Abd al-Rahman al-Ghafiqi (650–732)
Born 650 CE, died 732 CE.
Abd al-Rahman ibn Abd Allah Al-Ghafiqi (Arabic: عبد الرحمن بن عبد اللّه الغافقي, romanized: ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAbd Allāh al-Ghāfiqī; died 732), was an Arab Umayyad commander and governor who led Andalusian Umayyad forces against the Franks. He is most famous for leading the Umayyad forces during the Battle of Tours (also known as the Battle of Poitiers) in 732. This battle, fought against the Frankish forces led by Charles Martel. Al-Ghafiqi was appointed as the governor of al-Andalus around 730 and led several successful military campaigns across the Pyrenees into Frankish territories where he was successful in sacking and capturing the city of Bordeaux, after defeating Duke Odo of Aquitaine in the battle outside the city, and then again defeating a second army of Duke Odo at the Battle of the River Garonne —where the western chroniclers state, "God alone knows the number of the slain". His army advanced deep into modern-day France before being confronted by Charles Martel's forces near the city of Tours.
Text from the Wikipedia article Abd_al-Rahman_ibn_Abd_Allah_al-Ghafiqi, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.