Page 77 - All About History - Issue 26-15

Greatest Battles

The Huns make
10 their exit
With Aetius unwilling to press the Huns
assault, Attila takes his troops
10 beyond the Rhine, making an TROOPS 50-80,000
effective retreat. He would later
recover and return to make trouble
for the Roman Empire, but in the
08 meantime, its future was secure.

09 Aetius stays
his hand
Despite having the
opportunity to destroy
the Huns once and
for all, after a night of
deliberation, Aetius
07 opts against further
pursuing the ATTILA
Huns. The likely
reason for this is LEADER
that the Huns provided Oneofthemostfearedmilitary
a common foe for the leadersofalltime,hewas
Romans and Visigoths to determined to invade Gaul.
unite behind, and with Strengths A cunning and strong
Theodoric dead, Aetius warrior, commanding a huge force
needed to be sure that behind him.
he could count on the Weakness Tactically out-
support of the Visigoths. manoeuvred by Aetius.

03
02

HUNS
KEY UNIT
One of the most formidable – and
feared – tribes in Europe, wherever
they went they left destruction in
their wake.
01 Strengths Brave and fearless
warriors in battle.
Weakness Gung-ho nature left
them liable to be caught out
tactically.
06 THE VISIGOTHS FIGHT ON 07 Chaos 08 retreats BOWAND
Attila
reigns
Despite the loss of their king and With the sun having Seeing that the tide ARROW
set, there is much of battle has turned
leader, the Visigoths fight on with confusion, as both against him and not KEY WEAPON
forces lose track of
renewed vigour, led by the fallen who is fighting who. willing to risk further Usedtogreateffectto
In one instance, losses, Attila retreats covertheHunretreat,
Theodoric’s son, Thorismund. Thirsty Thorismund with his forces to his they were especially
mistakes the Huns lethal against any
for revenge, Thorismund leads a for his own men, wagon circle, with his mounted cavalry.
and is nearly killed archers covering the Strengths Possesses
cavalry charge into the midst of himself as a result. retreating troops. agoodrangeandlethal
in numbers.
Attila’s forces, inflicting huge numbers Weakness Not as
© NicolleFuller;Corbis
effectiveinclose-
of casualties in the process. quarters combat.

77