Battle of Cologne
Date716
Location
Cologne
50°56′33.252″N 6°57′32.314″E / 50.94257000°N 6.95897611°E / 50.94257000; 6.95897611
Result Neustria-Frisian victory
Belligerents
Austrasia Neustria
Frisians
Commanders and leaders
Charles Martel Chilperic II
Redbad, King of the Frisians
Battle of Cologne is located in North Rhine-Westphalia
Battle of Cologne
Location within North Rhine-Westphalia
Battle of Cologne is located in Germany
Battle of Cologne
Battle of Cologne (Germany)
Battle of Cologne is located in Europe
Battle of Cologne
Battle of Cologne (Europe)

The Battle of Cologne was fought near the city of Köln (English: Cologne) (now part of Germany) in the year 716 AD. The battle is known chiefly as the first battle of Charles Martel's command and is the only defeat of his life.[1]

History

In 716, the king of the Franks, Chilperic II, and Ragenfrid, the mayor of the palace of Neustria, invaded Austrasia to impose their will on the competing factions there: those of Theudoald and Plectrude, grandson (and designated heir) and widow respectively of Martel's father Pepin of Heristal, and those of Martel himself, newly escaped from Plectrude's Cologne prison and acclaimed mayor of the palace of Austrasia. Simultaneously Radbod, King of Frisia invaded Austrasia and allied with the king and the Neustrians.

Outside of Cologne, held by Plectrude, an ill-prepared Charles Martel was defeated by Radbod, and forced to flee to the mountains of the Eifel. Cologne fell after a short siege to King Chilperic and the Neustrians. The Neustrians compelled Plectrude to acknowledge as king Chilperic, the son of Childeric II, having taken this Merovingian from the seclusion of the cloister, where he lived under the name of Daniel.[2]

Once in the mountains of the Eifel, Charles began to rally his supporters, and in short order was ready to do battle. He fell on the army of Chilperic II, and at the Battle of Amblève near Amel as they returned triumphantly from Cologne, crushed their army. He remained undefeated thereafter for the next twenty-five years.

References

  1. ↑ "Geschiedenis van het volk der Friezen". Boudicca.de. Archived from the original on 2009-06-08. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
  2. ↑ Kurth, Godefroid. "Charles Martel." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 3. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. 20 Jul. 2014

Literature

  • Oman, Charles. (1914). The Dark Ages 476–918. Rivingtons: London.
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