the Lombards to flee to the fortified capital Pavia.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369635460#Europe", "title": "773", "revid": 1369635460, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}]}