Having crossed the Pyrenees they met with but slight opposition and
soon succeeded in making themselves masters of Southern France,
thereby furthering and encouraging their boastful ambition to
conquer and Islamize the whole world.
Already had Africa, Asia Minor, and Eastern Europe acknowledged
their rule, and the final subjugation of all Christendom by the
Mahometan sword seemed certain and imminent.
Their long and uninterrupted career of success had fed their
arrogance and filled them with a proud confidence in the
invincibility of their arms, and their farther advance into the
heart of Europe seemed, in the eyes of Christian and pagan alike,
to be the irresistible march of destiny.
The Saracen host had not penetrated far into the Frankish territory
when they encountered "a lion in the path," in the person of
Charles (or Karl), the great palace-mayor--so called, but who was
in reality the _defacto_ sovereign of the Frankish kingdoms.
To Charles, famous for his military skill and prestige, came the
recently defeated Eudes, the count of Aquitaine, and the remnant of
his force, craving his protection and leadership against the
advancing Saracen horde.
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