Charles Martel was a Frankish statesman and military leader who became de facto leader of Francia as Duke and Prince of the Franks.
He was the son of Pepin of Herstal and one of Pepin's mistresses, Alpaida. Overtime he succeeded his father as the "power behind the throne," centralizing the government, establishing the system of Frankish feudalism, and launching military campaigns to establish Francia as the single power in France, then known as Gaul. He was also notable for being a very competent warrior in battle, gaining the nickname of "Martel," meaning "The Hammer" in Old French.
Most know him for leading the Franks at the Battle of Tours against the Umayyad Caliphate, who at the time ruled most of the Iberian peninsula.
He is credited as founding the Carolingian dynasty. His son, Pepin the Short would become the King of the Franks. Charles' grandson was Charlemagne, who made Francia the sole power in Europe and was the first Emperor in Western Europe since the fall of the Western Roman Empire.