Yesterday, August 10 of 955, Otto 1 won the Battle of Lechfeld
Otto, who had just put down a rebellion in Franconia, received news that another Magyar invasion force had crossed into his domain, with a force of about 50,000 men. There had been some revolts in the north, so Otto had to leave most of his troops in that area.
Structure of the Otto` s army
Otto had about 8,000 knights to fight off the invasion. The imperial troops were divided into eight heavy cavalry legions, each of about a thousand men, three from Bavaria, two from Swabia, one from Franconia and one from Bohemia. The eighth division, commanded by Emperor Otto I and slightly larger than the others, included Saxons, Thuringians and the king's personal guard.
In the battle:
Otto received a message that the Magyars were heading for the city of Augsburg on the Lech River. Augsburg was a hub for European east-west and north-south communications, which were important trade routes in the Middle Ages, especially the main passes through the Alps that gave access to Italy and its markets.
The Magyars reached Augsburg and began a siege of the city, the invaders launched a massive assault on the city's eastern gate. The city walls were defended. The attack was interrupted when Magyar scouts reported that a Germanic force was near them. The Magyar commander ordered his men to cross the Wertach River, which joins the Lech River just north of Augsburg, and made plans to combat the Germans. Otto and his army went to Augsburg and set up a camp. The next day all armies: German Bavaria, Franconia, the royal division commanded by King Otto 1, Swabia and Bohemia, prepared for the battle.
The first to act were the Magyars. Otto then sent the Frankish forces, his new ally, to restore order in the German rear. These forces attacked the Magyars, who had already begun the battle, the Magyars were massacred. After that King Otto quickly gave orders for the disposition of his forces to attack the bavarians. Many of them ran to the Lech River, where they drowned when the river level rase due to the sudden rain.
- At the end of the battle many people died and were kidnapped.