Battle of the Catalaunian Plains

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surname/tag: Military_and_War

Battle of the Catalaunian Plains

alias: Battle of Châlons; Battle of Maurica

Date: 20 Jun 451 A.D.

Location: Approx. region of Champagne-Ardenne

Victor: Rome (Huns withdraw from Gaul)

Roman forces	Atilla the Hun
Western Roman Empire	Hunnic Empire
Visigoths	Amal Goths
Franks	Rugians
Burgundians	Scirii
Saxons	Thuringians
Armoricans	Franks
Alans	Gepids
	Burgundians
	Heruli

"In 451 CE. Attila the Hun with his horsemen, after having been repulsed before Orleans in Gaul, was brought to bay by Aetius, the Roman general, and his allies, the Germanic Visigoths, Burgundians, and Franks. It should be remembered in this connection that the Huns were, if possible, more hated by the Germans than by the Romans.

The armies met in the Catalaunian Plains. The battlefield was a plain rising by a sharp slope to a ridge which both armies sought to gain; for advantage of position is a great help. The Huns with their forces seized the right side, the Romans, the Visigoths and their allies the left, and then began a struggle for the yet untaken crest. Now Theodoric with his Visigoths held the right wing, and Aetius with the Romans the left [of the line against Attila]. On the other side, the battle line of the Huns was so arranged that Attila and his bravest followers were stationed in the center. In arranging them thus the king had chiefly his own safety in view, since by his position in the very midst of his race, he would be kept out of the way of threatened danger. The innumerable peoples of divers tribes, which he had subjected to his sway, formed the wings. Now the crowd of kings---if we may call them so---and the leaders of various nations hung upon Attila's nod like slaves, and when he gave a sign even by a glance, without a murmur each stood forth in fear and trembling, or at all events did as he was bid. Attila alone was king of kings over all and concerned for all."^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Medieval Sourcebook: Jordanes: The Battle of Chalôns, 451 CE [1]

• Wikipedia: Battle of the Catalaunian Plains (451 AD)