Editing Battle of Lechfeld (section)

==Background==
{{Main|Hungarian invasions of Europe}}
{{See also|Battle of Pressburg}}
[[File:Kalandozasok.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Hungarian invasions of Europe|Hungarian raids across Europe]] in the 10th century.]]
In 947, [[Berthold, Duke of Bavaria]], a competent military leader, died and was succeeded by [[Henry I, Duke of Bavaria|Henry I]], brother of [[Otto the Great|King Otto I]].{{Sfn|Kristó|1985|p=76}} [[Johannes Aventinus|Aventinus]] stated that the Hungarians invaded [[Duchy of Bavaria|Bavaria]] for this reason, but they weren't able to penetrate deep into [[East Francia]]. In the following years, the Germans started to threaten [[Transdanubia]], with border clashes erupting along the [[Enns (river)|Enns River]]. According to [[Hrotsvitha]], Henry brought back much booty and prisoners from the Avars due to these.{{Sfn|Kristó|1985|p=77}} In 952, Otto put [[Kingdom of Italy (Holy Roman Empire)|Italy]] under the protection of the Bavarian army, and westward invasions by the Magyars stopped temporarily. However, 953 saw rebellion in Francia under the leadership of the king's son [[Liudolf, Duke of Swabia]], and son-in-law [[Conrad, Duke of Lorraine]], mainly because of the occupation of Italy. In 954, these men called in the Hungarians, who then plundered the [[Rhineland]] and devastated France.{{Sfn|Kristó|1985|pp=78-79}} The warriors returned from this successful adventure safely through [[Burgundy]] and [[Northern Italy]].{{Sfn|Kristó|1985|pp=79-80}}

The year 955 started badly for King Otto. Despite his best efforts, the [[archbishop]] of [[Salzburg]] joined the enemy. Harold was blinded and exiled to [[Tyrol]], while his wealth was taken by Henry's vassals, but this upset many more Bavarian counts, who took up arms against the king. In spite of the growing of the resistance, Otto gained a shining victory at [[Mühldorf]], proceeding to siege [[Regensburg]]. Much of the city had already burned down, however its defenders long endured bombardment by Otto's siege engines before surrendering due to hunger, as no relief arrived. The internal situation hardly improved after Otto's defeat of the rebellion, as the nephews of Prince Hermann of Saxony frequently raided the duchy, allying with [[Polabian Slavs|Polabian principalities]].{{Sfn|Kristó|1985|pp=81-82}} In early July Otto received Hungarian legates, who claimed to come in peace, but who the Germans suspected were actually assessing the outcome of the rebellion.{{sfn|Bowlus|2016|p=11}} After a few days, he let them go with some small gifts.{{sfn|Bowlus|2016|p=11}}{{sfn|Thatcher|McNeal|1905|p=75}}

Soon, couriers from Otto I's brother [[Henry I, Duke of Bavaria]], arrived to inform Otto I in [[Magdeburg]] of a Hungarian invasion.{{sfn|Bowlus|2016|p=11}}{{sfn|Thatcher|McNeal|1905|p=76}} According to Prince-Bishop Ulrich, "they devastated the land of [[Noricum]] from the Danube to the [[Black Forest]], which goes to the mountainous regions".{{Sfn|Kristó|1985|p=83}} According to [[Widukind of Corvey|Widukind]], "he (Otto) started the march against the enemy like he wouldn't get tired in the previous war{{clarification needed|date=January 2025}}, only taking some of the Saxons by him, as the Slavic war threatened them".{{sfn|Thatcher|McNeal|1905|p=76}}{{Sfn|Kristó|1985|p=82}} Saxony was distant from Augsburg and its environs, and considerable time would have elapsed waiting for Saxons' arrival.{{sfn|Delbrück|1990|p=115}} [[Ulm]] was chosen as the place to gather the anti-Hungarian forces.{{Sfn|Kristó|1985|p=87}} The battle took place six weeks after the first report of an invasion, and historian [[Hans Delbrück]] asserts that they could not have possibly made the march in time.{{sfn|Delbrück|1990|p=116}}[[File:The Hungarian campaign in Europe of 954.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|left|The Hungarian campaign in Europe of 954]]
The King ordered his troops to concentrate on the Danube, in the vicinity of [[Neuburg an der Donau|Neuburg]] and [[Ingolstadt]].{{sfn|Bowlus|2016|p=11}} He did this to march on the Hungarian line of communications and catch them in their rear while they were raiding northeast of Augsburg. It was also a central point of concentration for all the contingents that were assembling. Strategically, therefore, this was the best location for Otto I to concentrate his forces before making the final descent upon the Hungarians.{{sfn|Delbrück|1990|p=118}}

There were other troops that had an influence on the course of the battle. On previous occasions, in 932 and 954 for example, there had been Hungarian incursions that had invaded the German lands to the south of the Danube, and then retreated back to their native country via [[Lotharingia]], to the [[West Frankish Kingdom]] and finally, through [[Italy]]. That is to say, a wide sweeping U-turn that initially started westward, then progressed to the south, and then finally to the east back to their homeland; and thus escaping retribution in German territory. The King was aware of the escape of these Hungarians on the above-mentioned occasions, and was determined to trap them. He therefore ordered his brother, [[Bruno the Great|Archbishop Bruno]], to keep the Lotharingian forces in Lotharingia. With a powerful force of knights pressing them from the west, and an equally strong force of knights chasing them from the east, the Hungarians would be unable to escape.{{sfn|Delbrück|1990|p=122}}

Located south of Augsburg, the Lechfeld is the flood plain that lies along the river [[Lech (river)|Lech]]. The battle appears as the second '''Battle of Augsburg''' in [[Hungary|Hungarian]] [[historiography]].{{snf|Szabados|2006|p=134}} The [[Battle of Lechfeld (910)|first Battle of Lechfeld]] happened in the same area forty-five years earlier.{{sfn|Bowlus|2016|p=166}}