In 376 AD, the barbarians living north of the Danube turned to their civilized adversary Rome for help and asked for protection. The reason for this was fear of an even more savage and ruthless tribe that inspired terror throughout Europe — the Huns. Appearing seemingly out of nowhere, they avalanche swept across the Danube, reached Gaul and Northern Italy, leaving a trail of destruction behind them.
Origins
The Huns were nomads from the steppes of Central Asia, but their exact origins are unclear. They probably belonged to the ancient nomadic people of the Huns. There is no evidence for this, except that the Huns appeared just when the Huns disappeared. However, the Hun empire was very heterogeneous in composition and included different cultures. It is assumed that the language of the Huns was of Turkic origin, but they also used Germanic languages — native to the lands they conquered.
The Romans wrote that the Huns actually lived on the backs of horses and were dizzy when they stepped on the ground. This may have been an exaggeration. But horses were indeed of key importance to the steppe nomads: they were needed for movement, hunting and warfare.
The Huns were skilled and strong warriors. Their army consisted exclusively of cavalry. The Huns’ favorite weapon was the bow: without getting off their horses, they showered their enemies with a hail of arrows. When the enemy was advancing, they turned their horses and galloped back, while continuing to shoot at those who attacked them from behind. Besides bows, the Huns used swords, spears and other weapons.
The Huns had already gained a foothold northwest of the Caspian Sea in the 3rd century. Around 370 AD they moved west and destroyed their neighbors the Alans, then destroyed the Ostgothic kingdom of Germanarich. This plunged Europe into panic. At the same time, another Hun tribe crossed the Caucasus and flooded Armenia, then reached the borders of Syria. The brutality of the invaders won them a place in the historical chronicles.
Although the Huns quickly gained prominence in Europe, they lacked the political unity to mount a serious campaign. They had many separate rulers, and even the strongest and most powerful of them could not control all the Huns. Therefore, the Huns mostly acted individually, without a common goal.
Map of the advance of the Huns
Around 430 AD, Rua became the ruler of the Huns. He made an alliance with the Gallo-Roman general Flavius Aecius and helped him in conquering the western lands. But Rua’s ambitions extended even further. In 434 he planned an invasion of the Western Roman Empire. The campaign ended in failure: Rua was struck by lightning and killed. The Romans rejoiced, not yet knowing what awaited them next. The nephews of Rua — Attila and Bleda — began to rule after it, having divided between itself the grounds.
Attila’s rise
Attila’s first order of business was to force the Eastern Roman Empire to recognize the superiority of the Huns. He signed a treaty at Margus. Under it Romans undertook to pay to give, not to enter into alliances with enemies of Huns and to return Hun refugees.
Having provided protection of southern borders, Attila has looked to the east and has subdued set of tribes. However, the Romans refused to fulfill their part of the bargain: they did not pay the tribute and in addition plundered Hunnish tombs. Enraged Attila sent an army into the Eastern Roman Empire.
Romans could not resist his pressure. Attila has reached to Constantinople, but the city was reliably protected. The commander did not begin to organize a siege and continued to fight in other places. At last in battle at Chersonese it has gained a victory over emperor Theodosius. Peace was restored, the Romans paid tribute and released all Hun refugees. Attila returned to the Danubian lands.
New achievements
This victory was only the beginning. Around 445, Bleda, Attila’s brother, died. The latter thus became the chief ruler of all Huns. Some believe that Attila contributed to his brother’s death, but there is no proof of this. After Bleda’s death, a great feast was held in his honor, lasting three days. On one of the nights of the feast Attila had a dream that he would receive the sword of Mars and fly with it across the sky, subjugating everything.
“Attila the Conqueror,” 2011
In 447 a new campaign against Rome began. Attila destroyed many cities and forced the Romans to a new peace treaty. But only two years later relations between Attila and emperor Theodosius again aggravated. Romans decided to kill Attila with the help of a conspiracy. They decided to entrust this case to a certain Edeko, who was bribed with the help of money and titles. Edeko agreed and asked for 50 pounds of gold. But he did not betray Attila and instead told him the whole truth about the Roman conspiracy.
When the emperor’s ambassador arrived for negotiations, bringing with him 50 pounds of gold for Edeko, he was put in chains. Attila sent the gold back to the emperor. Embarrassed Theodosius has decided not to arrange any more plots and has signed the next peace with Attila, having undertaken to pay even more large tribute. Apparently, the leader of Huns was more interested in money, instead of in new grounds, therefore and has not gone to war on Constantinople.
Attila, the Hungarian museum
A campaign to Gaul
Up to time Attila conflicted only with the Eastern Roman Empire, keeping good relations with the West. This was facilitated by a long-standing friendship with Aecius. However gradually relations of Huns with the Western Roman Empire also worsened: nomads have decided to subdue the West as well as the East. Attila’s position was complicated by the fact that Emperor Theodosius died, and his successor refused to pay tribute. However, the Hun decided to deal with the West first.
In 451, Attila’s army crossed Germany, causing widespread panic and destruction, and invaded Gaul. Aecius, realizing that he would not defeat Attila alone, allied himself with the Visigothic king Theodoric. They met Attila in the famous battle of the Catalaunian Fields. Aecius and the Visigoths won, but allowed his former friend to retreat.
Attila was in a quandary. In the West he was defeated, in the East the situation under the successor Theodosius was also difficult. Then he chose the third way. Having collected the army, Attila has crossed Alps and has invaded Northern Italy. The Romans, who had not expected this, were defenseless. Attila captured many cities and massacred the population.
The Romans hastily sent their best diplomats to negotiate. What was negotiated is unknown, but the next day Attila left Italy and returned to the Hungarian plains. He decided to look again at his longtime adversary, the Eastern Roman Empire.
But it was not destined to happen. Shortly before the march to the East, Attila took a new wife, Ildiko, and organized a lavish feast. However, the next morning Attila was found dead, and his wife sobbed at his headboard. The probable cause of death was a severe nosebleed in his sleep.
Power collapse and legacy
A fragment of a Hunnish gold bracelet
Attila’s death was the beginning of the end. Conflicts began between his cronies and sons, making it impossible for anyone to retain power and unite the Huns under his rule again. The Hun Empire ceased to exist in 469, the remaining Huns dispersed across Europe, mostly in Scythia.
Western historians see the Huns as one of the barbarian tribes that contributed to the fall of Rome. Therefore, they are often portrayed as ruthless and bloodthirsty. In Eastern Europe, however, the attitude towards them is different. In some countries, such as Hungary, Attila is considered a hero and a symbol of power, bravery and courage. Whether Attila was a ruthless barbarian or a great military leader, he will always be remembered in history.