Charles Martel
Charles Martel, also known as Charles the Hammer, was a Frankish military leader and statesman who lived from 686 to 741 AD. He was the illegitimate son of Pepin of Herstal and became the de facto ruler of Francia (now modern-day France) after his father's death.
Martel is best known for his victory in the Battle of Tours in 732, where his Frankish forces defeated an invading Muslim army from the Umayyad Caliphate. This battle is often seen as a turning point in European history as it halted the advance of Muslim forces into Western Europe and preserved Christianity as the dominant religion of the region.
Martel's military strategies and innovations, such as a heavy infantry formation known as the phalanx, contributed to his success on the battlefield. He also established a centralized Frankish government and used his position to establish a dynasty that would eventually become the Carolingian dynasty, resulting in his grandson, Charlemagne, becoming the first Holy Roman Emperor.
Martel's reign saw the expansion of Frankish territory and the consolidation of Frankish power, laying the foundation for the Carolingian Empire. He is often considered one of the great military leaders of the Middle Ages and played a crucial role in shaping the course of European history.