On this day- Evan Hays

October 10th
732 AD

Its a rainy day in Tours, Southern France.

They are the end of Summer rains, pouring heavily for stretches of over 3 days. The ground that will in the spring and summer produce the worlds greatest wines is now saturated with rain and blood.

On October 10th, 732, the Muslim armies of the Ummayad Caliphate, fresh from their victories in Spain, mount their attack into France and Europe. The army of 50,000 Berber and North African Moor foot soldiers and cavalry have rolled across disorganized European resistance. Now, in front of them, stands a ragtag band of 25,000 Vikings, Normans, and Lombards. The European army, armored in patchwork rags and outfitted with anything from swords to hatchets. In the rain and mud, the Viking led army destroyed almost half of the invading Muslim forces, driving them all the way to Portugal before the years end and the dissolution of the European fighting force.

This battle decided the fate of Europe, had it not been won by Frankish forces the Europe would have undoubtedly fallen to Islamic warriors, and with them philosophy. As for whether or not this is a good thing, I cant say. I can only predict what would happen if the battle had been won by the Muslim forces, and even then what is "good" is subject to interpretation. However the significance of the battle remains.