Page "Battle of Tours" Paragraph 48

In 735, the new governor of al-Andalus again invaded Gaul.

Antonio Santosuosso and other historians detail how the new governor of Al-Andalus, ' Uqba b. Al-Hajjaj, again moved into France to avenge the defeat at Poitiers and to spread Islam.

Santosuosso notes that ' Uqba b. Al-Hajjaj converted about 2, 000 Christians he captured over his career.

In the last major attempt at forcible invasion of Gaul through Iberia, a sizable invasion force was assembled at Saragossa and entered what is now French territory in 735, crossed the River Rhone and captured and looted Arles.

From there, he struck into the heart of Provence, ending with the capture of Avignon, despite strong resistance.

Uqba b. Al-Hajjaj's forces remained in French territory for about four years, carrying raids to Lyons, Burgundy, and Piedmont.

Again Charles Martel came to the rescue, reconquering most of the lost territories in two campaigns in 736 and 739, except for the city of Narbonne, which finally fell in 759.

Alessandro Santosuosso strongly argues that the second ( Umayyad ) expedition was probably more dangerous than the first.

The second expedition's failure put an end to any serious Muslim expedition across the Pyrenees, although raids continued.

Plans for further large-scale attempts were hindered by internal turmoil in the Umayyad lands which often made enemies out of their own kind.