Attila's Invasion of Gaul in 451 and Re-horsing the Huns

Abstract

A debate has emerged on whether the fifth-century Huns evolved into foot soldiers or remained the same horse archers of the steppes as they had been in the fourth century. So far, the debate has focused on ecological and literary evidence. This paper approaches the argument from an angle neither side has considered: the distances Attila travelled. By examining how far the Huns covered on their longest raid and adducing comparative evidence of pre-modern armies on the march, this paper argues that Attila's Huns remained horse warriors.