The Huns And Attila

Who were the Huns? Nobody knows for sure. Anybody says, they were a group of nomad tribes from north- eastern China and Central Asia. Many experts think they were a Turkic people, descended from the warlike tribes that menaced China as early as the 5 th century BC.

The Huns arrived in southeastern Europe around 370 AD. The Roman historian described them as wild, hideous barbarians who ate raw meat and did everything on horseback, even sleep They were divided into independent groups called «hordes», which had their own chieftains. The Huns didnt have a king at this time.

The Huns took over the lands of the Ostrogoths, Visigoths and other German tribes. After that they moved into the Eastern Roman Empire. In return for peace, the Romans began paying tribute to the Huns. By 432 the Huns were united under a single king Rua. When he died in 434 his brothers sons Bleda and Attila inherited his huge empire.

Bleda and Attila demanded additional tribute from the Romans. The Romans agreed, but didnt pay all they had promised, so Attila attack them, destroying city after city. He was called «The Scourge of God». Even Bleda paid the price of getting in Attilas way. Attila murdered him in 445. From that time on, Attila alone ruled the Hun Empire.

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Attila informed the Romans that he wanted to marry Honoria and he expected to be given half the Western Roman empire as her dowry. The Romans refused his demands, and Attila went on the attack sacking a number of Italian cities. But Attila wasnt a lonely man. He had plenty of wives and in 453 he get married again. His bride was a beautiful girl named Lidico.

But their wedding night was the last night of Attilas life. Next morning Attilas servants broke in and found him dead. The drunken Attila had suffered a terrible nosebleed in the night and choked his death on his own blood. Anybody thinks he was murdered by his bride or was poisoned by his enemies.

The Huns did not last long without their great king. Attilas empire was divided among his numerous sons, who immediately started fighting each other. Within a few years, the empire fell apart and the Huns disappeared from history.