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History -- Military
history -- List of battles
Perhaps the defining event for holding off the incursions of the Magyars into
central Europe, the Battle of Lechfeld (10 August 955) was a decisive victory for the forces of the future
Emperor Otto the Great on the khan Horca Bulcsu. Located near
Augsburg, the Lechfeld itself lies along the Lech River.
Otto had managed to gather about him approximately 10,000 heavy cavalry, in order to fight against the 50,000 or so Magyar
light cavalry. After Otto approached the Magyar force he was outflanked by a number of Magyar cavalry, so that his smaller force
was caught in between two much larger forces, which should have led to his defeat. However the flanking Magyar force dismounted
to loot the German baggage train. Consequently Otto was able to send part of his force to sweep over these dismounted troops,
resulting in their annihilation. With this accomplished his combined force charged at the Magyar line. Despite a volley of arrows
from the Magyars (which were mainly deflected by the German shields) Otto's army smashed into the Magyar line, and began to sweep
over it. The Magyar general attempted to feign retreat with part of his force, in an attempt to tempt Otto's men to break their
line in pursuit, but it was to no avail. The German line maintained its form, and routed the Magyars off the field. The captured
Magyars were either executed, or sent back to their King missing their ears and noses.
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