By the mid-tenth century, the German kings could call on about 15,000 heavily armed mounted troops. Otto I's 8,000 to 10,000 men at Lechfeld in 955 represented only part of the kingdom's campaign strength. Another substantial army, largely raised in Saxony, was fighting the Slavs at the same time. Otto II's unsuccessful Italian expedition in 982 is estimated at more than 20,000 men, including about 10,000 heavily armed horsemen.
Notable Point · 1:06:17-1:06:58
Lechfeld used only part of the German kingdom's military strength
Troop estimates for the German kings distinguish an individual battle army from the forces available across simultaneous campaigns.