ATTILA
ATTILA Attila the Hun
Ruler of the Huns
c.406-c.453
Attila was described as having ‘tanned skin’ and a long skull; this was because of the Hun tradition of binding babies heads. Little is known of his childhood, Attila and his older brother Bleda succeeded to the throne in 435 after the death of their uncle Ruga who had a treaty with Rome. The brothers ruled together until Attila assassinated Bleda in 445, so he could rule alone. Attila was the Roman’s worst nightmare and was feared throughout the Western and Eastern Europe. In 441, he led an invasion of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire; his success pursued him to invade the West. The Huns pillaged churches and monasteries, and killed monks and virgins. They killed soldiers, negotiated treaties and collected gold.
They went to destroy Naissus (in Serbia) and Serdica (in Bulgaria), the attack on Naissus remained, when Roman ambassadors passed through to meet with Attila 8 years later, the stench of death was so bad that no one could enter the city. The river banks were covered with human bones.
In 449, Attila turned his attention to the Roman Western Empire. He attempted to conquer Roman Gaul (modern France) and lost the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains which was his only defeat. He invaded Italy but was unable to take on Rome, at the time there was disease and famine and returned North (Northern Europe). He planned a new campaign but died before he accomplished it.
In 453 CE, Attila married his second wife, Ildico, and after much celebration and drinking the wedded couple headed to his tent. The next morning he was found dead, drowned in his own blood from a nose bleed. Some believed it was Ildico who killed him; however, they found no injury laid upon him. Modern historians believe he may have died of alcohol poisoning or esophageal haemorrhage.
The Huns mourned by cutting off their hair and slashing their bodies with knives, so that ‘the greatest of warriors should be mourned with the blood of men.’ His adviser, Ardaric of the Gepids, led a Germanic revolt against Hunnic rule, and the Hunnic Empire collapsed.
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