Muslim World
Nous Ne Nous Rendrons Jamais! The Siege of Paris and Pepin's Campaign in Burgundy
November 8, 740 - Basel
Pepin arrives in Basel, and demands the surrender of the city in his campaign. To his surprise, the city refuses surrender, so Pepin is forced to retreat to Toul and let the winter pass. The Muslims meanwhile are in a siege in Orléans.
February 13, 741 - Dijon
Grifo, now renamed, Aleanqa Al-Franku (Literally, Grifo the Frank), after passing the winter establishing its power in Burgundy and Provence, raises an army of 17 thousand men to attack nothing less than Paris, with the worst of winter already having passed, and knowing of Pepin's failed attempt to surrender Basel, he leaves some detachments of the Caliph's reinforcements to "defend" their territories, his plan is to keep Pepin busy and without communication with Paris while it is attacked.
And so he marches with his army along the Seine River towards Paris.
February 17, 741 - Basel
Pepin arrives again with his army to the city, this time he soon prepares siege engines and catapults to shoot, he expected little resistance of the city, but finds a more fortified city and an intensely disciplined garrison, during the next 2 weeks, would occur 3 assaults on the walls by the franks, and in all of them they would be repulsed.
February 24, 741 - Paris
Grifo arrives in Paris, and begins a siege to the city, preventing Carloman from notifying Pepin of the surprise attack on Paris, both hoping that his half-brother would stay on the defensive, and not attack directly.
However, in spite of the surprise, Paris was well fortified and ready for the attack, and the first assault of Grifo's troops is easily repelled by the frankish garrison, causing several casualties among its troops. This would be the end of several next assaults, Paris is firm.
February 28, 741 - Basel
Pepin's troops are able to enter after a successful infiltration of the city gates, collapsing the defenses and capturing the city, now Pepin moves to Besançon.
March 3, 741 - Besançon
Pepin arrives in Besançon, and is forced to make another siege, this should be longer due to the larger defenses for being the last stronghold protecting Dijon.
March 22, 741 - Paris
Still unsuccessful, the casualties are considerable, there are only 14,000 men left and the morale is low, while the franks have a gigantic morale for having firmly held several flushed Grifo attacks, looking at the numbers, Grifo decides to sit and wait while keeping the siege of the city, waiting for the arab reinforcements.
April 2, 741 - Orléans
After nearly six months of siege, the city of Orléans falls, with a successful assault of muslim troops, now Uqba can strengthen the siege of Paris.
April 17, 741 - Besançon
Pepin remains in the siege after 4 attempted assaults, being repelled in all of them, he then starts to aim to put the city in hunger, with the aim of making her surrender, however, his predictions indicate that Orleáns will hold until June, so he would have a month to capture the city, making this option impossible for your plans.
He then orders his troops to prepare for the next assault.
April 28, 741 - Paris
The muslim reinforcements arrive and the Grifo troops are left to rest, the arabs also bring more siege engines which soon causes more damage to the walls of Paris. After seeing the reinforcements, Carloman desperately tries to warn Pepin by sending a hidden messenger through the Seine River, taking advantage of the transition between the arabs and Grifo's men. If this message will reach your brother, only time will tell.
The decisive message was sent, its arrival can change the whole war, Paris will be the point that will define the Islamic expansion, being for the good of God or the good of Allah, see you in the next chapter.