Editing Carolingian Empire (section)

=== Rise of the Carolingians (732–768) ===
{{See also|List of Frankish kings|Carolingian dynasty}}Though [[Charles Martel]] chose not to take the title of king (as his son [[Pepin III]] would) or emperor (as his grandson [[Charlemagne]]), he was the absolute ruler of virtually all of today's continental [[Western Europe]] north of the [[Pyrenees]]. Only the remaining Saxon realms, which he partly conquered, [[Lombardy]], and the [[Marca Hispanica]] south of the Pyrenees were significant additions to the Frankish realms after his death.

Martel cemented his place in history with his defense of Christian Europe against a Muslim army at the [[Battle of Tours]] in 732. The Iberian [[Saracen]]s had incorporated Berber light horse cavalry with the heavy Arab cavalry to create a formidable army that had almost never been defeated. Christian European forces, meanwhile, lacked the powerful tool of the [[stirrup]]. In this victory, Charles earned the surname ''Martel'' ("the Hammer").<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Magill |first=Frank |title=Dictionary of World Biography: The Middle Ages, Volume 2 |publisher=Routledge |year=1998 |isbn=978-1-5795-8041-4 |pages=228, 243}}</ref> [[Edward Gibbon]], the historian of Rome and its aftermath, called Charles Martel "the paramount prince of his age".

Pepin III accepted the nomination as king by [[Pope Zachary]] in about 741. Charlemagne's rule began in 768 at Pepin's death. He proceeded to take control of the kingdom following his brother Carloman's death, as the two brothers co-inherited their father's kingdom. Charlemagne was crowned Roman Emperor in the year 800.{{Sfn|McKitterick|2008|p=23}}
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