Battle of the Catalaunian Fields AD451: Flavius Aetius, Attila the Hun and the Transformation of Gaul

Evan Schultheis challenges the traditional view of the Catalaunian Fields battle, revealing it to be significant but less decisive than claimed. He offers a new tactical analysis of the battle and reconsiders Hun warfare, Roman use of federates, and the ethnography of the Germanic peoples.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 168 pages
\n Publication date: 09 April 2019
\n Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd
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Evan Schultheis delves into the evidence surrounding Attila the Hun's renowned battle, the climax of his invasion of the Western Roman Empire, which extended as far as Orleans in France. Traditionally regarded as a pivotal moment in European history, this battle was believed to have saved the West from the clutches of the Huns. However, Schultheis' groundbreaking study challenges this notion by revealing that the Catalaunian Fields, while significant, were not as decisively pivotal as previously thought.

This new research unveils a more nuanced perspective of Attila's army, which was a sophisticated and multifaceted all-arms force comprised of Huns, their allies, and subjects. The Roman forces, largely composed of Visigoth and Alan allies, are also analyzed in great detail. The author, a reenactor of the period, delves into the motivations and tactics of both sides. Drawing on the latest historiography and research of primary sources, as well as utilizing Roman military manuals, Schultheis presents a comprehensive tactical analysis of the battle and a radical reevaluation of Hun warfare, the Roman use of federates, and the ethnography of the Germanic peoples who fought on either side.

The result is a comprehensive and thorough case study of this pivotal battle in the 5th century, offering a fresh perspective on a historical event that has long been misunderstood.

\n Weight: 634g\n
Dimension: 236 x 161 x 28 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781526745651\n \n