I know this scenario may be ASB, and I’m not an expert on Medieval European history, but hear me out.
Let’s say that the Umayyad raiders win the Battle of Tours, and Charles Martel is killed. The Umayyads use this as an opportunity to expand their borders past Septimania into more of Southern France, conquering Toulouse. With the Franks bloodied, the Duke of Provence, Maurontus, seeks aid from the Muslims to secure independence from the Franks. Without Martel, this succeeds, and Provence becomes a tributary of the Umayyads. Muslim control stretches from Toulouse in the west to Lyon in the north, ending in the east at the Alps. This Southern France Muslim Emirate is defended by the cities of Toulouse and Lyon as well as the mountainous terrain of the South of France, and grows rich from trade. Overtime the locals begin to convert to Islam, and the local dialect is influenced by Arabic.
Once again I know this scenario may seem very implausible, but I wanted to get your takes on it. What could an Emirate in the South of France look like? Would Muslims continue their conquests further into France and the rest of Europe, like Italy for example, or would they already be too overextended (as they already were by taking Spain by itself)? How would Occitan culture and language be impacted by Muslim rule? What would the culture of this alternate “Arbunah” (Muslim Septimania) and Muslim Provence look like? Would they quickly fall or is there a chance for survival? How do the Christians of Europe respond, and without Martel will there ever be any major Christian empires in the west to challenge the Caliphate?
Let’s say that the Umayyad raiders win the Battle of Tours, and Charles Martel is killed. The Umayyads use this as an opportunity to expand their borders past Septimania into more of Southern France, conquering Toulouse. With the Franks bloodied, the Duke of Provence, Maurontus, seeks aid from the Muslims to secure independence from the Franks. Without Martel, this succeeds, and Provence becomes a tributary of the Umayyads. Muslim control stretches from Toulouse in the west to Lyon in the north, ending in the east at the Alps. This Southern France Muslim Emirate is defended by the cities of Toulouse and Lyon as well as the mountainous terrain of the South of France, and grows rich from trade. Overtime the locals begin to convert to Islam, and the local dialect is influenced by Arabic.
Once again I know this scenario may seem very implausible, but I wanted to get your takes on it. What could an Emirate in the South of France look like? Would Muslims continue their conquests further into France and the rest of Europe, like Italy for example, or would they already be too overextended (as they already were by taking Spain by itself)? How would Occitan culture and language be impacted by Muslim rule? What would the culture of this alternate “Arbunah” (Muslim Septimania) and Muslim Provence look like? Would they quickly fall or is there a chance for survival? How do the Christians of Europe respond, and without Martel will there ever be any major Christian empires in the west to challenge the Caliphate?
Last edited: