Charles Martel, also known as Charles the Hammer, was a military leader who presided over the Frankish Kingdom as its de facto ruler during the Middle Ages. Born to the Duke of Pepin, Charles was considered an illegitimate child and was denied power by his stepmother after his father’s death. She got him imprisoned to prevent him from claiming the throne. However, Charles was well loved by the public and was named the mayor of the palace of Austrasia after escaping the prison. Despite public support, he lost the Battle of Cologne and had to retreat. He gathered his troops again for the Battle of Vincy and victoriously earned his rightful position as the administrator. Since gaining power, Charles focused exclusively on establishing Frankish power in Europe and ensuring its superiority over other tribes. His most notable achievement was winning the Battle of Tours, which put a stop to growing Islamic dominance in Europe and preserved Christian power. His tactics in warfare put him a notch above other administrators and continued to be imitated by succeeding rulers for many centuries. After the conquest of Tours, he established himself as the overlord of many kingdoms and controlled the administration until the end of his life. Many historians count him among the most influential figures of the Middle Ages.