1.4.4 Fortifications and Sieges

To talk about sieges undertaken by a nation of steppe horse archers who are reputed to avoid buildings "like tombs" may sound strange. In fact, Huns were not adverse to living in villages and buildings, nor were they afraid to attack fortifications. At times they were assisted in these tasks by German allies and prisoners.

For example, in 452 Priscos tells of Attila and his polyglot army undertaking an ultimately successful three month siege of Aquileia. The Aquilian garrison seems to have been strengthened in anticipation of a siege, so it cannot be considered a surprise attack (26).

Attlla's army suffered badly from shortages of provisions and fodder. It was only after siege engines were built by Roman POW's or deserters that the walls of the city were breached and the city stormed and thoroughly sacked.

In the summer of 408, Uldin the Hun crossed the Danube at a strategically chosen time - when no Roman field armies were present. The Romans were well aware of the Hunnic problems and had strengthened the lines. Their plan was to allow the Huns to bypass the strong points on the lines, so they could for a while plunder villages. But eventually they would be caught between the unconquered towns in the interior and the troops holding out in the fortifications on the frontier. Uldin would eventually be forced back into the barbaricum. The plan falled because the Huns took the strategic fortress of Dacia Ripensis by treachery. Following this, other fortresses fell as well.

In 441 the Huns crossed the Danube and laid waste many cities and forts on the river. Among these they took Viminacium, which was a city of the Moesians in Illyria.(27).

Viminacium was also taken by treachery, handed over by the bishop of Margus in exchange for his own life. In fact, it is probable that the Hunnic incursion was provoked by the bishop. He was accused of looting Hunnic graves, which stung the Huns into action. Looting graves was apparently not an uncommon practise for both lay and clergy, it seems.

In 442 the attacks on the Balkan provinces were resumed. The Romans suffered one defeat after another. Naissus and Singidunum were also lost. The Roman defence system broke down. Sirmium was taken and the Huns erupted into Thrace (28).

Priscus gives us a description of one of these attacks during the siege of Naissus. The deacription is very interesting and worth repeating:

The barbariana, being on the point of capturing a city so populous and fortified besides, were advancing with every attempt. Since those in the city were not very confident about going out to battle, the barbarians bridged the river at the southern part where it flowed past the city so that a crossing would be easy for a large number of men, and they brought their engines of war to the circuit wall - first wooden beams mounted on wheels became the approach was easy. Men standing on the beams shot arrows against those defending the city from the battlements, and other men grabbing another projecting beam shoved the wheels ahead on foot. Thus, they drove the engines ahead wherever it was necessary so that it was possible to shoot successfully through the windows made in the screens. In order that the fight might be free of danger, the men on the beems they were protected by willow twigs interwoven with rawhide and leather screens, a defence against other missiles and whatever fire weapons might be sent against them.

Many engines were in this way brought close to the city wall, so that those on the battlements, on account of the multitude of the missles, retired, and the so-called rams advanced. The ram is a huge machine. A beam with a metal head is suspended by loose chains from timbers inclined toward each other, and there are screens like those mentioned for the sake of the safety of those working it. With small ropes from a projecting horn at the back, men forcibly draw it backward fron the place which is to receive the blow and then let it go, so that with a awing it crushed every part of the wall which comes in its way.

From the walls the defenders hurled down stones by the wagon load which had been collected when the engines had been brought up to the circular wall, and they smashed some along with the men themselves, but they did not hold out against the vast number of engines. Then the enemy brought up scaling ladders. And so in some places the wall was toppled by the rams, and elsewhere men on the battlements were overpowered by the multitude of siege engines. The city was captured when the barbarians entered where the circult wall had been broken by the hammering of the ram and also when by means of the ladders they scaled the part of the wall not yet fallen. (29)

By quoting this passage I do not intend to argue that the Huns were expert besiegers of cities, matching the Romans in skill and technique. However, they were capable of, and frequently did, capture towns and fortifications. The objective was not to hold these fortifications, but to loot them and to secure lines of communication.

The Huns, in the devastating provincial raids, seem to have been able to generate a momentum and force such that a chain reaction was set up whereby fortresses could be taken by any or various combinations of treachery, surprise, fear, intimidation, and force of arms. By cracking open the defence system, the prize gained was a province rendered defenceless and open to plunder. The Huns understood this well.

Taking fortifications required energy and effort, which the Huns would not always be prepared to expend, especially since they were out to acquire 'movable assets' rather than property and territory. A determined and adequate defence stood a good chance of holding out, and often towns would simply be by-passed.

More Huns

The Huns Part 1: Introduction, Sources, At War
The Huns Part 1: On Campaign
The Huns Part 2: Fortifications and Sieges
The Huns Part 2: In Battle
The Huns Part 3: Equipment and Wargaming
The Huns Part 3: Battle of Naissus
The Huns Part 3: Wargaming Campaign