[williamjennings]

Those Umayyads settled further into western Europe than most people recognize. Their expeditions covered most of western France, from the English channel to the Loire valley at their greatest extent. Given this geographic distribution, it is very problematic to assume that there was no contact for another 800 years.

There were ample local converts, so it is unfair to claim that the conquest was accomplished solely by a army of foreigners.

A more culturally neutral history would explain that the native Celts kicked out the Goths during the expansion of the Umayyad empire.