Battle of Lechfeld
The Battle of Lechfeld, fought on August 10, 955, was a pivotal confrontation between the forces of Otto I, the founding emperor of the First German Reich, and the invading Magyars. This battle emerged after the Magyars, a nomadic people, had established themselves in Pannonia and were conducting raids into central Europe for several decades. Their invasion of Germany was encouraged by Otto's domestic enemies, leading to a siege of Augsburg, which was defended by its bishop against overwhelming odds. Otto quickly assembled a diverse army from across Germany to confront the Hungarian forces.
The battle unfolded in intense heat, with multiple waves of troops, including Bavarians, Franks, Saxons, and Swabians, engaging the Magyars. Initially, the Hungarians managed to disrupt Otto's forces, but the tide turned due to the valor displayed by Otto and his troops. Many Hungarian soldiers met their fate attempting to escape across the Lech River, resulting in a devastating defeat for them. This decisive victory not only halted the Hungarian incursions but also led to their eventual settlement in Hungary and acceptance of Christianity, marking a significant shift in their history and relationship with the Holy Roman Empire.
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Subject Terms
Battle of Lechfeld
Type of action: Ground battle in the Magyar invasions
Date: August 10, 955
Location: Lechfield, outside Augsburg, Germany
Combatants: Germans vs. Magyars, Hungarians
Principal commander: German, Otto I (912-973)
Result: The defeat of the Magyars stopped their raids of central Europe and resulted in their peaceful settlement on the plains of Hungary.
The Battle of Lechfeld was the greatest victory of Otto I, the founding emperor of the First German Reich. In 895, the Magyars, a restless nomadic people, had taken possession of the ancient Roman province of Pannonia, from which they raided central Europe for half a century. In 955, some of Otto’s domestic enemies encouraged them to invade Germany. The Hungarian hordes, confident of success because of their sheer numerical strength (estimated at 100,000 horsemen by contemporaries), laid siege to the city of Augsburg, which was heroically defended by its bishop. With only dilapidated walls to protect the city, defeat of the badly outnumbered Augsburg forces appeared immanent. When Otto learned of the Magyar invasion, he hastily assembled an army from all parts of Germany and hurried to Augsburg. The decisive Battle of Lechfield took place on August 10, 955, outside of Augsburg on the Lech River.
In the scorching heat, three waves of Bavarians, followed by a wave of Franks, a fifth wave of elite Saxon troops led by the king himself, followed by five lines of Swabians and a rear guard composed of Bohemians charged the Hungarians. At first, the Hungarians were able to avoid the direct attack and even caused havoc by falling into the rear of Otto’s army. Valor saved the day. Otto himself, sword in hand, fought in the thick of battle. As the tide of battle turned, many of the Hungarians drowned trying to escape across the Lech River. The rest of the Magyar invaders were routed and killed. Contemporary sources state that 100,000 Hungarians died.
Significance
After the tremendous defeat, the Magyars gave up their restless wandering, accepted Christianity, and peacefully settled on the plains of Hungary, eventually becoming allies of the Holy Roman Empire.
Bibliography
Falco, Giorgio. The Holy Roman Empire. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1980.
Fichtenau, Heinrich. Living in the Tenth Century: Mentalities and Social Order. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1991.
Reuter, Timothy. Germany in the Early Middle Ages. London: Longman, 1991.