Famous Men of the Middle Ages · Ch. VIII · Unit 3: Mohammed and the Saracens
13. Charles Martel and Pepin
Goal: Your child can tell who the "do-nothing" kings were, why Charles was called "the Hammer," and how Pepin became king.
You'll need
- The book, open to this chapter
- A map of Europe and the Mediterranean (a free online map or a globe)
- Paper and colored pencils
- Your timeline strip (see the tips at the top)
What's in the book
Chapter VIII (714-768 A.D.): the Saracens conquer Spain in 711. The Frankish kings, called the "Do-nothings," leave all the work to the mayors of the palace. Charles Martel, mayor of the palace, defeats the Saracen army of Abd-er-Rahman between Tours and Poitiers in 732. His son Pepin the Short kills a lion in the arena, asks the Pope who should be king, is crowned king of the Franks, and gives lands around Rome to the Pope ("Pepin's Donation").
The lesson, step by step
Set the scene
Find Spain, the Pyrenees, and then Tours and Poitiers in the middle of France. Say: The Saracens (the book's word for the Muslim armies) had crossed from Africa into Spain. Now they crossed the Pyrenees.
Read the chapter
Read Chapter VIII aloud. It begins:
After the death of Mohammed the Saracens, as Mohammedans are also called, became great warriors.
Tell it back
Prompts:
- Who were the "Do-nothings," and who really ruled?
- What happened on the seventh day of the battle near Tours?
- How did Pepin the Short show he was brave?
- What question did Pepin's friends ask the Pope?
Talk it over
Read the Pope's answer:
the man who has the power and does the duties.
Ask: Who do you think should be king: the person with the title, or the person who does the work? Is there any danger in the Pope's answer?
Then and now
The book calls the battle of Tours one of the decisive battles of the world, which decided that Christians, not Muslims, would rule Europe. Say: That was the usual view in 1904. Historians today still argue about how important this one battle was.
Remember it
Read how Charles got his name:
It is said that the name Martel was given to him because of his bravery during the fight.
SayThe book explains that marteau is the French word for hammer. Charles crushed his enemies the way a hammer crushes iron.
Add to the timeline: "732 Battle of Tours" and "Pepin crowned king of the Franks."
Extra (optional)
Draw the yearly parade of a "do-nothing" king in his gilded chariot, with Pepin quietly in charge behind him.
Afterwards
Ask: Why was Charles called Martel? Who was Pepin's father? Who was Pepin's son? (That last one is the next chapter.)
Tip
The mayor of the palace is a hard idea. Compare it to a team where the captain wears the armband but someone else calls all the plays.
Answers to the book's problems
The Do-nothings were Frankish kings who cared only for pleasure; the mayors of the palace did all the work of government. Abd-er-Rahman was killed, and the Saracens slipped away in the night, leaving their spoils. Pepin jumped into the arena and killed a lion with his sword when no one else would separate the lion and the bull. They asked who ought to be king: the man with the title, or the man with the power who does the duties. A danger: anyone strong enough could claim the throne.
Worked out for this site from the scan. If a number in your copy differs, trust the book.