Description: In the early decades of the 8th century AD, Islamic forces were flooding into Europe through the Iberian peninsula, threatening Frankish and Burgundian territory and raiding it with ever-increasing ferocity. At the battle of Poitiers, also known as Tours, Christian forces under the Frankish leader Charles Martel "The Hammer" (grandfather of Charlemagne) confronted a massive invading Islamic army. The Franks were victorious, effectively halting the northward advance of Islam and preserving Christianity as the dominant faith in Europe. Expert medievalist David Nicolle draws on contemporary sources to reconstruct this turning-point battle, places it in its historical context and reviews its background and immediate and longer-term historical consequences.
Brief description: David Nicolle is Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute of Medieval Studies, Nottingham University. He is the author of numerous books on aspects of medieval military history, including many for Osprey.
Review Quotes: "[Moslems] operated by staging rais varying from small to massive, and turned a greedy eye on what is now France. Here is the story of their largest and last raid, looting, burning and murdering the towns and their inhabitants until brought to bay at Poitiers. Although a large part of their army escaped, they never came back as a serious threat and the slow recover of Spain and Portugal began from the unconquered territories in northwest. Very highly recommended." --John Prigent, Internet Modeler (March 2008)