Above: Battle of the Catalaunian plains, between Attila, Aetius, Meroveus and Theodoric I; from Jacob van Maerlant's Spieghel Historiael (KB KA 20, fol. 146v). Date of its creation is noted as between circa 1325 and circa 1335. Source: Public Domain. Click to expand.

The Battle of Chalons-sur-Marne, also known as the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains, took place on 20 June 451, between the Roman general Flavius Aetius and his allies and the forces of the Huns, led by their legendary leader Attila. Attila was known as the "Scourge of God" and had already conquered much of Eastern Europe, including modern-day Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. He then turned his attention to the Western Roman Empire, which was weakened and struggling to maintain its power.

Aetius, who was himself a skilled military strategist, managed to gather a coalition of Roman soldiers, Visigoths, Burgundians, and other Germanic tribes to face the Huns in battle. The two armies clashed on the plains of Chalons-sur-Marne, located in modern-day France. The battle was fierce and lasted for two days, with both sides suffering heavy losses. However, in the end, Aetius and his allies emerged victorious. Attila's army was forced to retreat, and the Huns' power was significantly weakened.

Above: An historical map showing the Hun invasion of Gaul in 451 CE (AD), leading to the Battle of Chalons. The generally accepted routes are shown, along with the larger cities threatened or sacked by the Huns. Source: Public Domain. Click to expand.

Historian Susan Wise Bauer writes "Gaul had been saved in an expensive victory. Over 150,000 soldiers fell in the battle; the chronicler Hydatius claims that 300,000 had died. The slaughter was so great, says Jordanes, that brook flowing through the battlefield was swollen and 'turned into a torrent by the increase of blood.'" (Wise Bauer, The History of the Medieval World: From the Conversion of Constantine to the First Crusade. p. 116)

The Battle of Chalons-sur-Marne is considered one of the most significant battles in European history. It marked the beginning of the end for the Huns' domination of Europe and secured the survival of the Western Roman Empire for a few more decades.

Attila himself, although defeated, was not captured or killed in battle. He retreated back to his homeland and continued to rule until his death in 453, possibly from a hemorrhage. Despite his reputation as a brutal and ruthless conqueror, Attila's legacy is a complex one. He is remembered in history as a skilled military strategist and leader, but also as a destructive force that brought suffering and devastation to the people he conquered. - Scott Lyons, Ed.