- The Battle of Chalons (451 CE), also known as the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains, was fought between two huge allied armies, one alliance under the Roman General Aetius and the other alliance under Attila the Hun.
- Another Battle of Chalons was previously fought in 274 CE where the Emperor Aurelian defeated Tetricus I, ending the breakaway Gallic Empire.
Date and Location (451 CE)
- 451 CE and fought at Chalons-en-Champagne on the Catalaunian Plains.
The Reason for the Battle
- Attila claimed the Western Roman Empire as his Dowry for marrying Honoria, the Emperor Valentinian III’s sister.
- On the 7th April 451 CE, Attila invaded the Western Roman Empire when he crossed the Rhine and captured Metz, followed by Rheims.
- Troyes was saved by Bishop Lupus’ personal entreaty, Paris was saved by St. Genevieve‘s prayers, and Tongeren was saved by the prayers of St. Servatus its Bishop. Instead Attila headed towards Orleans.
The Adversaries
- Flavius Aetius and the Roman Army
- versus
- Attila the Hun and the Hunnic Army
The Winner
- Winner: Flavius Aetius
- Loser: Attila the Hun
The Commanders
- Flavius Aetius
- versus:
- Attila the Hun
The Strength of the Forces under Flavius Aetius
- Numbers unknown.
- Flavius Aetius commanded a Roman-Visigothic Army.
- Allied Armies included the Burgundians, Celts and Franks.
- Losses: unknown
The Strength of the Forces under Attila
- Numbers unknown.
- Attila commanded the Hunnic Army and its Allies consisting of the Gepids, Ostrogoths, Rugians, Scirians, Heruls, Thuringians, Alans, Burgundians.
- Losses: unknown
How the Armies were Deployed
- The two armies met on the Catalaunian Plains, where although Theodoric, the Visigothic King, was killed, Flavius Aetius won.
The Battle
- Both armies met and suffered heavy losses, contemporary sources estimate between 165,000 and 300,000.
- Attila was forced to retreat with his army in disarray.
- But Aetius failed to pursue Attila, who retreated with the Hunnic Army back across the Rhine to fight another day.
The Outcome
- Attila the Hun was stopped from taking Gaul, and the Western Roman Empire, his avowed aim.
- It was a Battle between two huge Alliances.
- Some historians consider that this was an Epic Battle where the Roman Empire and Christianity were saved.
- However, the Failure to crush Attila’s army led to the Hunnic Invasion of Italy the following year in 452 CE.
- Attila then proceeded to invade Italy, pursuing his claim of marriage with Honoria.
- Aquileia was sacked amongst other cities. Venice was founded when the Roman population fled into the lagoon.
- Aetius was only able to slow Attila down, but not stop him. Attila finally stopped at the river Po. Meanwhile an Eastern Roman Army had crossed the Danube and was attacking Attila’s home base. Attila decided to withdraw from Italy without besieging Rome.
- Attila died the following year in 453 CE without having achieved his aim.
- The Hunnic army was destroyed by a coalition of German Tribes in 454 CE, and never posed a threat again.
Chalons-en-Champagne