Battle of Amblève
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Amblève took place in 716
near Amel
. The mayor of the palace
of Austrasia
, Charles Martel
, defeated his Neustria
n and Frisian
rivals who were led by King Chilperic II
, his mayor Ragenfrid
, and Radbod, Duke of the Frisians
. It was the first major victory of Martel in a long career of victories. In fact, he remained undefeated the remainder of his life, over a quarter century against a wide variety of opponents, including internal ones such as these, the Caliphate, then one of the world's most powerful states, and a number of ferocious barbarians. In this battle Martel began demonstrating the military genius which would mark the remainder of his life.
Following his defeat at Cologne, Martel rallied his supporters in the mountains of the Eifel
. His forces then attacked the army of Chilperic II
and his allies at the Battle of Amblève near Ameland as they returned triumphantly from Cologne. Martel used a feigned retreat
, falling on his foes as they rested at midday, and feigning falling back to draw them fully out of a defensive position, where he defeated them. According to the Annals of Metz the casualties he inflicted on his foes were substantial. Martel remained undefeated until his death 25 years later.
Subsequently Martel recovered much of the ransom paid by Plectrude
to the king and Ragenfrid for Cologne
.
A "feigned retreat," which became famous as one of the Mongols' three favorite tactics, is one of the most difficult to perform during a battle, requiring discipline on the part of the troops and good timing on the part of the commander. The tactic involves getting troops to appear to flee only to reverse and stand once they have lured an opponent out of a stronger position, and have usually strung them out in pursuit, where they are easily picked off. Martel was the only general known to use it during the Dark Ages.
716
Year 716 was a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 716 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* Inal Khan succeeds Kapagan Khan and Bilge...
near Amel
Amel
Amel is a Belgian municipality in the Walloon province of Liège, and is part of the German-speaking Community of Belgium .On January 1, 2006 Amel had a total population of 5,282...
. The mayor of the palace
Mayor of the Palace
Mayor of the Palace was an early medieval title and office, also called majordomo, from the Latin title maior domus , used most notably in the Frankish kingdoms in the 7th and 8th centuries....
of Austrasia
Austrasia
Austrasia formed the northeastern portion of the Kingdom of the Merovingian Franks, comprising parts of the territory of present-day eastern France, western Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Metz served as its capital, although some Austrasian kings ruled from Rheims, Trier, and...
, Charles Martel
Charles Martel
Charles Martel , also known as Charles the Hammer, was a Frankish military and political leader, who served as Mayor of the Palace under the Merovingian kings and ruled de facto during an interregnum at the end of his life, using the title Duke and Prince of the Franks. In 739 he was offered the...
, defeated his Neustria
Neustria
The territory of Neustria or Neustrasia, meaning "new [western] land", originated in 511, made up of the regions from Aquitaine to the English Channel, approximating most of the north of present-day France, with Paris and Soissons as its main cities...
n and Frisian
Frisians
The Frisians are a Germanic ethnic group native to the coastal parts of the Netherlands and Germany. They are concentrated in the Dutch provinces of Friesland and Groningen and, in Germany, East Frisia and North Frisia, that was a part of Denmark until 1864. They inhabit an area known as Frisia...
rivals who were led by King Chilperic II
Chilperic II
Chilperic II , born Daniel, the youngest son of Childeric II, was king of Neustria from 715 and sole king of the Franks from 718 until his death. He was the last Merovingian dynast to exercise any authority on his own....
, his mayor Ragenfrid
Ragenfrid
Ragenfrid was the mayor of the palace of Neustria and Burgundy from 715, when he filled the vacuum in Neustria caused by the death of Pepin of Heristal, until 718, when Charles Martel finally established himself over the whole Frankish kingdom.His original centre of power was the Véxin...
, and Radbod, Duke of the Frisians
Radbod, King of the Frisians
Radbod was the king of Frisia from c. 680 until his death. He is often considered the last independent ruler of Frisia before Frankish domination. He defeated Charles Martel at Cologne. Eventually, however, Charles prevailed and compelled the Frisians to submit...
. It was the first major victory of Martel in a long career of victories. In fact, he remained undefeated the remainder of his life, over a quarter century against a wide variety of opponents, including internal ones such as these, the Caliphate, then one of the world's most powerful states, and a number of ferocious barbarians. In this battle Martel began demonstrating the military genius which would mark the remainder of his life.
Following his defeat at Cologne, Martel rallied his supporters in the mountains of the Eifel
Eifel
The Eifel is a low mountain range in western Germany and eastern Belgium. It occupies parts of southwestern North Rhine-Westphalia, northwestern Rhineland-Palatinate and the south of the German-speaking Community of Belgium....
. His forces then attacked the army of Chilperic II
Chilperic II
Chilperic II , born Daniel, the youngest son of Childeric II, was king of Neustria from 715 and sole king of the Franks from 718 until his death. He was the last Merovingian dynast to exercise any authority on his own....
and his allies at the Battle of Amblève near Ameland as they returned triumphantly from Cologne. Martel used a feigned retreat
Feigned retreat
A feigned retreat is a military tactic whereby an army will pretend to withdraw or that they have been routed in order to lure an enemy into a position of vulnerability. Feigned retreats are one of the more difficult tactics for an army to undertake, and require well-disciplined soldiers...
, falling on his foes as they rested at midday, and feigning falling back to draw them fully out of a defensive position, where he defeated them. According to the Annals of Metz the casualties he inflicted on his foes were substantial. Martel remained undefeated until his death 25 years later.
Subsequently Martel recovered much of the ransom paid by Plectrude
Plectrude
Plectrude was the wife of Pepin of Herstal, the mayor of the palace and duke of the Franks, from about 670. She was the daughter of Hugobert, seneschal of Clovis IV, and Irmina d'Oeren....
to the king and Ragenfrid for Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
.
A "feigned retreat," which became famous as one of the Mongols' three favorite tactics, is one of the most difficult to perform during a battle, requiring discipline on the part of the troops and good timing on the part of the commander. The tactic involves getting troops to appear to flee only to reverse and stand once they have lured an opponent out of a stronger position, and have usually strung them out in pursuit, where they are easily picked off. Martel was the only general known to use it during the Dark Ages.