The Huns Only Defeat Is Disputed
On June 20th, 451 AD the Huns moved on Gaul in order to make a move on the Western Roman Empire. The Romans knew that the battle was coming so Flavious Aetius moved his troops to Gaul. The Romans were also able to convince their long-time enemies the Visigoths to stand with them against the Huns. It was a shaky alliance and one that some believe allowed for Attila’s survival.
The Huns moved on Gaul only to find the Romans and Visgoths covering a ridge along the Catalaunian plain. The Huns tried to advance on the plain but the Visigoths and Romans took the upper hand. The next day of battle the Romans and Goths came upon the Hun camp and attacked. Attila was said to have created a funeral pyre of burning saddles so that if the Huns were defeated he would throw himself into the fire to prevent anyone the honor of wounding him.
There is little information on the real end of the battle. Most historians believe that the Visigoths left after their King was killed in battle and after Aetius convinced the Visigoth prince not to attack Attila’s camp. Aetius feared that if the Huns were completely defeated that there would no longer be a reason for an alliance between the Goths and Romans. Aetius may have also believed that by letting the Huns retreat he would be able to form a military alliance when them later, likely as allies against the Goths. However, some historians believe that Attila was not defeated at all and simply left Gaul after accomplishing all of his objectives. They argue that both Aetius and the leader of the Goths lose track of their armies in the night and are forced to retreat back to their camps. The Goths return home after the death of their leader and the need to secure his throne. The Romans are left to fend against the Huns alone and they leave a gap that the Huns exploit. Many historians have found evidence against this theory but it continues to be a possible outcome of the battle given the information available.