Visigoths
Then
the Emperor Valentinian sent an embassy to the Visigoths and their king
Theodorid, with this message: (187) "Bravest of nations, it is the part
of prudence for us to unite against the lord of the earth who wishes to
enslave the whole world; who requires no just cause for battle, but supposes
whatever he does is right. He measures his ambition by his might. License
satisfies his pride. Despising law and right, he shows himself an enemy
to Nature herself. And thus he, who clearly is the common foe of each,
deserves the hatred of all. (188) Pray remember--what you surely cannot
forget--that the Huns do not overthrow nations by means of war, where
there is an equal chance, but assail them by treachery, which is a greater
cause for anxiety. To say nothing about ourselves, can you suffer such
insolence to go unpunished? Since you are mighty in arms, give heed to
your own danger and join hands with us in common. Bear aid also to the
Empire, of which you hold a part. If you would learn how such an alliance
should be sought and welcomed by us, look into the plans of the foe."
(189) By these and like arguments
the ambassadors of Valentinian prevailed upon King Theodorid. He answered
them, saying: "Romans, you have attained your desire; you have made Attila
our foe also. We will pursue him wherever he summons us, and though he
is puffed up by his victories over divers races, yet the Goths know how
to fight this haughty foe. I call no war dangerous save one whose cause
is weak; for he fears no ill on whom Majesty has smiled." (190) The nobles
shouted assent to the reply and the multitude gladly followed. All were
fierce for battle and longed to meet the Huns, their foe. And so a countless
host was led forth by Theodorid, king of the Visigoths, who sent home
four of his sons, namely Friderich and Eurich, Retemer and Mimnerith,
taking with him only the two elder sons, Thorismud and Theodorid, as partners
of his toil. O brave array, sure defense and sweet comradeship, having
the aid of those who delight to share in the same dangers!
(191) On the side of the Romans stood
the Patrician Aëtius, on whom at that time the whole Empire of the
West depended; a man of such wisdom that he had assembled warriors from
everywhere to meet them on equal terms. Now these were his auxiliaries:
Franks, Sarmatians, Armoricians, Liticians, Burgundians, Saxons, Riparians,
Olibriones (once Romans soldiers and now the flower of the allied forces),
and some other Celtic or German tribes. (192) And so they met in the Catalaunian
Plains, which are also called Mauriacian, extending in length one hundred
leuva, as the Gauls express it, and seventy in width. Now a Gallic
leuva measures a distance of fifteen hundred paces. That portion
of the earth accordingly became the threshing-floor of countless races.
The two hosts bravely joined battle. Nothing was done under cover, but
they contended in open fight. (193) What just cause can be found for the
encounter of so many nations, or what hatred inspired them all to take
arms against each other? It is proof that the human race lives for its
kings, for it is at the mad impulse of one mind a slaughter of nations
takes place, and at the whim of a haughty ruler that which nature has
taken ages to produce perishes in a moment.
(194) But before we set forth the order of the battle itself, it seems needful to relate what had already happened in the course of the campaign, for it was not only a famous struggle but one that was complicated and confused. Well then, Sangiban, king of the Alani, smitten with fear of what might come to pass, had promised to surrender to Attila, and to give into his keeping Aureliani, a city of Gaul wherein he dwelt. (195) When Theodorid and Aëtius learned of this, they cast up great earthworks around that city before Attila's arrival and kept watch over the suspected Sangiban, placing him with his tribe in the midst of their auxiliaries. Then Attila, king of the Huns, was taken aback by this event and lost confidence in his own troops, so that he feared to begin the conflict. While he was meditating on flight--a greater calamity than death itself--he decided to inquire into the future through soothsayers. (196) So, as was their custom, they examined the entrails of cattle and certain streaks in bones that had been scraped, and foretold disaster to the Huns. Yet as a slight consolation they prophesied that the chief commander of the foe they were to meet should fall and mar by his death the rest of the victory and the triumph. Now Attila deemed the death of Aëtius a thing to be desired even at the cost of his own life, for Aëtius stood in the way of his plans. So although he was disturbed by this prophecy, yet inasmuch as he was a man who sought counsel of omens in all warfare, he began the battle with anxious heart at about the ninth hour of the day, in order that the impending darkness might come to his aid if the outcome should be disastrous.
(197) The armies met, as we have said, in the Catalaunian Plains. The battle field was a plain rising by a sharp slope to a ridge, which both armies sought to gain; for advantage of position is a great help. The Huns with their forces seized the right side, the Romans, the Visigoths and their allies the left, and then began a struggle for the yet untaken crest. Now Theodorid with the Visigoths held the right wing and Aëtius with the Romans the left. They placed in the centre Sangiban (who, as said before, was in command of the Alani), thus contriving with military caution to surround by a host of faithful troops the man in whose loyalty they had little confidence. For one who has difficulties placed in the way of his flight readily submits to the necessity of fighting. (198) On the other side, however, the battle line of the Huns was arranged so that Attila and his bravest followers were stationed in the centre. In arranging them thus the king had chiefly his own safety in view, since by his position in the very midst of his race he would be kept out of the way of threatening danger. The innumerable peoples of the divers tribes, which he had subjected to his sway, formed the wings. (199) Amid them was conspicuous the army of the Ostrogoths under the leadership of the brothers Valamir, Thiudimer and Vidimer, nobler even than the king they served, for the might of the family of the Amali rendered them glorious. The renowned king of the Gepidae, Ardaric, was there also with a countless host, and because of his great loyalty to Attila, he shared his plans. For Attila, comparing them in his wisdom, prized him and Valamir, king of the Ostrogoths, above all the other chieftains. (200) Valamir was a good keeper of secrets, bland of speech and skilled in wiles, and Ardaric, as we have said, was famed for his loyalty and wisdom. Attila might well feel sure that they would fight against the Visigoths, their kinsmen. Now the rest of the crowd of kings (if we may call them so) and the leaders of various nations hung upon Attila's nod like slaves, and when he gave a sign even by a glance, without a murmur each stood forth in fear and trembling, or at all events did as he was bid. (201) Attila alone was king of all kings over all and concerned for all.
So then the struggle began for the advantage of position we have mentioned. Attila sent his men to take the summit of the mountain, but was outstripped by Thorismud and Aëtius, who in their effort to gain the top of the hill reached higher ground and through this advantage of position easily routed the Huns as they came up.
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