A first history of France

CHAPTER II Gaul becomes France

481 Clovis, . 628-638 Dagobert, 613-714 Faineant Kings,

CHAPTER III The Growth of the Carolingian Empire 715-741 Charles Martel

751 Pepin the Short becomes King, 768-814 Charles the Great,

800 Charles the Great becomes Emperor, .

b

DATE

843 Charles the Bald, 843 Treaty of Verdun,

PAGE

22 22

CHAPTEH IV

843 The Northmen, . . . ,

The Capetians, , , . ,

The Feudal System, 885 The Northmen besiege Paris, . 887 Eudes, Count of Paris, becomes King, 911 The Northmen settle in France, 987 The End of the Carolingian Rule,

23 28

25 26

27 29

CHAPTER V 987 Hugh Capet

996-1031 Robert i. the Pious,

1098 Siege of Antioch,

1099 Capture of Jerusalem, .

The Kingdom of Jerusalem,

Chivalry,

CHAPTER VI 1108-1137 Louis vi., le Gros

The Communes,

1109-1128 The Struggle at Laon, .

1147 The Second Crusade, .

1151 Death of Suger,

1180 Death of Louis vii. , . ,

Vll

Chapter VII Datk

1180 Early Years of Philip Augustus,

1190 The Third Crusade,

1191 Siege of Acre, ....

1192 Imprisonment of Richard the Lion-hearted, 1204 Conquest of Normandy,

1214 Battle of Bou vines, Albigensian War, 1208- 1223 Crusade against the Albigensians, 1223 Death of Philip Augustus,

PAGE

47 48 49 51 52 53 53 54 57

Chapter VIII

1223-1226 Louis viii., 1226- 1236 Regency of Blanche of Castile, Education of Louis ix., 1236 Majority of Louis IX., . 1248-1254 First Crusade of Louis ix., 1250 Louis IX. a Prisoner,

Crusade of the Pastoureaux, 1254 Louis IX. returns to France, 1270 Second Crusade of Louis ix..

58 59 60 60 62 62 64 66

Chapter IX

1270-1285 Philip ill., the Rash, 1282 The Sicilian Vesper,

1285-1314 Philip iv., the Fair, 1298 War with Flanders, 1302 Battle of Courtrai, The Mal-Tote, .

70 70 71 73 74 75

VIU

CHAPTER X Philip IV. and Boniface VIII. DATE

1300 The Jubilee,

1302 The Estates-General, .

1303 The Death of Boniface viii. , . 1305 Clement v. becomes Pope, 1307 Abolition of the Order of the Templars 1314 Death of Philip IV.,

CHAPTER XI The Hundred Years' War

1328-1350 Philip VI. of Valois,

1328 Philip VI. makes war on the Flemings, 1337 Beginning of the Hundred Years' War, 1340 Battle of Sluys,

War of Succession in Brittany, 1344 The Gabelle,

1346 Battle of Crecy,

1347 Siege of Calais, .

1348 The Black Death,

1350 Death of Philip vi., 1360-1364 Jean le Bon,

1351 Murder of Charles de la Cerda, Capture of Charles the Bad of Navarre,

1356 Battle of Poitiers, Captivity of King John,

1357 The Dauphin summons the Estates-General, Etienne Marcel the chief man in Paris,

1358 The Jacquerie, . 1360 Death of Etienne Marcel,

Release of John, 1864: John returns to England, Death of John, .

CONTENTS ix

CHAPTER Xn

Charles V., the Wise

DATE PAGE

1364 Accession of Charles v.,

1365 End of the War in Brittany, .

1366 Charles v. espouses the cause of Henry of

Trastamare, ....

1367 Battle of Najara, 1369 Death of Peter the Cruel, 1375 Conquest of Aquitaine,

1380 Death of Du Guesclin and Charles v. , Accession of Charles vi. ,

1381 Pvising of the Maillotons,

1382 Battle of Roosebek,

CHAPTER XIII The Burgundians and the Armagnacs

1388 Majority of Charles vi.,

1392 Attempted Murder of Oliver Clisson,

Madness of Charles vi., 1404 Death of the Duke of Burgundy, 1407 Murder of the Duke of Orleans,

1413 Rising of the Cabochiens,

1414 Invasion of Henry v. , .

1415 Battle of Agincourt, 1416 -1418 Count of Armagnac master in Paris,

1419 Murder of the Duke of Burgundy,

1420 Treaty of Troyes, 1422 Death of Charles vi. and Henry v..

99 99

CHAPTER XIV Jeanne Darc 1428 Siege of Orleans, . . . .115

1429 Jeanne Darc raises the Siege of Orleans, . 116 Charles vii. crowned at Rheims, . .119

DATE

PAGE

1430 Jeanne taken Prisoner,

1431 Jeanne burnt at Rouen,

1435 Treaty of Arras,

1439 The Taille, ....

1453 Conquest of Guienne, .

1456 Eevolt of the Dauphin Louis, .

1461 Death of Charles vii., .

CHAPTER XV Louis XI

1465 League of the Public Good,

1467 Death of the Duke of Burgundy,

1468 Louis XI. at Peronne, . 1472 The Duke of Burgundy invades France 1477 Death of the Duke of Burgundy, 1479 Battle of Guinegate,

1482 Treaty of Arras,

1483 Death of Louis xi. ,

CHAPTER XVI Charles VIII

1483-1498 Charles vili., .... 1483-1491 Anne of Beaujeu Regent,

1491 Charles viii. marries Anne of Brittany,

1494 Charles vm. goes to Italy,

1495 Charles viii. leaves Italy, 1498 Death of Charles viii. ,

134 134 135 136 137 138

CHAPTER XVII Louis XII. 1498 Louis XII. marries Anne of Brittany

1499 Louis XII. goes to Milan,

139 139 140

XI

1500-1501 Louis Xli. conquers Naples, 1508 League of Oambrai, 1515 Louis XII. marries Mary Tudor, Death of Louis xii..

PAGE

141 142 143 143

CHAPTER XVIII Francis I. and Charles V

1515 Battle of Marignano,

1519 Charles v. becomes Emperor, .

1520 Field of the Cloth of Gold,

1523 Treason of the Constable of Bourbon,

1525 Battle of Pavia, Captivity of Francis i. ,

1526 Treaty of Madrid,

1527 Sack of Rome, . 1529 Paix des Dames,

1535 Francis i, allies himself with the Turks

1544 Treaty of Crespy, Religious Reformation in France,

1545 Massacre of the Vaudois, 1547 Death of Francis i., ,

Chapter XIX

1552 Conquest of Metz, Toul, and Verdun, 1556 Abdication of Charles v.,

1558 Duke of Guise takes Calais,

1559 Treaty of Cateau Cambresis, Death of Henry ii.,

Conspiracy of Amboise, Arrest and Trial of Cond6,

DATE

1560 Death of Francis ii., . 1560-1574 Charles IX.,

1560 Regency of Catherine of Medicis,

1561 Conference of Poissy, .

FAOB

164 164 164 165

CHAPTER XX 1562 Massacre of Vassy, First Civil War

1563 Peace of Amboise, 1566 Second Religious War,

1572 Attempted Murder of Coligny, Massacre of St. Bartholomew, 1574 Death of Charles IX. , . 1574-1589 Henry iii.,

Chapter XXI

1576 The League is formed, . 1584 Death of the Duke of Alencon , Power of the Duke of Guise,

1588 Murder of the Duke of Guise, ..

1589 Assassination of Henry iii., Accession of Henry iv. ,

1590 Battle of Ivry, .

Siege of Paris, .

1593 Henry iv. becomes a Roman Catholic 1596 Submission of the League, 1598 Edict of Nantes,

Treaty of Vervins, 1600 Marriage of Henry iv., and Mary of Medicis, 1610 Assassination of Henry iv..

Chapter XXII Date

1610 Mary of Medicis Regent,

1617 Assassination of Concini, 1617-1621 Albert de Luynes in power,

1621 War with the Huguenots, 1624-1642 Ministry of Richelieu,

1628 Capture of La Rochelle,

1631 Richelieu takes part in the Thirty Years' War,

1635 Foundation of the French Academy, .

PAGE 190

CHAPTER XXIII Early Years of Louis XIV

1643 Anne of Austria Regent,

Battle of Rocroy,

1643-1661 Mazarin in power.

1648 Treaty of Westphalia, .

1649 The Fronde, ....

1659 Peace of the Pyrenees, .

Louis XIV. marries Maria Theresa,

. 202

1661 Sole government of Louis xiv.,

Colbert Chief Minister,

1666 Louvois Minister of War,

. 206

1667 War with Spain,

1672 Invasion of Holland,

1673 VV^illiam of Orange makes the first Coalitioi against France,

1678 Peace of Nimeguen,

1683 Death of Colbert,

XIV

CHAPTER XXIV War of the Spanish Succession

DATE

1685 Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, 1688 New Coalition against France,

William of Orange becomes King of England, 1692 Battle of the Hogue, 1689-1697 War in the Netherlands and Germany, 1697 Treaty of Ryswick,

1700 Philip V. of Bourbon becomes King of Spain,

1701 Formation of the Grand Alliance, 1704 Battle of Blenheim,

1711 Death of the Dauphin, . 1713 Peace of Utrecht, 1715 Death of Louis xiv.,

PAGE

CHAPTER XXV The Decay of the Monarchy 1715-1723 Regency of the Duke of Orleans

1723-1726 Ministry of the Duke of Bourbon,

1725 Louis XV. marries Maria Leczinska,

1726 Fleury Chief Minister,

1733 War of the Polish Succession, .

1741 War of the Austrian Succession,

1744 Illness of Louis xv. at Metz, .

1748 Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle,

'?9?,

1756 Beginning of the Seven Years' War. .

9,23

1759 Battle of Quebec,

1763 Treaty of Paris, . .

Choiseul Chief Minister,

1774 Death of Louis XV.,

XV

Chapter XXVI Date

1774 Accession of Louis xvi. , 1774-1776 Ministry of Turgot, 1776-1781 Ministry of Necker,

1783 Peace of Versailles. Independence of the United States, 1783-1787 Ministry of Calonnes, .

1788 Recall of Necker, 5tli May 1789 Meeting of the States-General, 20tli June Tennis-Court Oath,

27th June Fusion of the Three Estates,

PAGE

228 229

229 230 230 231 231 233

CHAPTER XXVII nth July

1789 Dismissal of Necker,

. 234

14th July

Capture of the Bastille, .

Formation of the National Guard,

4th Aug.

Abolition of the Privileges of the Nobilit)

', 236

5th Oct.

The King brought to Paris,

15th Jan.

1790 France divided into Departments,

14th July

Fgte of the Champ de Mars,

2nd April

1791 Death of Mirabeau,

20th June

Flight of the King to Varennes, .

17th July

Massacre of the Champs de Mars,

CHAPTER XXVIII 1st Oct

1791 Meeting of the Legislative Assembly,

April

1792 The Assembly declares War,

XVI

DATE

20tli Jnne lOth August 2iid to 6tli Sept. 21st September 22nd September 21st January 1793 6th AprU

16tli October Mar. to Dec.

27tli July 1794

The People break into the Tuileries,

Attack on the Tuileries,

Massacres in the Prisons,

Meeting of the National Convention

Proclamation of the Republic,

Execution of Louis xvi. ,

The Terror, .

Robespierre Chief of the Committee

of Public Safety, , Execution of Marie Antoinette, Rising in La Vendue, Rising of the Chouans in Brittany, Execution of Robespierre, .

End of the Terror,

PAGK

CHAPTER XXIX 1795 The Directory

1796-1797 Bonaparte commands the Army of Italy,

1798 The Expedition to Egypt, 1799-1804 The Consulate, .

1799 The Plebiscite, .

1800 Battle of Mareugo,

1804 Death of the Duke d'Enghieii, Napoleon Bonaparte becomes Emperor, Coronation of Napoleon, Camp at Boulogne,

1805 Capitulation of Ulm, Battle of Austerlitz, Treaty of Presburg, Battle of Trafalgar,

1806 Continental Blockade,

1807 Peace of Tilsitt, Conquest of Portugal,

1808 Joseph Bonaparte becomes King of Spain,

1809 Siege of Saragossa, xvii r>K1¥. PAGE

1810 Napoleon marries the Archduchess Marie

1811 Birth of the King of Rome,

1812 The Invasion of Russia,

Battle of the Borodino,

Retreat from Moscow, .

Passage of the Beresina,

1813 Battle of Leipzig,

1814 The Allies invade France,

Abdication of Napoleon,

Louis XVIII. becomes King,

. 277

1815 The Hundred Days,

. 277

Battle of Waterloo,

CHAPTER XXXI The Attempt to Restore the Monarchy 1815 Return of Louis xviii

1824 Accession of Charles x.,

1830 Conquest of Algiers,

Revolution against Charles x.,

Louis Philippe, ....

1835 Conspiracy of Fieschi, .

1836 Attempt of Louis Napoleon at Strassburg, Louis Napoleon imprisoned at Ham, .

1847 The Political Banquets,

1848 The Revolution of February, .

Flight of Louis Philippe, Proclamation of the Republic, .

Death of the Archbishop of Paris,

CHAPTER XXXn

1848-1852 Louis Napoleon President, 1861 The Coup d'Etat, 1852 Napoleon iii. proclaimed Emperor,

287 287 288

XVlll

DATE PAGE

1854 The Crimean War, . . . . .289

1856 The Peace of Paris, . . . .289

1859 The Italian War, . . . .289

1866 War between Prussia and Austria, . . . 290

1870 France declares war against Prussia, . . 290 Battle of Sedan, . . . .290 The Pepublic proclaimed in Paris, . . , 291

1871 The King of Prussia becomes German Emperor, . 291 The Commune in Paris, .... 292

1875 The New Constitution, . . . .292

Index,

ILLUSTRATIONS

Meeting of Henry viii. and Francis i. — Frontispiece. St. Peter giving the Pallium to Leo iii. , and a Banner to

Charles the Great [from a Mosaic in the Lateran), Eudes {from the Cathedral at Chartres), . RoUo, Duke of Normandy, Jester, Twelfth Century, Mowing {from a Psalter, twelfth century), Ploughing {from a Psalter, twelfth century) Amiens, ......

Vintage, Twelfth Century,

Medal of Richard Coeur de Lion, 1199,

Rouen Cathedral, ....

Seal of Richard Coeur de Lion, 1199,

Thirteenth-Century Falconers,

Louis IX. {engraved on a gem about 1314)

Bellman, end of Thirteenth Century,

The Three Estates {from a thirteenth-century Missal),

Head-dresses from a Window, Fourteenth Century,

Soldiers of Fourteenth Century {from La Sainte Ghapelle

Paris),

Costume, Fourteenth Century, . , ', .

Statues from Rouen Cathedral, ....

XX A FIRST HISTORY OF FRANCE

PAGE

Standard, Banner, and Pennon of Jeanne Dare, . . 117

Rheims Cathedral, 119

Jeanne Dare {from a Portrait in the Museum at Orleans,

datedimi), 121

Guilleaume de May, Captain of the King's Archers,

Henry iv. , 184

LaRochelle, 193

Arms of La Roehelle, 198

Louis XIV., 214

Marie Antoinette forced to descend from her Carriage, . 243

The Guillotine, 251

Murder of Marat, 254

General Hoche signing the Pacification of La Vendee, . 254

The Emperor Napoleon, ..,,,.. 276

MAPS.

Empire of Charlemagne, .

France in the Time of Hugh Capet, France in the Time of Philip Augustus, France at the Death of Louis xi., . France at the Death of Louis xiv., .

Introduction

Before we begin to study the history of France, let us look at its position on the map of Europe. It belongs both to the south and to the north ; for it has sea-ports on the Mediterranean as well as on the English Channel and on the Bay of Biscay. On the south and west and part of the north, France has what are called natural boundaries, the sea and the great mountain chain of the Pyrenees ; but on the east and part of the north there are no boundaries clearly marked by nature ; and on this side France has often tried to grow bigger, so that sometimes it has been bigger, and sometimes smaller than it is at present.

Like England, France has a climate which is neither too hot nor too cold, but it has more sunshine and less damp and fog than that island. In the south, vines and olives grow, and the wines of France are the best in the world. Its wealth, its position, and the character of its people have made France play a great part in the history of Europe ; and it will help you to understand the history of England better to know something of the history of the French, her nearest neighbours. A

Chapter I

When first we hear anything about France, it is described as covered with marshes and dense forests inhabited by wild beasts. The people lived in caves, and made arms and tools out of bones and flints. Of these people we know little, and the first inhabitants of the land about whom history teaches us anything are the Gauls. They came from the far East, and gave the name of Gaul to the land which we call France.

The Gauls belonged, like the Irish, the Welsh, and the Highlanders, to the great family of the Celts. They were tall, with fair skin, fair hair, and blue eyes. They were terrible in the battle-field, but were easily cast down by misfortunes, though quick to hope again. A Gaul thought it beneath him to plough and till the fields, though he would hunt and tend cattle. They were lively people, and liked to sing and feast and recite poetry. Their land was rich in mines, and they were clever in working in copper and gold, and eager to trade with other people. They made roads and bridges, and plied the rivers in leather skiffs. They carried on much trade with Britain, and sailed the Channel in clumsy ships with leather sails.

The Gauls prayed to the spirits in the thunder, the sun, the mountains and rivers. They had no temples, but their priests, the Druids, made altars in the deep forests, where sometimes living men were offered as sacrifices. These Druids were judges and doctors as well as priests ; they were set apart from the rest of the people, and were greatly honoured. They wrote no books, but the young disciples learnt from the lips of the old men, the wisdom that had come to them from their fathers.

Caesar conquers Gaul, b.c. 58. — About 150 B.C. the Eomans came over the Alps and settled in the south of Gaul. They found the land pleasant and fertile, and after a while built cities there, and called this Eoman colony fhe Province ; and to this day that part of France keeps the name Provence. When the great Eoman, Julius Caesar, wished to make himself the chief man in Eome, he determined to win fame by conquering the whole of Gaul. He has written the story of his conquest himself, and his book tells us much about the manners and customs of the Gauls.

Vercingetorix. — Many of the bravest Gauls gathered round a great chief Vercingetorix, to fight against the Eomans. He told them to burn their corn, so that the Eomans might find nothing to eat, to break down the bridges and burn the villages, so that they might find no place to shelter in. At first he was able to make even Julius Csesar retreat before him ; but soon he had to retire to a place called Alesia. Then Caesar made ditches full of water, and built little forts all round Alesia. But some of Yercingetorix's men got out, and went all through Gaul, and gathered a great host to attack Caesar's camp. There were many more Gauls than Eomans, and they were very brave, but they had not been trained like the Eoman soldiers. Several times they attacked Csesar's camp in vain, until at last he turned upon them, and they fled in terror. Then Yercingetorix knew that all was lost ; but in the hope of saving his friends, he rode out on his battlehorse, clad in his richest armour, and throwing his sword at Caesar's feet, gave himself up a prisoner. He was taken to Eome, and when Caesar celebrated his conquest, the great Gaul was dragged behind his car in triumph.

Gaul becomes a Roman Province. — After this, few of the Gauls dared to fight against Caesar. He was not harsh to them, for he wished to make them like the Eoman rule. He admired the brave Gauls, and took them to fight in his armies.

For about 500 years Gaul was a Eoman province. The Gauls learnt a great deal from the Eomans. They came in time to speak their language and to use their laws. Splendid roads were made all over the land, and many walled cities, with fine temples and marketplaces, were built. The fairest cities and the most beautiful villas were in the south of Gaul ; and there we can still see the ruins of many of the great Eoman buildings. Paris was then only a little village on an island in the Seine, called Lutetia. But even then Julian, one of the Eoman emperors, was very fond of it. He describes it in a book which he wrote, and says that two wooden bridges go from the island to the banks of the river, and that the climate is mild, so that figs and grapes can be grown.

Gaul becomes Christian. — The Eomans had killed the Druids and built temples of their own in Gaul. But about 170 a.d. Christian teachers came there.

The chief of these was Plotinus, a disciple of St. Polycarp, the holy Bishop of Smyrna, who in his youth had seen St. John himself. Plotinus settled at Lyons and taught the people there, and many became Christians. But one day the heathens at Lyons rose against the Christians, and dragged Plotinus, an old man of ninety, before the Roman governor. The governor asked him who was the God of the Christians. ' If you are worthy,' answered Plotinus, ' you will know.' Then those who stood by began to kick him and strike him with their fists, while those at a distance threw stones at him. He was carried back to prison halfdead, and soon after died in his cell. Forty-seven other Christians were put to death at the same time. Amongst them was a girl called Blandina. At first she was tortured in prison, but though the cruel men went on all day till they were tired themselves, she would say nothing against Christ, but only answered, ' I am a Christian.' Again and again, on following days, they beat her with rods and burnt her with hot irons, but they could not make her deny Christ. Then they led her into the amphitheatre, an open-air theatre, with seats all round filled with people looking on. Here she was given up to the fury of wild beasts. Bound, with arms stretched out in the shape of a cross, she lay and prayed, and the beasts would not touch her. A second time she was brought into the amphitheatre and thrown before a wild bull. He tossed her on his horns, and when that did not kill her, a knife was plunged into her throat.

For a moment it seemed as if there was an end of the church of Lyons. But the Church is watered by the blood of its martyrs. St. Irenaeus, who is called the light of the West, gathered together the scattered Christians. Seven new bishops were sent from Eome to carry the gospel all over Gaul. One of these, St. Dionysius, went as far as Lutetia or Paris. There he was beheaded on the hill of Montmartre, and buried by the care of a pious woman. A church was built over his body, and pilgrims came from all parts and made rich offerings at his tomb. In after days, under the name of St. Denis, he became the patron saint of France. After the year 312 the Church had rest, for then the Roman Emperor himself became a Christian.

St. Martin of Tours, 310-390.— One of the most famous Christian teachers was St. Martin. He came from a land far away by the Danube. When he was only ten, he ran away from home to become a hermit. But he was taken and forced to be a soldier in the Roman army. He was not yet a Christian, but was preparing for baptism, when, passing out of Amiens one day, he saw by the gate a naked, shivering beggar. He felt in his purse and found it empty, so he took his sword, and cutting his cloak in half, gave half to the beggar. That night Christ appeared to him in a dream, clothed in half a cloak, and said to the angels who stood round him, ' Martin, still a catechumen, has clothed me with this garment.' Martin took this as a sign, and immediately asked to be baptized, and became a Christian at the age of eighteen.

On leaving the army he spent some time in study in Italy, and then came to Gaul. There, as he loved to be quiet, he settled in the country near Tours, and founded the first monastery in Gaul, where other monks lived with him in prayer and the service of God. As time went on, much against his will he was made Bishop of

Tours. As bishop, lie laboured without ceasing to carry the gospel to the poor, ignorant peasants of the country. He spent his days walking from place to place, followed by his disciples, and wherever he went he taught the people, so that he was called the Apostle of the country.

The Fall of Rome. — Whilst Christianity was growing stronger in Gaul the power of the Eomans was growing weaker. On the other side of the Rhine, in the land which we now call Germany, there were many warlike, heathen tribes, whom the Romans had never conquered. These men longed for the riches and the fertile lands of the Roman empire. The Roman soldiers who used to guard the border lands so well, had grown fond of comfort and of an easy life. The barbarians were able to force their way into the provinces of the empire. The Gauls, who had so long been ruled by the Romans, had lost their old courage, and could not keep back the barbarians. In the beginning of the fifth century, fierce tribes, called the Franks, the Burgundians, and the Visigoths, came into Gaul to plunder. They were pleased with the fertile lands, and settled down in them, sometimes killing the poor Gauls, sometimes making them their slaves. The Franks for the most part settled in the north and centre, the Burgundians in the east, and the Visigoths in the south, from whence they crossed the Pyrenees into Spain.

Attila, 450. — But soon after these first inroads there came a new scourge, a terror. to the barbarians as well as to the Gauls. A wild people called the Huns had come from Asia into Europe. They were small and ugly, and passed their life on horseback, living on raw meat and mares' milk. Their leader was called Attila, and men said he was the scourge of God, who had sent him to punish them for their sins. He said of himself that where his horse passed, the grass never grew again. In 450 he crossed the Ehine into Gaul, and destroyed and burnt one city after another. The people of Paris were so terrified, that they decided to desert their city. But a holy woman called Genevieve bade them have courage, and pray to God for help. At first they were angry, and would have stoned her, but at last they listened to her voice. Genevieve's prayers were answered, and the Huns did not come near Paris. She became in later days one of the patron saints of the city.

The Huns were stopped in the plains of Chalons by a great army of barbarians, Gauls, and Romans, whom Aetius, the Roman general, had gathered to fight against the man who was the foe of all. It was a terrible battle, and 160,000 men lay dead or wounded amidst rivers of blood; but for the first time Attila was beaten. The victory was due to the Franks under their king Merovee, and the Visigoths under Theodoric, though Theodoric himself was killed.

Attila was like a beast at bay. On the morning after the battle the Huns stood behind a wall of chariots, blowing their trumpets and waving their swords. In the midst of the camp, Attila stood upon a great heap of horses' saddles, to which he meant to set fire, should the enemy get into the camp, so that none might have the glory of killing him. Aetius did not dare to attack him again ; and Attila went back to Germany, and died two years afterwards.