Attila The Hun
By James Donahue
Attila was the First Century leader of a nomadic barbarian people known as the Huns. He was the feared ruler of what was known as the Hunnic Empire from the year 434 until his death in 453. During those brief years his army held territory stretching from the Ural River to the Rhine River and from the Danube River to the Baltic Sea.
Details of his life and just who Attila was are fragmented, and are found in the writings of about three major Sixth Century historians; Priscus, Procopius and Jordanes.
From those sketchy writings we know that Attila and his warriors ravaged the countryside on horseback, plundering everything as they invaded territories into Eastern Europe and south into the Roman Empire. To some he was known as Attila the Hun. To others he was the Scourge of God.
Toward the end of his career in 452, Attila and his forces invaded the Eastern Roman Empire which included Southern France. He was about to sack Rome when Pope Leo I successfully persuaded him to spare Rome.
Just how the Pope talked Attila out of that assault is not known. What is known was that Attila intended to return the following year and seize all of Italy, but further campaigns against the Romans seized when Attila died in 453. It is recorded that he was stricken by a nosebleed although that doesn’t explain the real cause of his death.
There are various stories about Attila’s strange death. It seems that there was a banquet in celebration of his marriage to Gudrun. He suffered a nosebleed, but also began choking before falling in a stupor and dying. It was theorized that he ruptured his esophagus after a night of heavy drinking.
After Attila’s death the empire was attacked by Ardaric who led a Germanic revolt against the Hummics. The Hunnic Empire quickly collapsed and the fearsome reign of Attila the Hun was officially over.
The exploits of Attila became legend throughout the Old World. Most of the stories known of him were passed down verbally from household to household before they were written on parchment. Consequently the accuracy of many of the stories, like most of the historical record, may come into question.
It was said, however, that when Attila and his forces ravaged a town the people fled for their lives. One writer, Callinicus, wrote: “And there were so many murders and blood-lettings that the dead could not be numbered. Ay, for they took captive the churches and monasteries and slew the monks and maidens in great numbers.”
One story, which is unfounded, is that Saint Ursula of England was on a pilgrimage through Germany with 11,000 virgins when they were confronted by Attila and his troops. The women were allegedly massacred in Cologne for refusing to copulate with or marry the Huns. Ursula has been proclaimed a martyred saint by the Catholic Church.
By James Donahue
Attila was the First Century leader of a nomadic barbarian people known as the Huns. He was the feared ruler of what was known as the Hunnic Empire from the year 434 until his death in 453. During those brief years his army held territory stretching from the Ural River to the Rhine River and from the Danube River to the Baltic Sea.
Details of his life and just who Attila was are fragmented, and are found in the writings of about three major Sixth Century historians; Priscus, Procopius and Jordanes.
From those sketchy writings we know that Attila and his warriors ravaged the countryside on horseback, plundering everything as they invaded territories into Eastern Europe and south into the Roman Empire. To some he was known as Attila the Hun. To others he was the Scourge of God.
Toward the end of his career in 452, Attila and his forces invaded the Eastern Roman Empire which included Southern France. He was about to sack Rome when Pope Leo I successfully persuaded him to spare Rome.
Just how the Pope talked Attila out of that assault is not known. What is known was that Attila intended to return the following year and seize all of Italy, but further campaigns against the Romans seized when Attila died in 453. It is recorded that he was stricken by a nosebleed although that doesn’t explain the real cause of his death.
There are various stories about Attila’s strange death. It seems that there was a banquet in celebration of his marriage to Gudrun. He suffered a nosebleed, but also began choking before falling in a stupor and dying. It was theorized that he ruptured his esophagus after a night of heavy drinking.
After Attila’s death the empire was attacked by Ardaric who led a Germanic revolt against the Hummics. The Hunnic Empire quickly collapsed and the fearsome reign of Attila the Hun was officially over.
The exploits of Attila became legend throughout the Old World. Most of the stories known of him were passed down verbally from household to household before they were written on parchment. Consequently the accuracy of many of the stories, like most of the historical record, may come into question.
It was said, however, that when Attila and his forces ravaged a town the people fled for their lives. One writer, Callinicus, wrote: “And there were so many murders and blood-lettings that the dead could not be numbered. Ay, for they took captive the churches and monasteries and slew the monks and maidens in great numbers.”
One story, which is unfounded, is that Saint Ursula of England was on a pilgrimage through Germany with 11,000 virgins when they were confronted by Attila and his troops. The women were allegedly massacred in Cologne for refusing to copulate with or marry the Huns. Ursula has been proclaimed a martyred saint by the Catholic Church.