Abd al-Rahman ibn Abd Allah al-Ghafiqi


Abd al-Rahman al-Ghafiqi
Abd-al-Rahman al-Ghafiqi as depicted in Charles de Steuben's Bataille de Poitiers en Octobre 732.
Birth nameAbd al-Rahman ibn Abd Allah Al-Ghafiqi
Born
Died10 October 732 (0732-10-11)
AllegianceUmayyad Caliphate
Service years722–732
ConflictsBattle of Toulouse (721)
Battle of the River Garonne
Battle of Tours 

Abd al-Rahman ibn Abd Allah Al-Ghafiqi (Arabic: عبد الرحمن بن عبد اللّه الغافقي, romanizedʿAbd 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. Al-Ghafiqi was killed in the battle, the Umayyad forces retreated, and this event is often seen as a pivotal moment that preserved Christian rule in Gaul.

Despite his defeat at Tours, al-Ghafiqi is remembered as a capable and ambitious military leader within the early history of Umayyad expansion in Gaul.