G.J.K.


Charles Martel

Mr. Editor,--Perhaps the subjoined note, extracted from M. Collin de
Plancy's _Bibliothèque des Légendes_, may not be without its value, as
tending to correct an error into which, according to his account, modern
historians have fallen respecting the origin of the surname "Martel,"
borne by the celebrated Charles Martel, son of Peppin of Herstal, Duke
of Austrasia, by his Duchess Alphéide[2]:--

"It is surprising," he says, "that almost all our modern
historians, whose profound researches have been so highly
vaunted, have repeated the little tale of the _Chronicle of St.
Denis_, which affirms that the surname of Martel was conferred
on Charles for having hammered (_martelé_) the Saracens. Certain
writers of the present day style him, in this sense,
_Karle-le-Marteau_. The word martel, in the ancient Frank
language, never bore such a signification, but was, on the
contrary, merely an abbreviation of Martellus, Martin."[3]

From a legend on this subject given by M. de Plancy, it would appear
that Charles received the second name, Martel, in honour of his patron
saint St. Martin.

Not having at present an opportunity of consulting the works of our own
modern writers on early French history, I am ignorant if they also have
adopted the version given in the _Chronicle of St. Denis_. Mr. Ince, in