Battle of Poitiers

From Freepedia

Several battles took place near Poitiers and are called Battle of Poitiers.

Battle of Tours/Poitiers (732)

Called Battle of Tours or Battle of Poitiers, this battle was fought on October 25, 732 between forces under the Frankish leader Charles Martel and an Islamic army led by Emir Abd er Rahman. During the battle, the Franks defeated the Islamic army. The result of this battle stopped the northward advance of Islam from Spain. This battle is considered by most historians to be of macrohistorical importance, in that it may have halted the invasion of Europe by Muslims, and preserved Christianity as the controlling faith, during a period in which Islam was overrunning the remains of the old Roman and Persian Empires. It is also notable in that the Frankish infantry were able to defeat mailed horsemen, without bows, a feat not thought possible. The Franks apparantly formed a large square, and fought a brilliant defensive battle that may well have determined the fate of Europe and preserved Christianity as the controlling faith in the face of an Islamic Empire that had overrun most of the old Roman and Persian Empires.

Battle of Poitiers (1356)

The Battle of Poitiers was fought between England, led by Edward, the Black Prince, and France, led by John II, King of France, on September 19, 1356, resulting in the second of the three great English victories of the Hundred Years War. King John was captured, with his immediate entourage. France would be asked to pay a ransom equivalent to twice the country's yearly income to have her king back, an impossible sum; and he would eventually die a prisoner in England. In many ways, Poitiers was a repeat of the Battle of Crécy, showing once again that superior strategy and tactics can overcome a numerical disadvantage.