Lechfeld 955: Otto I, Bishop Ulrich and the Magyar Bows Ruined by Rain

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For about 90 years Magyar horse archers had raided Western Europe. In 953 King Otto I's son Liudolf, Duke of Swabia, and son-in-law Conrad, Duke of Lorraine, rebelled against him, and in 954 they invited the Hungarians in, who ravaged the Rhineland. In July 955, as Otto besieged the last rebels at Regensburg, Magyar envoys came claiming peace, in effect as scouts. Six weeks later a Hungarian army crossed into Bavaria and besieged Augsburg, held by Bishop Ulrich and his professional milites.

Ulrich rode out to the gate wearing only his stole, rallying his men with the 23rd Psalm, and the defenders killed a Magyar commander. When a traitor named Berthold warned the Magyars that Otto was coming, they lifted the siege. On 10 August Otto's eight legions met them. The Magyars swept behind his columns, destroyed the Bohemian legion guarding the baggage, then stopped to loot it, and Conrad the Red's heavy cavalry shattered them and returned with captured banners. Otto's own legion then broke the Magyar center in close combat. He refused to chase them, guarding against the feigned retreat, and instead held the river crossings.

Otto's 7,000 to 9,000 men in mail and kite shields faced 8,000 to 10,000 light horse archers under Bulcsú, Lehel and Súr.
The Magyar composite bow of horn, sinew and animal glue lost its tension when wet.
Heavy rain and floods on 11 and 12 August ruined the bows and slowed the retreat, and Otto's men hunted the fugitives.
Conrad loosened his armor at the neck in the heat and was killed by an arrow to the throat.
The three chieftains were hanged at Regensburg; Otto was hailed emperor on the field and crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 962.

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