Catalaunian Plains

June 20, 451

Strategic Context
After four years of peace, Attila leads his Huns against the Western Roman Empire, sacking
Trier and Metz. The most skilled Roman general, Flavius Aetius, miraculously convinces King

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Theodoric to lead the Visigoths, settlers within the empire, to repel the Hun invasion. Attila
besieges Orléans, which is garrisoned by Rome’s Alan allies, possibly expecting Sangibanus
to open the gates, until the combined Roman-Visigoth army forces Attila to lift the siege. The

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Hunnic army retreats but is slowed by the immense plunder it brings. Tiring and running low
on supplies, Attila turns to face his pursuers, striking out from the protection of a wagon lager.

Stakes
+ A Roman victory would oust the Huns
from the Western Empire’s borders and
dissuade future invasions.
+ A Hunnic victory would allow Attila to
plunder Western Europe unhindered.

By Jonathan Webb, 2010

 Catalaunian Plains, 451
Strength

 Romans & Visigoths  Huns & Ostrogoths

 Flavius  Attila the Hun

Aetius
 30,000  30,000

 Well  Well

By Jonathan Webb, 2010

Europe c. 450
The battlefield consists of a large open plain, rising on one side to a small hill, and enclosed on another side by a river. As
there are few features if any, the only key terrain is the small hill, which dominates that side of the battlefield.

Romans & Visigoths

(Aetius)

Huns & Ostrogoths

(Attila)
In
The
Thea preliminary
battle
Thorismund
AttilaHuns’ grows
leads skirmish,
increasingly
anxiously
momentum
his center Theodoric’s
demands more
carries them
forward confused
permissionson, Thorismund,
to
so afar
in and chaotic
attack
forward
sudden the wins
as their
the
Hunnic
that
charge control
Huns
camp of
flanks
against inconclusively
the
but only
Aetius
become
the hill
Alans, push
on thethe
refuses,
who plains
Alans
eager
increasingly totopreserve
back
the
fallleft
vulnerable,
hastily before
of the
the swinging
Hunnic
balance
especially
back. The of left
when line.
power
Ostrogoths toAetius
the outflank
deploys
between the
Ostrogoths
on theVisigoths.
his the Visigoths
to The
Visigoths
begin
left engageand
fall
under
Visigoths
Huns.
back Theodoric
engage
Aetius on
thethe
convinces
in the facewhile Ostrogoths
right, his
Thorismund
of the the
Visigoth in
own vicious
to
attack.Roman
returncombat,
Aetiustroops
to hisresulting
on the
kingdom
marches left,
in
part oftoand
the death
the less
consolidate
hisdoforce of reliable
Theodoric.
his
right Alans
reign Far
under
Hunnic rear flank, forcing Attila to immediately retreatthe
against
to hitthe from
theRomans. hisSangibanus
being demoralized,
jealous wedged
brothers, between
tothe Visigoths
which the two.
counterattack
Thorismund Attila deploys
concedesjust as
and
to
the Visigoths
Ostrogoths
Thorismund
withdraws. under
leads
Attila Walamir
his cavalry
quietly on Gepids
the
off
withdraws left,
the
in
on
the
hill
tacit
his
Gepids
to right
smashunder
the
understanding
advance
Aldaric
Ostrogoth
with on but
the
left
Aetius, right,
who
not
flank.and
also
engage
Meanwhile,
his own
returns toHunnic
the
his Gepids
troops
kingdom. observe
in the center.
Aetius,He
who
plansis still
to smash
content
the to
enemy
remain
center
idle with
and
his wagon lager. The Gepids, yet to engage in battle, also retreat as Aetius surrounds the wagon lager .
a lightning
preserve thestrike
only and
Romanavoid
force
the in
stronger
the region.
wings.
Romans & Visigoths Alans
Visigoths Alans
(Sangibanus) Romans
(Aetius)
(Theorodic) (Sangibanus) (Aetius)
Symbol guide

Visigoths
(Thorismund) Romans & Visigoths Huns & Ostrogoths

Infantry Infantry

Cavalry Cavalry
Visigoths Alans Romans
(Thorismund)
Wagons (Sangibanus) (Aetius)

Huns
Romans & Ostrogoths
& Visigoths
Ostrogoths Huns Gepids
(Attila
(Flavius
theAetius)
Hun) (Walamir) (Attila) (Ardaric)
Huns & Ostrogoths
30,000 Attila (Attila)
 Catalaunian Plains, 451
Casualties & Aftermath
Romans & Visigoths Huns & Ostrogoths

10,000 10,000
or or
33% 33%

Attila withdrew from Gaul, never to threaten the region again. Instead, he invaded Italy the next year
with little success. Attila’s army was wrecked with disease and could not obtain enough supplies from
a region rife with famine. An Eastern Roman Empire army crossed the Danube River into Hunnic
territory, contributing to Attila’s decision to hastily accept money and reason from Pope Leo I, and
withdraw to Hungary before winter set in. Attila mysteriously died on his wedding night in 453, leaving
his empire divided. War among his three sons broke out within a year, weakening the empire and
resulting in the decisive defeat of the Huns at the Battle of Nedao in 454 by their former German and
Gepid allies.
By Jonathan Webb, 2010
 The Art of Battle:
Animated Battle Maps
http://www.theartofbattle.com

By Jonathan Webb, 2010