Charles Martel [Song in Frankish] | The Skaldic Bard

Here’s another song I wrote and performed, this time in Old Franconian/late Frankish - specifically Austrasian Franconian, as that is likely the dialect that Charles Martel would have spoken. The song is based on the famous Battle of Tours in 732, where Charles responded to Duke Otto of Aquitaine’s plea for aid against the rampaging Umayyad Caliphate that had recently conquered Spain. Charles and his Franks fought valiantly and prevented France, and likely the rest of Europe, from being conquered and converted. There isn’t a great deal of information available on Frankish and its numerous dialects. As such, there is a bit of reconstruction and artistic license taken at times. This dialect, Austrasian Franconian, was on the verge of “merging” into Old High German at the time the song is set, so elements of the language are consistent with other dialects of Old High German. I followed the pronunciation rules of the time as closely as I could, but naturally, it may not be perfect. I hope yo