The Battle of the Catalaunian Fields AD451 by Schultheis Evan Michael;

Author:Schultheis, Evan Michael;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: HISTORY/Military/Ancient
Publisher: Casemate Publishers & Book Distributors, LLC
Published: 2019-03-30T00:00:00+00:00

MacDowall presents the interpretation that the Goths under Thorismund and Huns fought over the Montgueux ridge, while the rest of the armies fought on the plain below the extended les Maures ridge that stretched to the north.70 He suggests that Aetius needed a decisive battle, and that Attila would not venture forth if he remained on the ridge. However, any attempt to retreat over the Seine was not only blocked by the fortified town of Troyes, but also would have been disastrous if Aetius attacked during the process. Attila had probably intended to lure Aetius into battle on the plains outside Troyes, but accidentally trapped himself against the Seine: he was likely therefore forced to give into Aetius’ choice of battlefield, lest Aetius starve him out. In many prior analyses, it has been interpreted that there was a hill on the battlefield while most of the battle took place on the plain.71 Hughes correctly shows that this interpretation is contrary to what is directly stated by Jordanes, and that the battle took place entirely on the ridge.72 Therefore, due to the tactical necessity of acquiring a position on the ridge, Attila likely advanced first. Hughes suggests both sides advanced up the ridge as quickly as possible, with the Romans, Alans and Thorismund attaining the crest before the Huns and advancing down the other side, while the Amali Goths seem to have attained it from the Visigothic far right.73 This resulted in the Hunnish alliance being forced into an uphill battle at the base of the ridge, barring the Visigoths who had failed to overtake the crest. This scenario can be explained by the paths leading up to the les Maures ridge, as detailed before. The Goths were forced to climb the south face, which was the steepest, meaning their ability to obtain sufficient mass to hold the ridge would have been hampered.74 Meanwhile the Romans, Alans and presumably Thorismund with the Gothic cavalry, Huns, Gepids and Amali Goths all had roughly even terms on which to advance up the slope. Aetius and his coalition forces, already having the high ground, would have advanced a short distance down-slope to engage, while the Gothic flank struggled over the Montgueux ridge itself.

The battle probably began with the order to move to engage, which likely resulted in a cavalry charge on the flanks and in the centre. The Romans, Alans, Huns, Goths and other cavalry units would have taken down the decorative pennons on their lances and leaned into their mounts, covering their horses’ front and neck with their shields and couched their lances under the armpit. The cavalry would not have engaged at a gallop, but at a trot, holding formation as they moved to engagement range.75 Likewise, the infantry would have advanced at a jog, keeping pace with the cavalry, initially in open order. At three bowshots they would move to close order, at less than two bowshots the order to form fulcum was given, then at one bowshot the light infantry began to engage.

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