/ Carolingian warriorsProvence belonged to the Frankish kingdom and formed one of its southern regions. In the early eighth century, Muslim armies conquered most of the Iberian Peninsula and brought the Visigothic kingdom to an end. Their influence also extended to part of the western Mediterranean.
During the 730s, Charles Martel repeatedly intervened in Provence to impose his authority on resistant local rulers. The campaigns affected Arles, Marseille and Avignon. Alliances between Provençal lords and Muslim forces in Septimania complicated the situation. The capture of Avignon in 737 and further operations in 739 brought fighting and destruction. Frankish authority was restored at considerable cost to the region.
The Treaty of Verdun in 843 divided the Carolingian Empire among Charlemagne's grandsons. Lothair I retained the imperial title and received a middle kingdom that included Provence, Burgundy and Italy.
War and piracy disrupted trade, while Carolingian rulers lost authority to local lords. Towns, churches and monasteries experienced differing fortunes. Despite the difficulties, the region retained activities, networks and traditions whose traces are gradually becoming better understood.
In the late ninth century, Muslim groups, called “Saracens” in medieval sources, established themselves at Fraxinet in the Maures massif, near the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. The exact location of their settlement remains debated. Their raids reached Provence and the Alps. Around 972–973, they were driven out by a coalition led in particular by Count William, later known as the Liberator.
Sources and further reading: Presses universitaires de Provence: Faire l’événement.