10-21-2013, 03:25 AM
Hi Evan, I read your latest draft on the battle & have a few humble suggestions about your paper.
1. When you write about the reasons why Aetius didn't attack Attila's fortified encampment maybe one of the reasons was the danger of well positioned Hunnic archers, even dismounted ones inflicting heavy casualties on an attacking force.
2. I like your point on the loss of some or all of his loot as there was a whole season's raiding in that stash so any significant loss would have damaged his prestige among his Allies & probably one of the reasons he invaded Italy later. Maybe an attempt regain lost prestige & keep tribes together as well as gathering spoils to recoup losses from raid on Gaul.
3. Why the use of name Sambida instead of Sangipan. I only ask as I thought they were different leaders. They well could be the same person & their names mixed up due to scribal errors but the timeline doesn't match so I don't see the connection except the beginnings of their respective names. Sambida's group was given land around Valentina (Valence) in 440AD, yet in 447/8AD Eochar leads Alans in Amorica until at least 450AD & then Sangipan becomes king & fights with Aetius at Chalons, of course that is assuming they are the same group of Alans. Unless you are making a connection with names it might be best to refer to his name as in the sources Sangipan or Sangibanus, just a suggestion.
Just thought I'd add a few snippets about the names Sambida & Sangipan
Sambida's name has unknown etymology but is similar to Armenian Smbat, Sambit or Georgian Sumbat while Sangipan (Sangibanus, cangi-ban, Tsongi-Bon) has a number of meanings below mostly Osset.
He who distinguishes himself by [his] orders.
He who has power in his arm.
He who has power in his "wing" which could in a purely military sense mean a commander of a corps of cavalry or a wing. So if he lived up to what his name or title suggests Sangipan would not be the untrustworthy wimp that Jordanes tries to paint him as.
All these meanings come from Agusti Alemany's book Sources on the Alans.
Regards
Michael Kerr
1. When you write about the reasons why Aetius didn't attack Attila's fortified encampment maybe one of the reasons was the danger of well positioned Hunnic archers, even dismounted ones inflicting heavy casualties on an attacking force.
2. I like your point on the loss of some or all of his loot as there was a whole season's raiding in that stash so any significant loss would have damaged his prestige among his Allies & probably one of the reasons he invaded Italy later. Maybe an attempt regain lost prestige & keep tribes together as well as gathering spoils to recoup losses from raid on Gaul.
3. Why the use of name Sambida instead of Sangipan. I only ask as I thought they were different leaders. They well could be the same person & their names mixed up due to scribal errors but the timeline doesn't match so I don't see the connection except the beginnings of their respective names. Sambida's group was given land around Valentina (Valence) in 440AD, yet in 447/8AD Eochar leads Alans in Amorica until at least 450AD & then Sangipan becomes king & fights with Aetius at Chalons, of course that is assuming they are the same group of Alans. Unless you are making a connection with names it might be best to refer to his name as in the sources Sangipan or Sangibanus, just a suggestion.
Just thought I'd add a few snippets about the names Sambida & Sangipan
Sambida's name has unknown etymology but is similar to Armenian Smbat, Sambit or Georgian Sumbat while Sangipan (Sangibanus, cangi-ban, Tsongi-Bon) has a number of meanings below mostly Osset.
He who distinguishes himself by [his] orders.
He who has power in his arm.
He who has power in his "wing" which could in a purely military sense mean a commander of a corps of cavalry or a wing. So if he lived up to what his name or title suggests Sangipan would not be the untrustworthy wimp that Jordanes tries to paint him as.
All these meanings come from Agusti Alemany's book Sources on the Alans.
Regards
Michael Kerr
Michael Kerr
"You can conquer an empire from the back of a horse but you can't rule it from one"
"You can conquer an empire from the back of a horse but you can't rule it from one"
