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Birth:           689 of Heristol, Leige, Belgium
Death:          22 Nov  741 Quierzy, Aisne, France

Notes
also  King of the Franks
victor at the Battle of Poitiers, 676
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Martel
Charles Martel (c. 686 – 22 October 741) was a Frankish statesman and military leader 
who as Duke and Prince of the Franks and Mayor of the Palace, was de facto ruler of 
Francia from 718 until his death.[3][4][5][6] The son of the Frankish statesman Pepin 
of Herstal and a noblewoman named Alpaida, Charles successfully asserted his claims 
to power as successor to his father as the power behind the throne in Frankish 
politics. Continuing and building on his father's work, he restored centralized 
government in Francia and began the series of military campaigns that re-established 
the Franks as the undisputed masters of all Gaul.

After work to establish a unity in Gaul, Charles' attention was called to foreign 
conflicts, and dealing with the Islamic advance into Western Europe was a foremost 
concern. Arab and Berber Islamic forces had conquered Spain (711), crossed the 
Pyrenees (720), seized a major dependency of the Visigoths (721–725),[7] and after 
intermittent challenges, under Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi, the Arab Governor of al-
Andalus, advanced toward Gaul and on Tours, "the holy town of Gaul"; in October 
732, the army of the Umayyad Caliphate led by Al Ghafiqi met Frankish and 
Burgundian forces under Charles in an area between the cities of Tours and Poitiers 
(modern north-central France[8]), leading to a decisive, historically important Frankish 
victory known as the Battle of Tours (or ma'arakat Balâ? ash-Shuhadâ, Battle of the 
Palace of Martyrs), ending the "last of the great Arab invasions of France," a military 
victory termed "brilliant" on the part of Charles.[9][10][11][12][13]

Charles further took the offensive after Tours, destroying fortresses at Agde, Béziers 
and Maguelonne, and engaging Islamic forces at Nimes, though ultimately failing to 
recover Narbonne (737) or to fully reclaim the Visigoth's Narbonensis.[9] He thereafter 
made significant further external gains against fellow Christian realms, establishing 
Frankish control over Bavaria, Alemannia, and Frisia, and compelling some of the 
Saxon tribes to offer tribute (738).[9]

Apart from the military endeavours, Charles is considered to be a founding figure of 
the European Middle Ages.[14] Skilled as an administrator as well as a warrior, he is 
credited with a seminal role in the emerging responsibilities of the knights of courts, 
and so in the development of the Frankish system of feudalism.[15] Moreover, Charles
—a great patron of Saint Boniface—made the first attempt at reconciliation between the 
Franks and the Papacy.[citation needed] Pope Gregory III, whose realm was being 
menaced by the Lombards, wished Charles to become the defender of the Holy See 
and offered him the Roman consulship, though Charles declined.[9][16][17][18]

He divided Francia between his sons Carloman and Pepin. The latter became the first 
of the Carolingians. Charles' grandson, Charlemagne, extended the Frankish realms to 
include much of the West, and became the first Emperor in the West since the fall of 
Rome.[5]
Background[edit]

Charles "The Hammer" Martel was the son of Pepin of Herstal and his second wife 
Alpaida.[19][20][21][22] He had a brother named Childebrand, who later became the 
Frankish dux (that is, duke) of Burgundy.

In older historiography, it was common to describe Charles as "illegitimate". This is still 
widely repeated in popular culture today. But, polygamy was a legitimate Frankish 
practice at the time and it is unlikely that Charles was considered "illegitimate". It is 
likely that the interpretation of "illegitimacy" is an idea derived of Pepin's first wife's 
(Plectrude's) desire to see her progeny as heirs to Pepin's power.[19][20]

After the reign of Dagobert I (629–639) the Merovingians effectively ceded power to 
the Pippinids, who ruled the Frankish realm of Austrasia in all but name as Mayors of 
the Palace. They controlled the royal treasury, dispensed patronage, and granted land 
and privileges in the name of the figurehead king. Charles' father, Pepin, was the 
second member of the family to rule the Franks. Pepin was able to unite all the 
Frankish realms by conquering Neustria and Burgundy. He was the first to call himself 
Duke and Prince of the Franks, a title later taken up by Charles.
Family and children[edit]

Charles had an active family life, about which accounts have been written. Charles 
Martel married twice, his first wife being Rotrude of Treves, daughter either of Lambert 
II, Count of Hesbaye, or of Leudwinus, Count of Treves. They had the following 
children:


Hiltrud,
Carloman,[27]:50
Landrade, also rendered Landres,
 Auda, also called Aldana or Alane, and
Pepin the Short, also called Pippin,[27]:50
 

Most of the children married, and had children in those marriages, and so Charles' line 
was carried on. For instance, Hiltrud married Odilo I (a Duke of Bavaria). Landrade 
had been believed to have married a Sigrand (Count of Hesbania) but Sigrand's wife is 
more likely the sister of Rotrude. Auda married Thierry IV (a Count of Autun and 
Toulouse). Charles also married a second time, to Swanhild, and they had a single 
child, Grifo.[27]:50

Finally, Charles Martel also had known a mistress, Ruodhaid, with whom he had the 
children Bernard, Hieronymus, and Remigius, the latter who became an archbishop of 
Rouen.

Parents
OF HERISTAL Pepin (ABT  635 - 16 Dec  714)
____ Alpaide (Aupais) (ABT  654 - ABT  715)

Siblings
MARTEL Charles (Karl) "the Hammer" ( 689 - 22 Nov  741)
____ Childebrande I ( 691 -  751)

Marriage To ____ Chrotrude (Rotrude) (ABT  690 -  724)
    m.  

Notes
his first

Parents
____ Leudwinus (Lievin) "Saint" (ABT  660 - 29 Sep  722)
----- ----- (ABT  660 - )

Children by ____ Chrotrude (Rotrude) ABT  690 -  724
____ Pepin III "Le Bref" ("the Short") ( 715 - 24 Sep  768)
____ Carloman (ABT  715 -  754)
____ Bernard (ABT  720 - )
DE FRANCIA Aude (Aldane) (ABT  720 - BEF  805)

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