Different families of claimants to the throne battled ruthlessly. The major domo (chief of the palace) became dominant. Charles Martel became major domo in 719. In 732, the Muslims invaded Francia, as Gaul was called, via Spain. But with an army of heavy cavalry that was the first real knights and with church money, he won. Charles, formerly a name for serfs, became an honored royal name. One person was that name was his grandson Charlemagne.