The Frankish Throne Left Vacant: Charles Martel…

Many Japanese court nobles perish due to smallpox in 737, including all four brothers of the politically powerful Fujiwara clan: Fujiwara no Muchimaro (680-737), Fujiwara no Fusasaki (681-737), Fujiwara no Umakai (694-737), and Fujiwara no Maro (695-737).

Their sudden departure from the royal court allows for the ascension of noted rival Tachibana no Moroe to a high official position in the court of Emperor Shōmu.

Adult mortality for the smallpox epidemic of 735–737, based on fiscal reports, will be estimated at twenty-five percent to thirty-five percent of Japan's entire population, with some areas experiencing much higher rates.

All levels of society are affected.

Japan's severe smallpox epidemic continues to ravage the country in 737.

One manifestation of the pandemic's great impact is that by August of 737, a tax exemption has been extended to all of Japan.

Japan's smallpox epidemic has not only killed a large segment of the population, it has triggered significant dislocation, migration, and imbalance of the labor throughout the country.

Highly affected are construction and farming, especially rice cultivation.

Japan's nobles, in addition to the granting of tax waivers, take other unprecedented actions in response to the effects of the epidemic to help stem widespread population migration and to reinvigorate the farming communities.

For example, several years after the smallpox epidemic had run its course, the Japanese leaders will attempt to stimulate agricultural productivity by offering private land ownership to those willing to work farmland.

Also around this time, Emperor Shōmu, who feels personally responsible for the tragedy, will greatly increase the official support of Buddhism by commissioning the construction of the grand temple Tōdai-ji and its Daibutsu, and will provide significant financial support for the construction of other provincial temples (the kokubunji), statues, and related religious structures throughout the country.

The cost to cast the Daibutsu alone will be said to have nearly bankrupted the country.

Japan will continue to experience smallpox epidemics over the next several centuries, but by the early part of the second millennium, smallpox will have become endemic to the Japanese population and thus less devastating during outbreaks.

Emperor Xuanzong discards the policy of conscripting men into the army to be replaced every three years, replacing them with long-service soldiers who are more battle-hardened and efficient.

A prince of the Shan, a Thai-speaking people inhabiting the area of present Yunnan and southern Sichuan (Szechuan) in southern China, gains control over neighboring territory and, in about 737, proclaims himself king of Nan Zhao (Nanchao, or Nan Chao; “Southern Princedom”).

His title confirmed by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, the king continues to pay tribute to China.

It seems apparent that the local magnates of Provence, ruling semiautonomously, had seen the impending danger coming from the north, and may have in turn called in the Muslim forces from bordering Septimania.

Arabs had occupied the city of Avignon in 734, after it had been surrendered to Yusuf ibn 'Abd al-Rahman al-Fihri, Umayyad governor of Narbonne, by Duke Maurontus of Provence.

According to the Continuations of Fredegar, Maurontus probably invited Yusuf into the city after forming an alliance with him against Martel.

The Chronicle of Moissac confirms that Yusuf's forces moved peacefully from Arab-held Septimania into Provence and entered Avignon without a fight.

In reaction, Martel had sent his brother Duke Childebrand south in 736, accompanied by fellow dukes and counts.

Childebrand had laid siege to Avignon, holding the field until his brother is ready to storm the city.

This battle is part of the campaigns of 736-737 during which Charles Martel for the second time keeps invading Muslim armies from Al-Andalus occupying further territory beyond the Pyrenees.

Unlike the invasion of 732-733, the Arabs come this time by sea, and force the Franks to come to them.

Notable at these battles is the use of heavy cavalry in addition to Martel's vaunted veteran Frankish infantry.

Though he has some catapults, the city of Avignon is largely taken by a simple, brutal, frontal assault using rams to smash through the gates, and ladders to scale the walls.

The city is burned to the ground following its capture.

The army then crosses the Rhône River into Septimania in order to lay siege to Narbonne.

Narbonne had been renamed Arbunah by Al-Samh ibn Malik al-Khawlani, governor of Al-Andalus, after the capture of the city in 719 or 720, and turned into a military base for future operations.

Charles Martel besieges Narbonne following his success at the Battle of Avignon, but his forces are unable to take the city.

However, when the Arabs send reinforcements from Spain, the Franks intercept them at the mouth of the River Berre, in the present-day département of Aude, and score a significant victory, after which they march on Nîmes.

Charles may have been able to take Narbonne had he been willing to commit his army and full resources for an indefinite siege, but he was not willing or able to do so.

Probably he found that the duke of Aquitaine Hunald was threatening his line of communication with the north.

Furthermore, Maurontius, patrician of Provence, from his unconquered city of Marseille, has raised a revolt against him from the rear.

The Frankish leader may have considered accomplished his primary goals by destroying the Arab armies, and leaving the remaining Arabs confined to Narbonne.

On his way back out of the region of Septimania, his army destroys a string of cities and strongholds (Avignon, etc.)

that had failed to support him against the Muslims.