Catalaunian Fields AD 451: Rome’s last great battle

Osprey Campaign #286

by Simon MacDowall, Peter Dennis (Illustrations)

The battle of the Catalaunian Fields saw two massive, powerful Empires square up in a conflict that was to shape the course of Eurasian history forever. For despite the Roman victory, the Roman Empire would not survive more than fifteen years afterward, while the Huns, shattered and demoralized, would meet their downfall against a coalition of German tribes soon after. This book, using revealing bird's-eye views of the plains of Champagne and detailed illustrations of the opposing warriors in the midst of desperate combat, describes the fighting at Chalons and reveals the broader campaign of Hunnic incursion that led up to it. Drawing on the latest research, Simon MacDowall reveals the shocking intensity and appalling casualties of the battle, while assessing the wider significance and consequences of the campaign.

Genres: History, Military History, Nonfiction, Roman History, Ancient History

96 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2015

Reviews

[Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

from generation to generation

These European lands have been fought over from time immemorial. Only 80 years ago warfare engulfed France (called Gaul in Julius Caesar’s time) including the region focused on in this book. Just as war in Ukraine has happened again there is no reason to suppose armed conflict can’t come to France again in the 21st century. Look what happened to Yugoslavia in the last decade of the 20th. And now that nation no longer exists. Such is the way of the human race. Power conflicts never cease, nor do wars of aggression or wars of self-defense.

Worlds are altered by such conflicts as this book describes. Do they change things? Of course wars change things, for better or for worse. You could still have a Nazi Empire ruling Europe today. And as for the battle described in this book, Attila the Hun could have won, and if he had, it would have altered the kind of Europe that emerged.

Well-written, clear, judicious, and precise. Recommended.

[Myke Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm firm in my belief that "ancient warfare" ended at the battle of Adrianople, where armored cavalry finally put paid to supremacy of infantry in the classical (in this case Legionary) mold. I understand this is an unpopular position, and that is certainly the focus of this book, which pitches what I regard as a fundamentally medieval conflict as Rome's last gasp.

While I disagree with this important premise, the book is otherwise an excellent window onto the battle that (whether you consider it ancient or medieval) stopped Atilla's advance into Europe and ended what would otherwise have been a Hunnish empire that spanned all of Gaul, and possibly Iberia and Brittania as well. MacDowall gives the reader a walking tour of the battlefield, complete with photographs showing the point-of-view of all the major belligerents, and does an excellent job of underscoring how personalities and political infighting influenced the goals of each commander. His command of the source material (Jordanes and Marcellinus) is outstanding, and his narrative style is engaging. A great addition to the Osprey line and well worth your time.

[Sean Chick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find the Osprey books about ancient warfare are among their best. Since sources are few, there is more informed speculation and discussions of how the author came to their conclusion.

[AUGUSTO BAZAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good review of a rather obscure subject.

Taking into consideration the unavailability of direct resources, the author, through indirect methods and a wide knowledge of politics and warfare of the late Roman times has given us an agile but yet deep narration of the Battle of the Catalaunian Fields. Through educated speculation he provided different theories about de course of events. Very enjoyable to read with adequate maps, photographs, and illustrations.

[Glyn]

McDowell freely admits that the primary source material is sketchy and that much of this is "best guess" conjecture in the best sense of the phrase. Accepting this, it has to be said that there is nothing inherantly implausible in his speculation and he certainly has a good grasp of what sources we do have (Priscus, Jordanes and bits of Ammianus Marcellinus) which he uses quite carefully. He at least has the courage to admit when there is no evidence to support his claim.

His prose flows well and is suitable for the casual reader intrigued by the famed Atilla the Hun and gives the background and description without the reader requring a degree to keep up with it. This forms an intriguing glimpse into one of the less studied area of history.