Charles Martel ~ Mayor of the Palace

     Charles Martel ~ Mayor of the Palace was born in 688 at Heristal, Wallonia, France, now Belgium.^1,2 He was the son of Pépin II of Heristal , Mayor of the Palace in Austrasia and Aupais. Martel means hammer.¹

Charles Martel ~ Mayor of the Palace married Chrotrude ~ Duchess of Austrasia, daughter of Saint Liévin ~ Count and Bishop of Trèves.¹ When Pépin of Heristal died in 714, Charles Martel had to overcome opposition from the family of Pépin's first wife Pletrude. By 718, Charles had triumphed, gaining not only his father's office of Mayor of the Palace, but also his father's fortune. He then vanquished other Frankish leaders to greatly extend his realm. The Merovingian kings Childperic II (reigned 715-721) and Theuderic IV (reigned 721-737) were mere figureheads, and the Mayor of the Palace possessed supreme authority. Following the death of King Theuderic IV in 737, Charles Martel ruled alone as Mayor of the Palace. Although the throne was vacant, Charles did not attempt to claim it.³

Charles Martel ~ Mayor of the Palace married Rotrou of Allemania, daughter of Saint Liévin ~ Count and Bishop of Trèves and daughter of Rutpert.^1,2,3,4,5,6 Charles' most spectacular victory came in 732 when he triumphed over an invading Islamic army from Spain at the Battle of Poitiers, also called the Battle of Tours, and is regarded as one of the most decisive battles in the history of the world. The fighting began near Tours, France, and ended near Poitiers. Charles was later called Martel, meaning "the Hammer", because of his victory over the Muslims.^1,2,3,5 In order to maintain his power, Charles had to engage in continual struggles with various princes, both secular and ecclesiastical. Following his victory at Poitiers in 732, he attacked some unruly bishops including Eucherius of Orléans. Because of this, his memory suffered. During the ninth century, his tomb at the abbey of St. Denis is said to had been opened by the abbot, and a hideous dragon supposedly emerged from a blackened, charred and otherwise barren coffin; thus demonstrating Charles Martel's damnation for despoiling the Church of its property. Later historians at St. Denis said he had taken Church lands only temporarily and had intended eventually to reimburse and further enrich the Church.³ Charles Martel ~ Mayor of the Palace died on 22 October 741 at Quierzy, France.^1,2,3,5,4 He was buried at Basilica of Saint-Denis, Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis, Île-de-France, France.