Catalaunian Fields AD 451: Rome’s Last Great Battle

Description

Illustrated by Peter Dennis. The battle of the Catalaunian Fields saw two massive, powerful Empires square up in a conflict that was to shape the course of Eurasian history forever. For despite the Roman victory, the Roman Empire would not survive more than fifteen years afterward, while the Huns, shattered and demoralized, would meet their downfall against a coalition of German tribes soon after. This book, using revealing bird's-eye views of the plains of Champagne and detailed illustrations of the opposing warriors in the midst of desperate combat, describes the fighting at Chalons and reveals the broader campaign of Hunnic incursion that led up to it. Drawing on the latest research, Simon MacDowall reveals the shocking intensity and appalling casualties of the battle, while assessing the wider significance and consequences of the campaign. ORIGINS OF THE CAMPAIGN 4 Introduction - The Huns and Goths - Roman Gaul - Causes of war CHRONOLOGY 13 OPPOSING COMMANDERS 16 The Romans and their allies - The Huns and their allies OPPOSING FORCES 29 Numbers - Aetius' army - Attila’s army THE CAMPAIGN 41 Virgins, bishops and saints - The siege of Orléans - Attila's retreat from Orléans THE BATTLE 55 The battlefield - The opening moves - Deployment for battle - The clash of battle lines - Turning the tide - The day after AFTERMATH 88 THE BATTLEFIELD TODAY 92 BIBLIOGRAPHY AND FURTHER READING 93 INDEX 95