---
title: Statue of Charles Martel
author: Babeth Étiève-Cartwright
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21282/statue-of-charles-martel/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 2025-11-30
---

# Statue of Charles Martel

_Authored by [Babeth Étiève-Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/bab.cartwright/)_

## Image File

[![Statue of Charles Martel](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/21282.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/21282.jpg)

## Image Caption

Statue of Charles Martel at the [Château de Chambord](https://www.worldhistory.org/Château_de_Chambord/), photograph by Babeth Étiève-Cartwright, France, 30 October, 2025.

Charles Martel (r. 718-741) was the illegitimate son of Pepin II (r. 687-714), and his concubine Alpaïde, born while he had temporarily repudiated his wife Plectrude. Although a ‘bastard’, Charles came from a powerful noble family, the Peppinids, and his formidable energy earned him the nickname Martel (the hammer). Following his father's [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/) in 714, he was imprisonned by Plectrude, the first wife of Pepin II but, taking advantage of the general unrest of the time, he escaped and took the lead of the Austrasian rebels. Charles would unify the Merovingian state and ward off numerous external attacks from various Germanic tribes. He is best remembered for his victory over the Arab invasion at Poitiers (alias [Battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) of Tours in 732). His son Pepin the Short (r. 751-768) would later found the [Carolingian dynasty](https://www.worldhistory.org/Carolingian_Dynasty/).

#### Editorial Review

This human-authored image has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).

## About the Author

Babeth, Head of Translation, has a degree in English and French as a Foreign Language. Fluent in French, English and Italian, she used to teach English at the British Council in Milan, Italy.
- [Linkedin Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/babeth-etiève-cartwright-b94)

## Cite This Work

### APA
Étiève-Cartwright, B. (2025, November 30). Statue of Charles Martel. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21282/statue-of-charles-martel/>
### Chicago
Étiève-Cartwright, Babeth. "Statue of Charles Martel." *World History Encyclopedia*, November 30, 2025. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21282/statue-of-charles-martel/>.
### MLA
Étiève-Cartwright, Babeth. "Statue of Charles Martel." *World History Encyclopedia*, 30 Nov 2025, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21282/statue-of-charles-martel/>.

## License & Copyright

Submitted by [Babeth Étiève-Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/bab.cartwright/ "User Page: Babeth Étiève-Cartwright"), published on 30 November 2025. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.