Attila - Legendary leader of the Huns

It was Attila (406 - 453), the legendary man of the Hun tribe, so he was also called Attila the Hun. He was also the leader of a tribal empire that included the Huns Ostrogoths, Alans and several other barbarians in Central and Eastern Europe.

The Hun tribe grew up on horseback, always carried a bow, sword, warlike, nomadic life. The Huns were a wild, mysterious, warlike and murderous race, inhabiting a vast land from the Asian highlands to the western frontier of the Roman Empire. They once crossed the steppes of Asia, penetrated the Roman frontier in the fourth century, spread terror on the Romans and the Germanic barbarians.

They may have originally intended to attack China, but later turned to conquering Rome and Europe. When the Huns first appeared on the Roman frontier, the Huns did not show their intentions, but the first threat appeared after they settled along the Danube, occupying the vast steppe region of Hungary.

Painting of Attila on horseback, by the famous French painter, Eugène Delacroix.

For the next 50 years they had a relationship with the Byzantines as senior allies. From 420, Rome forced to pay an annual subsidy to the Huns for peace.

But the situation changes when Attila becomes king of the Huns, this new ruler has greater ambitions than his predecessors, arrogant, violent. Once Attila claimed to possess the sword of the god of war and shouted: Those who oppose him will be destroyed, so that the leaders of the barbarian vassals dare not raise their eyes to him. During Attila's reign, the Huns became virtually a nation-state among the European barbarians.

In 434, Attila was officially elected as the great leader of the Huns and he continuously focused his army on raiding, plundering, and conquering most of Europe for nearly 20 years. His army defeated the army of the famous Roman general, the noble Aetius, many times, threatened Rome, frightened the Roman court and the Pope, once invited him to Rome to discuss.

Not only a military man, Attila is also good at diplomacy, negotiation, and knows how to protect the interests of the tribe. Pope Leo I had to make arrangements, on behalf of the court to pay Attila some gold and silver, great money for Attila to withdraw.

Attila and his close subordinates also learned a lot of civilized things from European royals, especially those of Rome, so they later built a number of convenient houses and palaces for themselves.

Physically, Attila has an oversized head, dark skin, sunken and small eyes with a menacing gaze, big nose, stubbled beard, broad shoulders, short build. He walked firmly, gracefully striding proudly, showing the confident attitude of the Huns king.

Attila is a small person, short when on the ground, but when riding, he looks very majestic (ordinary people look big but when sitting on a cart, the horse looks normal and doesn't change, it's not precious) . Once, he jokingly asked his bodyguard Ourestis: "Who do you think I look like that so many people are afraid of me?"

Ourestis murmured: "The great leader is like a black panther"; Attila narrowed her eyes deeply, his usual stern, arrogant look disappearing for a moment. He smiled slightly, patted Ourestis on the back and said: "Really"!

From a young age Attila was very brave, often followed her father to hunt, met wild animals, never trembled. At the age of 11, the Buedon tribe killed Attila's father and grandmother, forcing Attila to kneel but he refused. Buedon's soldiers shot an arrow at Attila's position to scare, Attila pretended to kneel and then suddenly pulled the arrow into the thigh of an enemy soldier, knocked it down and then robbed the horse and fled.

After becoming a powerful Grand Master, Attila still lived a simple life as a warrior. While his subordinates lived in luxury, he still wore leather jackets and ate grilled meat in an old wooden bowl. During his 20 years as king, with an army of nearly half a million men, Attila terrified Europe; even threatened to swallow the Roman Empire.

The growth of the Huns tribe threatened Rome. The Roman general Aetius organized many assassination attempts at Attila. Typically, Aetius sent the mute Lagos to assassinate while Attila slept, but was caught by Attila himself. On the other hand, Ourestis, in charge of Attila's loyal guard, was very careful and confidential, so many of Aetius' other plans could not be implemented.

According to history books, Attila had nearly 300 concubines, his first wife, De Cara, died in childbirth, later there was a girl he loved, Bladda. Among the concubines was a beauty named Gladko who was Aetius's secret spy.

She hates Attila because the Huns have killed her whole family. First, she was recruited to work as a waitress at Attila's bath (imitation of Roman construction) then was noticed by Attila as a concubine. With a favorable opportunity, she poisoned

Attila died, while Attila was preparing forces to attack Rome. the new bride went to bed drunk.

The next morning he was found dead, bleeding from the nose. And the bride was scared, trembling and speechless. The experienced medical officer said that Attila suffered from chronic nosebleeds and while intoxicated, she fell ill and had a stroke.)

The great leader died, the Huns were extremely merciful, the generals and the whole people had many people cutting their chin or bleeding their face to remember their talented commander. Believed, the Roman Emperor said: "Losing Attila, there is no one left to unite the nations but us Rome".

The empire of the Huns quickly dissipated with the death of its leader. In 454, the Ostrogoths and other Germanic barbarians rebelled against the Huns and the son of Attila, who was at odds with the barbarian vassals, succumbed to the crisis.

The empire of the Huns ended. Attila the head of the violent empire died before the end of the war to destroy the civilized world, but he did not die on the battlefield but died in his harem.