The Sword of Attila by Michael Curtis Ford

Each man's world was reduced to the tiny space around his own body-the tramping of hobnailed sandals, the dripping of water from helmet into eyes, the cold armor of the soldier in front of him, which he touched with his hand for reassurance that he was still following the right path in the darkness. It was as if even the gods were weeping for the fallen greatness of the empire, and for themselves.Ī quarter of a million soldiers staggered in ragged formation along a dirt road whose ruts had long since turned into a quagmire. The blackness of the heavens melded with the dark of the surrounding fields and woods, and the rain poured down on a scene of collective misery, the likes of which the world has rarely seen. Read moreĬampi Catalaunici, Gaul, June 20, A.D. In The Sword of Attila, Michael Curtis Ford once again demonstrates his mastery as a chronicler of battle, honor, and ancient worlds. Though little known today, this monumental contest on a remote plain in Gaul determined the fate of Europe-and the very course of civilization. 451, the fates of these two titans of antiquity collide in a conflict of such massive carnage and heroism as to dwarf nearly every other single battle in history. Horrified victims call him the Scourge of God. The entire world shudders at mention of this man's name-Attila the Hun. Now he and his army of fierce horsemen have penetrated deep into Europe and are poised to strike at the heart of the empire, the city of Rome itself. Respected and feared by friends and enemies alike, he is Count Flavius Aetius, Supreme General of the Legions-better known to history as the Last of the Romans.įacing him is a foe who has led his Asian hordes on a rampage of conquest and terror, from the barren steppes of the north to the very sands of Persia, ruthlessly destroying vast swaths of civilization. Adhering to the ancient code of honor on which Rome was founded, he wages a single-minded struggle against barbarian invasions and internal decadence to prevent a catastrophic reign of terror. Ultimate authority in the fragile Western Empire rests on the shoulders of one man. In an epic campaign that historians have called the most crucial in history, two great warriors match strength and tactics in a colossal struggle for the fate of the known world. Only one man has the power and courage to preserve Rome from utter destruction-but to save the Empire, he must first overcome the Sword of Attila.

The Sword of Attila by Michael Curtis Ford