Battle of Tourtour
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Tourtour of 973
was a great victory for the Christian
forces of William I of Provence
over the Andalusi pirates based at Fraxinetum.
For several decades, the Saracen
s had been making inroads into Provence
, building several fortresses, the greatest of which was at Fraxinetum, the castle of La Garde-Freinet
. From these bases, they raided and pillaged, capturing goods and people to be sold in faroff Moslem ports. Though they were opposed strongly at first, soon the Provençals settled down to a more passive resistance.
, and demanded a ransom. Much venerated by his monks, his ransom was quickly obtained. The monks responded, however, once their abbot was released, by stirring up a fury in Provence against the Andulisian menace. The peasantry and the nobles were united in their antipathy towards the Andalisis and together implored their ruler, Count William, to act against them. William, equally disturbed by the treatment of the abbot, raised the feudal host took to the offensive. His army consisted not only of men from Provence, but also the lower Dauphiné
and Nice
.
. They were defeated in a series of five battles at Embrun
, Gap
, Riez
, Ampus
, and Cabasse
. Thoroughly beaten back, the Saracens assembled in an open plain not far from Fraxinetum called Tourtour. There, the sixth and final battle of the war was staged. William defeated the Andalusis in the field and chased them back to Fraxinetum, where they were holed up while the Provençals rested.
, Aspremont
, Gilette
, Beuil
, and Sospel
. Having taken La Garde-Freinet, the Andalusis were isolated and cut off in Fraxinetum, which was soon seized. The remainder of the Muslem army fled to a nearby forest, where they were soon overcome and entirely captured or killed. La Garde-Freinet was razed to the ground. Surviving Andalusis were baptized and made to work as slaves. All remaining Muslems in Provence quickly removed themselves by ship without waiting for any further reprisals.
."
973
Year 973 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Edgar of England is crowned king by Saint Dunstan.* Otto II becomes Holy Roman Emperor and King of Germany....
was a great victory for the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
forces of William I of Provence
William I of Provence
William I , called the Liberator, was Count of Provence from 968 to his abdication. In 975 or 979, he took the title of marchio or margrave. He is often considered the founder of the county of Provence...
over the Andalusi pirates based at Fraxinetum.
For several decades, the Saracen
Saracen
Saracen was a term used by the ancient Romans to refer to a people who lived in desert areas in and around the Roman province of Arabia, and who were distinguished from Arabs. In Europe during the Middle Ages the term was expanded to include Arabs, and then all who professed the religion of Islam...
s had been making inroads into Provence
Provence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
, building several fortresses, the greatest of which was at Fraxinetum, the castle of La Garde-Freinet
La Garde-Freinet
La Garde-Freinet is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.It is a medieval French mountain village, located in the Massif des Maures, an hour north of St. Tropez. Accessible by picturesque winding roads, through forests of cork, oaks, and...
. From these bases, they raided and pillaged, capturing goods and people to be sold in faroff Moslem ports. Though they were opposed strongly at first, soon the Provençals settled down to a more passive resistance.
Capture of the Abbot of Cluny
However, early in 973, the Saracens captured Maïeul, Abbot of ClunyAbbot of Cluny
The Abbot of Cluny was the head of the powerful monastery of Cluny Abbey in medieval France. The following is a list.-List of abbots:-References:...
, and demanded a ransom. Much venerated by his monks, his ransom was quickly obtained. The monks responded, however, once their abbot was released, by stirring up a fury in Provence against the Andulisian menace. The peasantry and the nobles were united in their antipathy towards the Andalisis and together implored their ruler, Count William, to act against them. William, equally disturbed by the treatment of the abbot, raised the feudal host took to the offensive. His army consisted not only of men from Provence, but also the lower Dauphiné
Dauphiné
The Dauphiné or Dauphiné Viennois is a former province in southeastern France, whose area roughly corresponded to that of the present departments of :Isère, :Drôme, and :Hautes-Alpes....
and Nice
Nice
Nice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
.
William's response
William's strategy was simple, he struck at the heart of Saracen Provence with the whole of his forces. This did not go unnoticed by the Andalusis, who went out to meet the Provençals in the AlpsAlps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
. They were defeated in a series of five battles at Embrun
Embrun, Hautes-Alpes
Embrun is a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.-Description:...
, Gap
Gap, Hautes-Alpes
Gap is a commune in southeastern France, the capital of the Hautes-Alpes department.-Geography:An Alpine crossroads at the intersection of D994 and Route nationale 85 the Route Napoléon, Gap lies above sea level along the right bank of the Luye River...
, Riez
Riez
Riez is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France.-Geography:The densely-built village sits where two small rivers join—the Auvestre and the Colostre—in a glacially-widened valley.-Population:-Economy:...
, Ampus
Ampus
Ampus is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.The hilltop village of Ampus is situated 14 km northwest of Draguignan....
, and Cabasse
Cabasse, Var
Cabasse is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France....
. Thoroughly beaten back, the Saracens assembled in an open plain not far from Fraxinetum called Tourtour. There, the sixth and final battle of the war was staged. William defeated the Andalusis in the field and chased them back to Fraxinetum, where they were holed up while the Provençals rested.
Assault on Fraxinetum
After a brief break from campaigning, William made an assault on Fraxinetum. This attack was led by the lords of LevensLevens
Levens is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes département in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.Its inhabitants are called Levensans .-Origin and evolution of the name:...
, Aspremont
Aspremont, Hautes-Alpes
Aspremont is a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.-Population:-References:*...
, Gilette
Gilette
Gilette is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.-Population:The inhabitants are called Gilettois.-References:*...
, Beuil
Beuil
Beuil is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.-Geography:Beuil is a picturesque village located in the Maritime Alps, away from Nice. It is the gateway to the Mercantour National Park. A stop-off in the Red-rocked Gorges of the Cians and Daluis.The commune is...
, and Sospel
Sospel
Sospel is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France near the Italian border and not far from Monte Carlo.-History:...
. Having taken La Garde-Freinet, the Andalusis were isolated and cut off in Fraxinetum, which was soon seized. The remainder of the Muslem army fled to a nearby forest, where they were soon overcome and entirely captured or killed. La Garde-Freinet was razed to the ground. Surviving Andalusis were baptized and made to work as slaves. All remaining Muslems in Provence quickly removed themselves by ship without waiting for any further reprisals.
Success for William
For this campaign and its success at expelling all the Andalusis from Provence, William was entitled "the Liberator" and "Pater PatriaePater Patriae
Pater Patriae , also seen as Parens Patriae, is a Latin honorific meaning "Father of the Country," or more literally, "Father of the Fatherland".- Roman history :...
."