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Battle of Toulouse (721)

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Rhone, where naturalized Franks had settled down decades or centuries before. After Odo originally fled, the Umayyads became overconfident, and instead of maintaining strong outer defenses around their siege camp, and continuously scouting, did neither. Thus, when Odo returned, he was able to launch an assault on the siege force, both from behind and from forces within the walls. The surprised Umayyads scattered with the first attack. Odo's forces cut down those that were resting or fled without weapons or armour.
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Odo returned three months later with Aquitanian, Gascon, and Frankish troops, and just as the city was about to surrender, attacked the Umayyad invasion force on June 9. The exact origin of the Frankish troops is not certain, but they may have hailed from southern Aquitanian areas, e.g., in the Lower
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sense in that it gave Charles Martel badly needed time to strengthen his grip on power and build the veteran army which stood him in such good stead eleven years later at Tours. The eleven years between Toulouse and Tours without question gave him time to fully secure power, inspire the loyalty of
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had sent Odo "three blessed sponges/baskets of bread" in 720, which the Duke kept until just before the engagement. He distributed small portions of these to be eaten by his troops at Toulouse, and after the battle, it was reported that no one who had eaten the bread had been killed or wounded.
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Odo's victory earned him widespread renown in Aquitaine and recognition abroad. He was hailed as champion of Christianity by the Pope in Rome, and was presented with gifts. Charles steered clear of the political and military developments in the south of Gaul for another 10 years, until 732.
496:(721–725) as governor. The number of soldiers who engaged in the battle has been grossly inflated to about 300,000 on Odo's side (Al-Maqqari), and a death-toll of 375,000 on the assaulting Umayyad troops. The figures give a rough idea of the scale of the confrontation. In a letter to 526:. However, the clash halted indefinitely the Umayyad expansion northwards. Al-Andalus was at the time re-organising into a new post-Gothic order. The Umayyads kept the military initiative raiding several times the south of Gaul (up to 880: 279: 272: 522:
Arab historians agree that the Battle of Toulouse was a total disaster for the Arabs. After the defeat, some Umayyad officials and soldiers managed to escape, among them
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of Toulouse; others attach that name exclusively to the Battle of Poitiers (Tours). According to Meadows, it would be still remembered in memorials by
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Some historians believe that the Battle of Toulouse halted the Muslim conquest of Europe even more than the later—and more celebrated—
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History of the Conquest of Spain by the Arab Moors, With a Sketch of the Civilization Which They Achieved, and Imparted to Europe
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Al-Samh ibn Malik al-Khawlani managed to get away with a fraction of his forces, but died shortly thereafter, leaving
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Watson, William E., "The Battle of Tours-Poitiers Revisited", Providence: Studies in Western Civilization, 2 (1993)
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Ian Meadows, "The Arabs in Occitania", Arab and Islamic Cultures and Connections, Archive: Saudi Aramco World
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Al-Samh's army included siege engines, infantry, a few horsemen and a number of mercenaries, as well as
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However, others (e.g. Archibald Lewis, Roger Collins, etc.) hold that Umayyad attacks were raids or
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his troops, and, most importantly, drill the core of veterans who stood so stoutly in 732.
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Martin, Robert W. "The Battle of Tours is still felt today", from about.com
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in 725), but avoided new serious campaigns into the north-west.
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Baker, Patrick S. (2013). "The Battle of the River Berre".
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Tours,Poiters, from "Leaders and Battles Database" online.
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Santosuosso, Anthony, Barbarians, Marauders, and Infidels
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A miracle is associated with the battle according to the
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Muslims for the following 450 years, as opposed to the
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Military history of Occitania (administrative region)
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While Odo faded into history after his 732 defeat at
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Some authors have called the fateful engagement the
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Gorgias Press. p. 13. 436:states that al-Samh's aim was to take the 280: 266: 258: 144: 127: 19:For other battles with the same name, see 693: 691: 689: 687: 116:Learn how and when to remove this message 588:, like the one reaching as far north as 876:Battles involving the Umayyad Caliphate 616: 576:victory at Toulouse was important in a 708: 549:, held as a battle smaller in scale. 7: 797:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire 54:adding citations to reliable sources 463:slingers. He besieged the city of 14: 153:seen from the hills of Pech-David 30: 41:needs additional citations for 772:University of California Press 1: 906:720s in the Umayyad Caliphate 675:and drove the survivors from 404:Al-Samh ibn Malik al-Khawlani 379:al-Samh ibn Malik al-Khawlani 230:Al-Samh ibn Malik al-Khawlani 65:"Battle of Toulouse" 721 891:Military history of Toulouse 641:(2). Karwansaray BV: 44–48. 440:valley, capture the city of 597:Battle of the River Garonne 373:army besieging the city of 922: 494:Anbasa ibn Suhaym Al-Kalbi 354:(721) was a victory of an 18: 871:Battles involving Francia 762:Nelson, Janet L. (2019). 561:(10 October 732, between 299: 243: 218: 201: 157: 143: 135: 432:. British archaeologist 291:Umayyad invasion of Gaul 138:Islamic invasion of Gaul 524:Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi 901:8th century in Francia 412:(governor-general) of 387:(governor-general) of 219:Commanders and leaders 471:, otherwise known as 244:Casualties and losses 659:After three months, 599:, near current days 426:Frankish sovereignty 50:improve this article 838: /  768:Oakland, California 309:River Garonne (732) 842:43.6000°N 1.4500°E 720:Mann, pgs. 165–166 547:Battle of Poitiers 506:Liber Pontificalis 352:Battle of Toulouse 339:Narbonne (752–759) 208:Duchy of Aquitaine 193:Aquitanian victory 179:Duchy of Aquitaine 131:Battle of Toulouse 21:Battle of Toulouse 665:Duke of Aquitaine 450:Mediterranean Sea 430:Duke of Aquitaine 424:, formally under 367:Duke of Aquitaine 347: 346: 329:River Berre (737) 256: 255: 213:Umayyad Caliphate 197: 196: 126: 125: 118: 100: 913: 853: 852: 850: 849: 848: 843: 839: 836: 835: 834: 831: 795:Gibbon, Edward. 785: 749: 748: 727: 721: 718: 712: 706: 700: 695: 682: 681: 635:Medieval Warfare 630: 539:Balat Al Shuhada 395:into Aquitaine. 294: 292: 282: 275: 268: 259: 238: 159: 158: 148: 128: 121: 114: 110: 107: 101: 99: 58: 34: 26: 921: 920: 916: 915: 914: 912: 911: 910: 886:Islam in France 856: 855: 847:43.6000; 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Index

Battle of Toulouse

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Islamic invasion of Gaul

Toulouse
Toulouse
Duchy of Aquitaine
Francia
Duchy of Aquitaine
Umayyad Caliphate
Odo the Great
Al-Samh ibn Malik al-Khawlani

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t
e
Umayyad invasion of Gaul
Toulouse (721)
River Garonne (732)
Tours (732)

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