Attila the Hun
	Civilization:	Roman: Hun
	Era:	Fall of Empire
406–453	Field of Renown:	chieftain: Huns

Attila the Hun

Attila the Hun is known as a destroyer rather than a builder of civilizations. The Hun nation, although it spanned the greater part of eastern Europe in its day, was relatively disorganized and uncultured, even compared to its German neighbors. The Germanic tribes varied in their relationship with the Roman Empire, but many, such as the Visigoths, were relatively civilized. The Huns were a long standing enemy and threat to the German tribes, and in many cases Germanic incursions into Roman territory during previous generations had been inspired by the desire to flee from the Huns to areas of greater safety and civilization. By the mid fifth century, much of Gaul had been settled by German tribes, and although they were independent from the emperor in Rome, they had assimilated much of Latin culture and, in some cases, become Christians. They were no longer "barbarian" in the same sense that the Huns were.

The central base of Attila's kingdom was north of the Danube in the region that was known during medieval times as Hungary. Attila came to power in 434 A.D. and ruled along with his brother, Bleda. Together they invaded the Balkans, and extracted tributes from Theodosius II, Emperor of the East. In 445 A.D. Attila murdered his brother and became sole ruler of the Huns. Shortly thereafter, he attacked the eastern empire again, and surrounded Constantinople. After failing to take the city, he collected even higher tributes, and withdrew. In 450 A.D., a new emperor came to power in the east, and decided to take a hard line with the barbarians, and cut off payment of tributes to the Huns. Shortly thereafter, Honoria, sister of the emperor in the West, attempted to make an alliance with Attila in order to improve her position within the empire. This inspired Attila to turn his attention to the western empire, which was weaker than the east, and already in considerable turmoil. It was at this point that he gathered his great army, allied himself also with several German tribes, and crossed the Rhine, in his infamous campaign of destruction and carnage. Many important Gallic towns were destroyed during this campaign, and Attila became known as "The Scourge of God" for his rapacious destruction.

The commander of the western forces at this time was Aetius. He made an alliance with the Visigoth kingdom in Gaul to oppose Attila, and the great battle was fought at Chalons. It was the largest battle in the western empire in over a century, with about 30,000 combatants on each side. At the end of the day, however, Attila was driven back. The next year, however, he descended into Italy and threatened Rome. An embassy including Pope Leo I, went out to meet him before he approached the city, and was somehow able to convince him to withdraw his forces. The reason he actually withdrew, however, is not known precisely, but is a subject of great speculation among historians. He eventually returned to his palace on the Danube, and died shortly thereafter.

	Image Links
The Meeting of Attilla and Pope Leo in Stories from German History	Attila and Leo  in Helmet and Spear	A Hunnic Invasion  in Famous Men of the Middle Ages
Attila and his terrible Huns  in Famous Men of the Middle Ages	St. Leo halting Attila at the gates of Rome  in Famous Men of the Middle Ages	Court of the Huns  in Story of the Middle Ages
Attila's Huns Plundering a Roman Villa in Gaul  in Greatest Nations: Germany	Attila the Hun in Soldiers and Sailors	Attila, The Scourge of God  in Soldiers and Sailors
Attila the Hun in Barbarian and Noble	Attila's Banquet in Barbarian and Noble	Attila's Banquet in Barbarian and Noble
Attila before the Pope in Barbarian and Noble	Leo Interceding With Attila at the Gates of Rome.  in European Hero Stories