Huns who they are and where they come from. Huns and Huns

The Huns are an ancient nomadic tribe that invaded Eastern Europe in late antiquity (370s).

The Huns were Asians by origin, and their language, according to most scholars, belonged to the Turkic group.

Also, most researchers recognized that the Huns were descendants of the Central Asian Xiongnu, known for their wars with the Chinese Empire.

Huns in Europe

The invasion of the Huns radically changed the history of European civilization. It was the beginning of the so-called Great Migration - a process in which "barbarian" European tribes, primarily the Germans, settled in different parts of the continent and invaded the Roman Empire.

As a result, the once integral empire was divided into several geographical parts, separated by barbarian settlements, which in some cases formed their own states.

On the other hand, many Germanic tribes wanted to become Roman citizens, so the government allowed them to settle in the outskirts of the empire, in exchange for which they pledged to protect the borders from other barbarian tribes.

Nevertheless, the Huns managed to subjugate a number of European peoples who, with great difficulty, were able to free themselves from their dominion. More precisely, the state of the Huns weakened and disintegrated after the death of Attila, the most powerful and famous Hunnic ruler, and this allowed the Germans to gain freedom.

Alans and Germanic tribes were the first to suffer from the onslaught of the Huns:

• Ostrogoths;
• Burgundians;
• Herula.

Asian nomads organized real "race of peoples for survival." The end result of this process, in particular, was the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the consolidation of the Slavs and Germans throughout Europe.

Origin of the Huns

While most scholars recognize the Huns as an ancient Turkic tribe, some researchers tend to bring them closer to the Mongol and Manchu peoples. Linguistic data testify to the Turkic origin of the Huns, but the material culture is too different from the traditional Turkic one.

For example, all ancient Türks are characterized by a round dwelling “ib”, which later became the prototype of the yurt; the Huns lived in dugouts with an L-shaped bed.

Rulers

The first known Hunnic ruler is Balamber. It was he who in the IV century subdued the Ostrogoths, and forced the Visigoths to retreat to Thrace. The same king devastated Syria and Cappadocia (at that time the Roman provinces), and then settled in Pannonia (the territory of present-day Hungary) and Austria. Information about Balamber is legendary.

The next famous ruler is Rugila. Under him, the Huns concluded a truce with the Eastern Roman Empire, but Rugila threatened to break it if Emperor Theodosius II did not give him the fugitives pursued by the Huns. Rugila did not manage to activate his threat, since he died on time.

After him, his nephews, Bleda and Attila, began to rule the nomads. The first died in 445 for an unknown reason while hunting, and from that moment Attila became the sole ruler of the Huns. This ruler, in the words of one Roman author, was "born to shake the world."

For the imperial authorities, Attila was a real "scourge of God", his image was used to intimidate the masses who inhabited the remote provinces of both Roman empires (Eastern and Western) and thought about winning independence.

In the VI-VIII centuries on the territory of Dagestan there was a kind of "kingdom of the Huns (Savir)" Its capital was the city of Varachan, but most of the inhabitants of the state continued to maintain a nomadic life. The ruler of the state bore the Turkic title Elteber. In the 7th century, the next ruler Alp-Ilitver, having received an embassy from the Christian Caucasian Albania, himself deigned to convert to Christianity.

After the VIII century, there is no reliable information about the fate of the Dagestan "kingdom of the Huns".

Lifestyle

The Huns were absolute nomads. The Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus reports that they never built any structures for themselves, and even in the conquered cities they tried not to enter the houses; they believed it was unsafe to sleep indoors. They spent most of the day on horseback, often even sleeping on them.

However, the Roman ambassador to the Huns Priscus wrote that Attila and some of his commanders had huge and richly decorated palaces. The Huns practiced polygamy. Their social system was based on a large patriarchal family.

It is reported that the Huns were very familiar with cooking, but nomadic life taught them to be unpretentious in food. Apparently, the Huns knew how to cook food, but they refused to do this due to lack of time.

Religion

The Huns were pagans. They recognized the common Turkic Tengri as the supreme god. The Huns had amulets with images of fantastic animals (primarily dragons), there were temples and silver idols. According to Movses Kalankatvatsi (an Armenian historian of the 7th century), the Huns deified the sun, moon, fire and water, worshiped the "gods of the roads", as well as sacred trees.

They sacrificed horses to trees and gods; however, the Huns did not practice human sacrifice, unlike their supposed ancestors the Xiongnu. The Huns' perception of the European population, even the "barbarous" one, inspired real horror. Because of their Mongoloid features, they seemed to the noble Romans not as people, but as some kind of monsters, tightly attached to their ugly horses.

The Germanic tribes were outraged by the onslaught of the nomadic Huns, who were not even familiar with agriculture and flaunted their savagery and ignorance.

The latter turned out to be concave or even broken in some places.

Some Germans were allowed into the borders of the Roman Empire peacefully on the condition that they help to protect the imperial borders from other "barbarian" tribes, advancing from the east or north. On other occasions, the Germans forced their way into the Roman provinces. Both those who came as an ally of the emperor and those who came as his enemy alike proclaimed control over the provinces they occupied. For a time each Germanic tribe seemed to be in constant motion, advancing further and further south and west.

Following in the footsteps of the Germans, the Huns settled in Pannonia on the middle Danube. Attila's campaigns hit both Rome and the Germans. In this maelstrom, most of the western provinces of the Roman Empire were gradually absorbed by various Germanic tribes, and in the end Herul Odoacer took over Rome itself.

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Influence on the history of peoples

The international significance of the Hunnic invasion was partly determined by far-reaching changes in the position of the Anto-Slavic tribes. Having destroyed the power of the Ostrogoths, the Huns prevented the possibility of Germanization of the Anto-Slavs in Southern Russia. In addition, the remnants of the Iranian tribes in southern Russia were also weakened. A significant part of the Alans moved west, following the exodus of the Goths. As a result, the role of the Iranian element in the life of the As or Ant tribes decreased, while the Slavic influence increased.

The era of the Hunnic invasion is thus, in a sense, the period of liberation of the Eastern Slavs not only from the Gothic, but also from Iranian control. The Huns recruited Slavic units into their army and used them as auxiliary units during their campaigns.

The name in the form of "Huns" was introduced into scientific circulation in 1926 by the historian K. A. Inostrantsev, in order to distinguish European from Asian Xiongnu. In the writings of Priscus Pannias, a Byzantine diplomat, historian and writer of the 5th century, who participated in the Byzantine embassy to the Hunnic leader Attila at his headquarters, the Huns are mentioned under the name "Unna". Presumably the texts of Priscus were used by Jordan.

Origin

The prevailing hypothesis connects the Huns with the Xiongnu (Xiongnu) - a people who lived in the north of China, in the bend of the Yellow River. It is mentioned in Chinese sources from the 3rd century BC. e. , and it was the first people to create a vast nomadic empire in Central Asia. In 48 A.D. e. the Xiongnu split into two branches, northern and southern. Defeated by the Xianbi and China, the Northern Xiongnu unification disintegrated and its remnants migrated westward. In addition to the consonance of names, the genetic relationship between the Huns and the Xiongnu of Central Asia is indicated by a number of categories of material culture, especially in the field of military affairs, a characteristic feature of which was the use of a composite bow.

Paleogenetics

A study of the DNA of the skeleton of the Hunnic period from the Museum of Natural History (Budapest), dated to the middle third of the 5th century, showed that it had a Y chromosomal haplogroup L or more precisely Q-L54, and Chinese studies showed a related Q-M3 and mitochondrial haplogroup D4j12.

History

In European sources, the first mention of the Huns dates back to the 2nd century AD. e. and belong to the region in the eastern region of the Caspian Sea. However, among researchers there is no certainty whether the given news concerns the Huns proper, or is a simple consonance.

In the 70s of the 4th century, the Huns conquered the Alans in the North Caucasus, and then defeated the Ostrogothic state of Germanarich.

Attila switched from cavalry tactics to the siege of cities and by 447 had taken 60 cities and fortifications in the Balkans, the territory of modern Greece and other provinces of the Roman Empire. In 451, at the battle of the Catalaunian fields in Gaul, the advance of the Huns to the west was stopped by the united army of the Romans under the command of the commander Aetius and the Toulouse kingdom of the Visigoths. In 452 the Huns invaded Italy, sacking Aquileia, Milan and a number of other cities, but then retreated.

After the death of Attila in 453, the quarrels that arose within the empire were used by the conquered Gepids, who led the uprising of the Germanic tribes against the Huns. In 454, at the Battle of the Nedao River in Pannonia, the Huns were defeated and driven into the Black Sea region. The Huns' attempts to break through to the Balkan Peninsula in 469 were in vain.

The Huns quickly disappeared among other peoples, who continued to arrive continuously from the east. However, for a long time their name was used by medieval authors as a general name for all nomads of the Black Sea region, regardless of their real ties with the former Hunnic union. The next wave of the Great Nations Migration was the appearance of the Ogur tribes in the 460s. and Savirs at the beginning of the 6th century.

From the beginning of the VI century to the 1st floor. VIII century on the territory of the Caspian Dagestan there was a political association, called in the Transcaucasian sources "the kingdom of the Huns" ("Khons"). Most researchers believe that one of the Savir tribes is hiding under this name. According to another point of view, this is a union of local Caucasian origin. Its capital was the city of Varachan, but most of the population retained a nomadic life. In the 2nd floor. In the 7th century, its ruler bore the Turkic title of Eliteber and recognized himself as a vassal of the Khazars, although in fact he had a great deal of independence, making campaigns in Transcaucasia. In 682, the head of the Huns, Alp Ilitver, received an embassy from Caucasian Albania headed by Bishop Israel and, together with the nobility, converted to Christianity. There is no clear information about the fate of the Caucasian Huns after the beginning of the 8th century.

Lifestyle and military affairs

The Huns instilled in the civilized world the greatest fear of all barbarians. The Germans were familiar with agriculture, while the Huns were nomads. In these horsemen with an unusual Mongoloid nature, the Romans saw not so much people as the offspring of demons.

Priscus noted that the Scythian law permits polygamy. Apparently, the basis of social organization was a large patriarchal family. The social structure of the Huns in Europe was described by Engels as a military democracy. Ammianus wrote: “ If you happen to talk about serious matters, they all consult together».

The Huns used a long-range bow. The bow of the Huns was short, since the shooting was carried out from a horse. The bow had a reverse bend, due to which, with a smaller size, a greater destructive power of the bow was achieved. The bow was made composite, and for greater strength and elasticity, it was strengthened with overlays of bones or horns of animals. Arrows were used with both bone and iron or bronze tips. Sometimes balls of bone were attached to the arrows, with holes drilled into them, emitting a frightening whistle in flight. The bow was put into a special case and attached to the belt on the left, and the arrows were in the quiver behind the warrior on the right. "Hunnic bow", or "Scythian bow" ( scytycus arcus) - according to the Romans, the most modern and effective weapon of antiquity, - was considered a very valuable trophy among the Romans. Flavius \u200b\u200bAetius, a Roman general who lived for 20 years as a hostage among the Huns, put the Scythian bow into service in the Roman army.

Religion

A detailed description of the beliefs of the Caucasian Huns of the 7th century was preserved in the work of Movses Kalankatvatsi. They were characterized by the deification of the sun, moon, fire, water; worship of the "gods of the roads". Horses were sacrificed to sacred trees and revered gods, whose blood was spilled around the tree, and the head and skin of the sacrificial animal were hung on branches. During religious ceremonies and funerals, wrestling and sword fighting, horse racing, games and dancing were held. There was a custom of inflicting wounds and mutilations on oneself as a sign of sorrow for the deceased.

see also

Notes

1. Tenishev E. R. Huns' language // Languages \u200b\u200bof the world: Türkic languages. - M., 1997 .-- S. 52-53
2. Klyashtorny S. G., Savinov D. G. Steppe empires of ancient Eurasia. SPb: 2005.346 p.
3. Bernshtam A. N. Essay on the history of the Huns. L .: LSU. 1951.256 s.
4. Huns in TSB
5. Gavritukhin I.O. Huns // BRE. T. 8.M., 2007. - S. 160.
6. NASA's JPL Small Bodies Database (1452)
7. G.V. Vernadsky. Ancient Russia. Chapter IV. Hunno-Antsky period (370-558), 1943
8. K. A. Inostrantsev Huns and Huns, (analysis of theories about the origin of the Hunnu people of the Chinese chronicles, about the origin of the European Huns and about the mutual relations of these two peoples). - L.: Editions of the Leningrad Institute of Living Oriental Languages. A. S. Enukidze, 1926 .-- 152 + 4 p.
9. The Tales of Prisk Panniysky (translated by S. Destunis). // Scientific Notes of the Second Branch of the Imperial Academy of Sciences, Book VIII. Issue 1. SPb. 1861
10. Jordan. About the origin and deeds of the Getae. / Enter. article, trans., comment. E. Ch. Skrzhinskaya - St. Petersburg. : Aletheia, 1997, - p. 67.
11. Yu Taishan... Investigation of the problems of history and ethnic identity of the Huns in Chinese historiography. // Chinese Institute of Social Sciences. Research Institute of History.
12. Zasetskaya I.P. The culture of the nomads of the southern Russian steppes in the Hunnic era (late 4th-5th centuries). Saint Petersburg, 1994, p. 151-156; her. Huns in the West // History of the Tatars from ancient times: In 7 volumes, T. I: Peoples of the steppe Eurasia in antiquity. Kazan, 2002.S. 148-152
13. Nikonorov VP, Khudyakov Yu. S. “Whistling Arrows” by Maodun and “The Sword of Mars” by Atgila: Military Affairs of the Asian Xiongnu and European Huns, - St. Petersburg / Petersburg Oriental Studies, 2004; M /. Filomatis, 2004, 320 p. (Series "Militaria Antiqua", VI). ISBN 5-85803-278-6 ("Petersburg Oriental Studies")
14. Sir H. H. Howorth, History of the Mongols (1876-1880); 6th Congress of Orientalists, Leiden, 1883 (Actes, part iv. Pp. 177-195); de Guignes, Histoire generale des Huns, des Turcs, des Mongoles, et des autres Tartares occidentaux (1756-1758) "
15. Peter Heather, "The Huns and the End of Roman Empire in Western Europe", The English Historical Review, Vol. 110, No. 435, February 1995, p. 5.
16. "Europe: The Origins of the Huns", on The History Files, based on conversations with Kemal Cemal, Turkey, 2002
17. Kyzlasov I. L. Archaeological view on the Altai problem // Tungus-Manchurian problem today (First Shavkunov readings). - Vladivostok, 2008 .-- S. 71-86.
18. http://dienekes.blogspot.ru/2013/09/ashg-2013-abstracts.html
19. Kazakhstan DNA project
20. Thompson E. A... Huns. Formidable warriors of the steppes. - M., 2008 .-- P. 77.
21. Huns in the Encyclopedic Dictionary
22. Artamonov M.I. History of the Khazars. M., 2001.-p. 256; Gmyrya L.B. "Kingdom of the Huns" (Savir) in Dagestan (IV-VII centuries) M., 1980. - S. 8-12.
23. Gadlo A.V. Ethnic history of the North Caucasus IV-X centuries L., 1979 .-- S. 152. Trever K.V. Essays on the history and culture of Caucasian Albania: IV century. BC e. - VII century. n. e. M.-L., 1959 .-- S. 193.
24. Gurevich A. Ya., Kharitonovich D. E. History of the Middle Ages: A Textbook for High School. - M .: Interpraks, 1994 .-- 336 p. - ISBN 5-85235-204-7. (2nd ed. 1995)
25. G. S. Destunis. The Tale of Priska Panian. Scientific notes of the second department. Of the Imperial Academy of Sciences, pr. VII, no. I SPb 1861 neg. 11 p. 76
26. Bokovenko N. A., Zasetskaya I. P. The origin of "Hunnic type" boilers in Eastern Europe in the light of the problem of Hunnic-Hunnic relations // St. Petersburg Archaeological Bulletin. SPb. Issue 3.1993
27. Bernshtam A.N. Essay on the history of the Huns // Leningrad: LSU. 1951.256 s. https://archive.is/20130407011054/kronk.narod.ru/library/bernshtam-an-1951-11.htm
28. Gumilyov L.N.Huns // Soviet Historical Encyclopedia
29. Artamonov M.I. History of the Khazars. M., 2001. - S. 259-264.
30. Potapov L.P. Altai shamanism. / Resp. ed. R.F. Its. - L .: Nauka, 1991 .-- 320 p.

Sources

• Ammianus Marcellinus. Roman history / Per. Yu.A. Kulakovsky, A.I. Sonny. - SPb .: Aleteya, 1996 .-- 576 p. - Series “Antique Library. Ancient history ". - ISBN 5-89329-008-9
• Destunis G.S. Legends of Priscus Paniysky. // Scientific notes of the 2nd department. Imperial Academy of Sciences. - Book. VII, no. I. - SPb., 1861.

In the middle of the 1st millennium BC. e. On the territory of Altai, Southern Siberia and Eastern Kazakhstan, an alliance of the Hun tribes began to form, which was called the Xiongnu (Huns). As noted in the genealogical stories of the Huns, recorded at the beginning of our era, "they had a thousand-year history." These tribes declared themselves in the historical events of the era of the "Great Migration of Peoples". Among the proto-Turkic unions that created the states, the Huns, Usuns and Kangyuis played a significant role in the history of Kazakhstan. The territory of the Huns during the heyday of the empire (177 BC) covered the vast expanses of Eurasia - from the Pacific Ocean to the shores of the Caspian Sea, and later Central Europe, Usun, according to Chinese sources, the original inhabitants of the northern regions of East Turkestan, then Semirechye and Fergana, One of the ancient states - Kangyuy occupied the following territory: South Kazakhstan, including the Tashkent oasis and the Syr Darya basin, and part of the southwestern Semirechye. However, there are still many controversial issues in the localization of the Huns, Usuns and Kangyuis. The Huns, who led the eastern coalition of tribes for many centuries, had a huge impact on the fate of all regions of Eurasia. In the II century. before and. e. the Huns forced the Han dynasty (China) to sign a "treaty of peace and kinship", according to which they received the princess and an annual tribute in the form of "gifts". At this time, the territory from modern Korea to Western China fell under the rule of the Shanyu (kings). This confederation also includes the Trans-Baikal tribes. Following the Yuechzha, the Huns ended up in Central Asia and created the state of the White Huns (Hephthalites) there. Subsequently, during the time of Attila, the Huns reached Central Europe and defeated the Roman Empire. The “Great Migration of Nations” started by the Huns marked the beginning of a new era - the era of the Middle Ages and feudalism. The Huns at the turn of our era dictated the course of historical events on the Eurasian continent. It is with them that the formation of new states, ethnic structures and cultural trends in this territory is associated. The role of the Huns in the ethnogenesis of the Kazakh people is especially significant. It is with the wide settlement of the territory of Kazakhstan in the Hunnic period that the dominance of the Turkic language here, of a mixed anthropological type and the addition of the traditional foundations of nomadic culture, is associated. In terms of racial genetics, a Caucasian-Mongoloid physical basis was formed at the time under consideration, which served as an early ancestral form for the modern mixed turanoid race.

Economy of the Huns

The main occupation of the tribes of the Hunnic cultural circle was cattle breeding, as the Chinese historian Sima Qian (145-87 BC) notes: “They move from place to place with cattle, depending on the abundance of grass and water. They do not know permanent residence. They live in round yurts. of which the exit faces the east. They eat meat, drink koumiss. clothes are made from motley fabrics. "
“War, and raids for the purpose of‘ seizing prey is an important part of their lives, ”eyewitnesses of these times write. "In times of peace, they follow the cattle and at the same time hunt birds and animals, thus maintaining 1 their existence, and in troubled years, everyone is trained in military affairs to carry out attacks." These formulations are traditional for foreign historians in their assessment of the nomads of the early and late Middle Ages of Eurasia. However, a more detailed study reveals the complex structure of the economy. The main type of economy of the Hunnic society was nomadic cattle breeding. The herd included all types of domestic animals - a sheep, a horse, a cow, a two-humped camel, a goat, a donkey. Horse breeding was especially developed among these tribes. Wealthy nomads owned 4-5 thousand horses. Usun gunmo as a kalym for Chinese; the princess was sent a thousand heads of horses. The ruling elite of the Kangyui also preserved the traditions of nomadic cattle breeding, Chinese sources note about different locations of summer and winter residences (at a distance of 900 km). When excavating settlements, an abundance of bones of domestic animals is found. The Huns knew settled life and agriculture. Sources mention cities located in the depths of the Hunnic lands and grain reserves stored there. "In the northern lands, the cold comes early, and although it is inconvenient to sow millet, they sowed the Huns in the land." In the Hunnish settlement, in Siberia, on the territory of 75 hectares, about 80 dwellings were discovered. The settlement was surrounded by four moats and four ramparts. Found in it are millet grains, cast-iron openers, an iron sickle, stone grain grinders and pits - granaries. Supah for the small size of the openers, the plows of the Huns were small, wooden, and the earth was dug shallowly. Irrigated agriculture prevailed on the territory occupied by the Kangyuy state (Khorezm, Aral Sea region, Tashkent oasis). Already in the T century. n. e. along the rivers Syrdarya. Chirchik, main canals were built. Traces of canals, remains of dams were traced during the study of the area and during the deciphering of aerial photographs of monuments and their surroundings. In all excavated settlements and urban centers of Kangyuy, remains of grain, seeds of melons and fruit crops were found. Large clay containers and vessels for storing supplies were found in storage rooms at residential buildings.
Thus, the general rule for all states of the Hunnic era can be considered the domination of nomadic pastoralism as the main type of economic activity, and the presence of small centers of settled and `` farming. '' Within the state, the nomadic and sedentary population was harmoniously united. Along with cattle breeding and agriculture, the Huns, Usuns and Kangyuys developed domestic trades and crafts. Jewelry, pottery, and blacksmithing were especially widely developed. The finds of various metal products in the mounds indicate the development of metallurgical craft. Part of the population is constantly engaged in the extraction of iron and polymetallic ores, the development of gold and silver.

Social organization of the Huns

The social structure of the Hunnic society had a complex picture. At the head of the country was a Shany, who in the best years of the powers had unlimited power. He was called "the son of heaven" and officially "born by heaven and earth. Set by the Sun and the Moon, the great Hunnic Shanyu. According to sources, the Huns were divided into 24 clans, headed by the “leaders of the generation”. Subsequently, the Shanoy himself took up the distribution of the territory and population by districts, and then the chiefs began to be called “chiefs over 10 thousand horsemen”. In turn, the temnik appointed thousanders, centurions and foremen, endowing them with land with the population roaming on it. Despite the extraordinary strengthening of the central government, a national assembly and a council of elders continued to function in the Hunnic society. Sources say that the Huns had a habit of gathering three times a year in Longqi, where they sacrificed to the spirit of heaven ... at these meetings, the leaders of the generations talked about state affairs, amused themselves with horse racing and camel running. In the Hunnic society, there were aristocratic families connected by marriage. Consequently, we can talk about a kind of hierarchy of clans in society. Since the Huns were the creators of the empire, there were also many conquered and forcibly adapted tribes among them. Relations with the newly conquered tribes and ethnic groups were carried out in the form of tributary. In Tunisian society, slavery also flourished. In the main, prisoners were turned into slaves: they were settled in towns, they plowed the land, built or engaged in handicrafts. Archaeological materials on the Usun barrows of the Semirechye make it possible to divide them into groups according to social belonging. In the first of them (diameter - 50-80 m, height - 8-12 m), rich burials were found, in the second (diameter - 15-20 m, height - 1 m) - medium, and in the third (diameter - 5-10 m , height 30-50 cm) - poor, where one or two vessels, iron knives, bronze earrings, etc. were found. The last group of mounds is the most numerous in the Semirechye. [
The appearance of private property is also indicated by metal, stone and clay seals. Perhaps metal seals are (symbols of the power of high-ranking officials in Wusun society, clay seals, most likely, served to delimit property. A common occurrence for nomads of this period are various marks, tamgas and other signs, sometimes found on clay vessels or on In the Kanyu state, tamgas were also placed on coins.A large number of coins with similar signs were found in the territory belonging to the Kanyu cultural circle.The very fact of this phenomenon testifies in favor of the development of commodity-money relations and property relations. The gap in the social development of farmers. and nomads in ideological terms led to a conflict between them. The founders of the Hunnic state and their successors saw their task in uniting all peoples, "pulling a bow and living in felt yurts" and "in domination over people living in adobe houses." , Chinese and ancient sources also try to create from koche The image of the enemy was introduced: "A hitherto unseen race of people, rising like snow from a secluded corner, shakes and destroys everything" (Marcellia on the Huns). The exit of Europe from the crisis that struck the slave-owning mode of production in the first centuries of our era, and the transfer of society to feudal rails were impossible without the Great Migration of Peoples, where most of the Central Asian nomadic tribes participated. Historically, this event is comparable to a successful social revolution.

Ethnic history of the Huns

The name Xiongnu (gun) appeared in the II-I centuries BC. (protoguns) in Chinese sources The development of nomadic pastoralism led to the consolidation of some of the tribes of Central Asia into tribal unions. One of the results of this process was the more frequent raids of nomads on the fragmented lands of China. The raids slightly diminish only in the 4th century. BC e. with the establishment of the hegemony of the Qin principality. which united most of the lands of the weakened Zhou dynasty. In this century, the Chinese retaliated against the nomads and captured a lot of territory. The Huns and Usuns were forced to migrate to the west. China has begun to build the Great Wall of China on this border area. The genealogy of the Hunnic rulers goes back to Shun Wei, who lived 1000 years ago before the Tuman Shanyu (3rd century BC). Unfortunately, this legendary story still remains unexplored. More or less reliable written sources appear since the reign of Mode (III-II centuries BC). In the very first years of Mode's reign, the shanyi dealt a crushing blow to the borders of China, forcing the newly established Han dynasty to return the Huns' nomad camps in Ordos. In 200 BC. e. the Chinese emperor, in order to ensure security on the border with a large army, went against the Huns. After the first clashes, the Huns retreated, the vanguard of the Chinese troops, together with Emperor Gao di, broke away from the main forces. The nomads, immediately stopping their retreat, surrounded them on four sides: “The Xiongnu horsemen on the western side all sat on white horses, on the eastern side on gray ones with a white spot on the muzzle, on the north side - on black horses, and on the south side - on red horses horses. " Then, in the east, the Huns subjugated the tribes of the "eastern hu" - hu-an, xianbi, who lived in Mongolia. In the west, the Hunnic cavalry defeated the Yuechjam in 177 BC. e. This is evidenced by the words of the Shanyu: “By the grace of Heaven, the warriors were healthy, and the horses were strong: they destroyed and pacified Yuezhi, Loulan, Usun, Khutsze and the 36 lands bordering them became our subordinates. All of them entered the Xiongnu army and made one family. " The final victory was won only 10 years later. The leader of the Yuezhi stalemate in battle. and from his skull Laoshan Shanyu made a drinking cup. The Yuezhi driven back to Central Asia took possession of the territory of the Greco-Baktrian state, and then created the Kushan state. Thus, in the ethnic composition of the Huns, we see tribes and ethnopolitical formations of various origins. The crisis of the eastern Hunne state began in 71 BC. BC, when China, with the help of the nomadic neighbors of the Huns - Wuhuans, Usuns, Dinlins, inflicted a heavy defeat. Subsequently, in 56 BC. the society of the Huns split into, 'southern and northern. But, despite this, until the middle of the II century. n. e. the Huns resisted the Chinese advance westward. Usuns were considered! one of the significant ethnopolitical associations after the Huns. Their ethnic history is closely connected with the nomadic tribes of Central, Asia during the time of the Saks. They are in the II century. BC. entered the state created under the auspices of the Huns. Subsequently, having entered into allied relations with China, they became the cause of the death of the state. In the allied era, contacts between Usuns and their eastern neighbor became more frequent, as a result of which the Han Empire often corrected the problems of succession to the throne. Although the name Kangha (kangyui) has been known since ancient times (mid-2nd millennium BC), more or less reliable information appears; in the II century. BC. At this time, the Chinese traveler Zhang Qian speaks of the dependence of the Kangyui lands on the Yuezhi and Huns. After the split of the Hunnish state, the Kangyuys supported the North Hunnic Shanyu Zhi Zhi (Shozhe) in the fight against the Usuns, whose ally was China. In the II century. AD Kangyuy becomes a strong state on the territory from East Turkestan to the Aral Sea region. Thus, the states created by the Huns, Usuns and Kangyuis in Central Asia were nomadic.

Hun culture

The culture of the Huns, Usuns and Kangyuis was a natural continuation and development of the culture of the Saka tribes, it included and developed further its main elements. By the time these states were formed, the widespread distribution of iron products, a primitive loom appeared, wood processing was widely developed, and crafts were born. The Huns had a sufficiently developed material culture and military skills, battering technique that allowed them to crush well-armed opponents, take its fortified cities. The material culture of the Usuns and Kangyuis was also studied quite closely. Excavations of settlements and cities, burial grounds in Semirechye and Syr Darya gave vivid expressive materials that allow one to imagine the nature of the dwellings of early nomads, their interior, to trace the evolution of ceramics and its main types, to learn about the tools and weapons of these tribes. Despite the strong desire of modern historians to see them as a sedentary, urban people, the Hunno-Usun ethnic groups of the 1st millennium BC. e. were mostly nomadic herders. “They don’t engage in agriculture, but migrate with livestock, looking at the water and grass,” the Chinese traveler notes. In the periphery of the nomadic world there were sedentary agricultural oases that served as wintering settlements. Some of these settlements looked like fortified settlements. Such are the Hunnish settlements in Siberia, the fortified settlement of the Chigu Usuns, the settlements A ktobe, Kokmardan, etc.
The Roman historian Priscus left a description of Attila's headquarters in Pannonia, in his words it was like "the most extensive city" - "its wooden walls, as we noticed, were made of shiny planks, the connection between which looked so strong that it was barely possible notice - and even then with effort - the joint between them. The triclinic, stretching over a considerable space, and the porticoes, spread out in all their beauty, were visible. The area of \u200b\u200bthe palace was surrounded by a huge fence: its size itself testified to the palace. This was the dwelling of King Attila, who held the entire barbarian world, he preferred such a dwelling to the conquered cities. " The ancestral cemeteries of the early nomads were located along the banks of rivers. They were built on the places of nomads and usually consist of small mounds. Hunnic kurgans are distinguished by ring fences, the presence of stone boxes, an accompanying burial of a horse, an elongated position of the buried on the back, arrowheads of various shapes, bone bows, broadswords, armor plates, quiver hooks with a transverse bar. The most prominent monuments of Hunnic architecture are mausoleums of the "dyn" type: Kozy Korpesh - Bayan Sulu, Dombauyl, Teke. The main types of grave structures of the Usuns are our kurgans. Burial mounds are located in a group of 2 to 25 with ring-shaped layouts of stones on the embankment and behind the embankment. In all areas inhabited by the Kangyui tribes, there were burial grounds near the settlements. Burial structures consisted of aboveground mounds and underground chambers. Burials were made in simple earth pits, lined graves and catacombs. Earthen and wooden vessels with food in the grave’klal. Men were buried with weapons - daggers, swords, bows and arrows. In women's burials, jewelry prevailed - earrings, rings, bracelets, necklaces made of beads. In the rock carvings of the Huns, images of a bull, deer and swan are often found. According to their ideas, the bull personified strength and power, the deer brought happiness and prosperity, showed the way to the wanderers. The Huns believed that the swan guards the hearth. They served as totems of ancient tribes. In the group of monuments of the Hunnic period there is a gold plate with a picture from the life of ancient nomads, "Rest of nomads under a tree" repeats the plot of the poem "Kozy Korpesh and Bayan Sulu", they depict Aybas and Bayan Soupu, mourning the death of Kozy Korpesh. The art of the Huns, Usuns and Kanpoys is closely related to the artistic traditions of the Sakas (animal style). At the same time, it is characterized by a wider use of inlay and gem inserts. In the III-II centuries. BC e. the animal style is replaced by polychrome monuments of which have been preserved on. vast space from Atgay to Crimea. The most interesting, found in Semirechye, Zhety Asar, Sary Arka and Borovoe, are stylized figures of animals and birds decorated with gems, colored stones, ornaments, and surrounded by patterns of grain grains, filigree belts. Symbols of the spirit of the ancestors were unique statuettes of men and women from the mounds of the Syr Darya (Kauynshi), Central Kazakhstan (Kara agash). The monuments illustrate the ideological ideas of the ancient tribes, their spiritualization of nature, the cult of ancestors and the sun.

The Huns are nomadic tribes that at one time migrated from Asia to Europe. Well, that's all the knowledge about the Huns that most people have. But you can tell a lot of interesting things about them, this is what the article is about.

Who are the Huns?

These tribes begin their history from the 3rd century BC. e. Historians associate the origin of the Huns with the Huns tribes who lived in the territory of modern China, on the banks of the Yellow River. The Huns are an Asian people who were the first to create a nomadic empire in Central Asia. The story goes that in 48 BC. e. the Huns were divided into two clans: Southern and Northern. The Northern Huns were defeated in the war against China, their union disintegrated, and the remaining nomads migrated to the west. The connection between the Huns and the Huns can be traced by studying the heritage of material culture. For both nationalities, the use of the bow was characteristic. However, at present, the ethnicity of the Huns is in doubt.

In different time periods, the word "Huns" pops up in reference books on history, but this name most often denotes ordinary nomads who lived in Europe until the Middle Ages. In the present, the Huns are conquering tribes who founded the great empire of Attila and provoked the Great Migration of Nations, thereby accelerating the course of historical events.

Tribal invasion

It was believed that the Huns, under the onslaught of the emperor of the Han dynasty, were forced to leave their native lands and go west. Along the way, the refugees conquered the tribes they came across and included them in their horde. In 370, the Huns crossed the Volga, at that moment they included Mongols, Ugrians, Turkic and Iranian tribes.

From that moment on, the Huns begin to be mentioned in the annals. Most often they are spoken of as barbaric invaders, without denying their strength and cruelty. Nomadic tribes are becoming the main root cause of important historical events. Even today, historians debate where the Huns actually originated. Some insist that these tribes were the ancestors of the Slavs and have nothing to do with Asia. Although at the same time the Turks claim that the Huns were Turks, and the Mongols say: "The Huns are Mongols."

As a result of research, it was possible to find out only that the Huns are close to the Mongol-Manchu peoples, as evidenced by the similarity of names and culture. However, no one is in a hurry to refute or confirm this with 100% certainty.

But no one belittles the role of the Huns in history. It is worth noting the features of the invasion of the Hunnic tribes into enemy territories. Their attacks were unexpected, like the descent of an avalanche, and the tactics of fighting threw the enemy into complete confusion. Nomadic tribes did not engage in close combat, they simply surrounded the enemies and showered them with arrows, while continuously moving from place to place. The enemy fell into bewilderment, and then the Huns finished him off, having piled up with all the cavalry army. If it came to hand-to-hand combat, they could masterfully wield swords, while the soldiers did not think about their safety - they rushed into battle without sparing themselves. Their furious round-ups took the Romans, the tribes of the Northern Black Sea region, the Goths, Iranians and representatives of other peoples by surprise, who became part of the large Hunnic union.

Occupied lands

For the first time the Huns are mentioned in the annals of 376, when they captured the Alans of the North Caucasus. Later they attacked the state of Germanarich and completely defeated it, which provoked the beginning of the Great Migration of Nations. During their domination on the territory of Europe, the Huns conquered a significant part of the Ostrogoths, and drove the Visigoths back to Thrace.

In 395, the tribes of the Huns crossed the Caucasus and set foot on the lands of Syria. The leader of the Huns at that time was King Balamber. In just a few months, this state was completely devastated, and the invading tribes settled in Austria and Pannonia. Pannonia became the center of the future empire of the Huns. This was the starting point from which they began to attack the Eastern Roman Empire. As for the Western Roman Empire, the Hun tribes until the middle of the 5th century were their allies in the wars against the Germanic tribes.

From Rugil to Attila

All residents of the conquered lands were forced to take part in military campaigns and pay taxes. By the beginning of 422, the Huns again attacked Thrace. Fearing war, the emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire began to pay tribute to the Hunnic leader.

Ten years later, Rugila (the leader of the Huns) began to threaten the Roman Empire by breaking the peace agreements. The reason for this behavior was the fugitives who were hiding in the territory of the Roman state. However, Rugila did not fulfill his plan, he died during the negotiations. The new rulers were the nephews of the late leader: Bled and Attila.

In 445, under unexplained circumstances, Bleda died on a hunt. Historians speculate that he may have been killed by Attila. However, this fact has not been confirmed. From that moment on, Attila is the leader of the Huns. He entered the pages of history as a cruel and great commander who wiped out all of Europe from the face of the earth.

The empire of the Huns acquired the greatest greatness in 434-453 under the leader Attila. During his reign the tribes of Bulgars, Heruls, Geids, Sarmatians, Goths and other Germanic tribes went to the Huns.

Attila's reign

During the one-man rule of Attila, the state of the Huns grew to incredible proportions. This was the merit of their ruler. Attila (the leader of the Huns) lived in the territory of modern Hungary. From this place, his power extended to the Caucasus (east), the Rhine (west), the Danish islands (north) and the Danube (south).

Attila forced Theodosius I (ruler of the Eastern Roman Empire) to continue paying him tribute. He devastated Thrace, Media, Illyria, and subdued the right bank of the Danube. Having reached the borders of Constantinople, he forced the emperor to pay off the conduct of hostilities and to provide the Huns with the country's lands on the southern bank of the Danube.

Having settled in Constantinople, Attila goes to Valentine III, the ruler of Western Rome, with a request to give his sister for him. However, the ruler of the Western Empire refuses such an alliance. Outraged by the refusal, Attila gathers an army and begins to move west. The leader of the Huns passes Germany, having crossed the Rhine, destroyed Trier, Arras and many other cities.

In the fall of 451, a great battle of the peoples began on the Cataluan Plain. It can even be assumed that this was the first large-scale battle in the history of our era. In this confrontation, the advance of the Huns was stopped by the united army of the Roman empires.

Death of Attila

Under King Attila, a large political entity was formed, in which, until the 6th century, the main part of the population was Sarmatians, Huns and other tribes. They all submitted to a single ruler. In 452, Attila's Huns entered the lands of Italy. Cities such as Milan and Aquelia were under the threat of military conflict. However, the troops are retreating back to their territories. In 453, Attila dies, and because of misunderstandings about the new leader, the Gepids attack the Huns, who led the uprising of the tribes of Germany. Since 454, the power of the Huns turns into a historical past. This year, in the confrontation with the Nedao River, they are driven out to the Black Sea region.

In 469, the Huns make their last attempt to break through to the Balkan Peninsula, but they are stopped. They gradually begin to mix with other tribes arriving from the east, and the state of the Huns ceases to exist.

Housekeeping

The history of the Huns began and ended suddenly, in a short period of time a whole empire was formed, which conquered almost all of Europe, and just as quickly it disappeared, mixing with other tribes that came to develop new lands. However, even this small gap was enough for the Huns to create their own culture, religion and way of life.

Their main occupation, like most of the tribes, was cattle breeding, which says Son Qiang, a Chinese historian. The tribes constantly moved from place to place, lived in mobile yurts. The main diet consisted of meat and koumiss. The clothes were made of wool.

Wars were an important part of life, the main goal of which was initially to seize booty, and then to subordinate new tribes. In peacetime, the Huns simply followed the cattle, hunting birds and animals along the way.

Nomadic pastoralism consisted of all types of domestic animals, including the bactrian camel and donkey. Particular attention was paid directly to horse breeding. It was not only a reserve for military action, but a kind of confirmation of social status. The larger the number of horses, the more honorable the nomad.

During the heyday of the Hunnic empire, cities were founded where residents could lead a sedentary lifestyle. As a result of the excavations, it was clear that the tribes were engaged in agriculture for some time, and special places were created in the cities for storing grain.

In fact, the Huns were nomadic tribes and were engaged in cattle breeding, but one should not discount the presence of small foci of a sedentary method of farming. Within the state, these two ways of life existed harmoniously.

The social side of life

The Hun tribes had a complex social organization for that time. The head of the country was a Shany, the so-called "son of heaven" with unlimited power.

The Huns were subdivided into clans (clans), of which there were 24. Each of them was headed by "generations governing". At the beginning of the wars of conquest, it was the managers who divided new lands among themselves, later Shanya began to deal with this, and the managers became simple bosses over the horsemen, who numbered 10 thousand for each.

In the army, everything was also not so simple. The temnik was responsible for the appointment of the thousand's and centurions, as well as for the distribution of land between them. On the other hand, the strengthened central authority did not turn the empire into a monarchy or autocracy. On the contrary, the society had popular assemblies and a council of elders. Three times a year, the Huns gathered in one of the cities of their empire to make a sacrifice to Heaven. On such days, heads of generations discussed the policy of the state, watched horse races or camel racing.

It was noted that in the society of the Huns there were aristocrats, all of them were associated by marriage with each other.

But, since there were many conquered tribes in the empire, which were forcibly adapted to the society of the Huns, slavery flourished in some places. Mostly prisoners became slaves. They were left in cities and forced to help in agriculture, construction, or crafts.

The heads of the Hunnish state had a plan to unite all peoples, although Chinese and ancient sources constantly make them barbarians. Indeed, if they had not become a catalyst for the Great Migration of Peoples in Europe, it is likely that the crisis and the slave-owning mode of production would have dragged on for several more centuries.

Segment of cultural organization

The culture of the Huns takes its continuation from the tribes of the Saxons, includes their main elements and continues to develop. Iron products were common in these tribes. The nomads knew how to use a loom, processed wood and began to trade in crafts.

Material culture and military affairs were developed in the tribes. Since the Huns traded in raids on other states, they had a highly developed battering technique that helped to crush the fortifications.

The Huns are a people of nomads. However, even in the world of perpetual motion, there were sedentary agricultural oases that were used as winter quarters. Some settlements were well fortified and could serve instead of a military fortress.

One of the historians, describing the refuge of Attila, said that his settlement was large, like a city. The houses were made of wood. The boards were nailed to each other so tightly that it was impossible to notice the joints.

They buried their fellow tribesmen on the banks of the rivers. At the sites of the nomads' camps, mounds were built, fenced in a circle with a fence. Weapons and horses were “buried” together with the victims. But more attention was paid to the Huns' mausoleums - a group of mounds with underground chambers. In such mounds, not only weapons were left, but jewelry, ceramics and even food.

As for the rock carvings, most often you can see drawings of a swan, a bull and a deer. These animals had their own sacred meaning. It was believed that the bull is the personification of power. The deer brings prosperity and shows the way to wanderers. The swan was the keeper of the hearth.

The art of the Hun tribes is directly related to the artistic style of the Saxons, however, they pay more attention to inlays, and the animal style remains unchanged until the 3rd century, when it is replaced by polychrome monuments.

Religion

Like every self-respecting state, the Hun Empire had its own religion. Their main god was Tengri - the deity of the Sky. The nomads were animists, revered the spirits of Heaven and the forces of nature. Protective amulets were made of gold and silver; images of animals, mainly dragons, were engraved on the plates.

The Huns did not make human sacrifices, but they had idols cast from silver. Religious beliefs involved priests, sorcerers and medicine men. In the ruling elite of the Huns, one could often meet shamans. Their responsibility was to determine the favorable months of the year.

The deification of heavenly bodies, elements and roads was also characteristic of their religion. Horses were presented as blood sacrifices. All religious ceremonies were accompanied by military duels, which were an obligatory attribute of any event. In addition, when someone died, the Huns were obliged to inflict wounds on themselves as a sign of grief.

The role of the Huns in history

The invasion of the Huns had a great influence on the course of historical events. Unexpected raids on the tribes of Western Europe were the main catalyst that provoked changes in the position of the nomads. The destruction of the Ostrogoths prevented the possibility of Germanization of the Sklavens of Europe. The Alans withdrew to the west, and the Iranian tribes of Eastern Europe were weakened. All this testifies only to one thing - only the Turks and Sklavens influenced the further development of historical events.

It can even be said that the leader of the Huns, having invaded Europe, freed the Eastern Proto-Slavs from the Goths, Iranians, Alans and their influence on the development of culture. The Sklaven troops were used by the Huns as an auxiliary reserve of military campaigns.

During the reign of Attila, the territory of the Huns occupied unthinkable areas. Stretching from the Volga to the Rhine, the empire of the Hunnic conquerors reaches its maximum expansion. But when Attila dies, the great power disintegrates.

In many sources that describe the historical events of the Middle Ages, different nomadic tribes that are found in different parts of Eurasia are called Huns. However, no one was able to prove their relationship with the European Huns. In some publications this word is interpreted simply as a term that means "nomadic tribe". Only in 1926, K. A. Inostrantsev introduced the concept of "Huns" to designate the European tribes of the state of Attila.

Thus, in the end, only one thing can be said: the Huns are not only nomadic tribes with an irresistible thirst for power, but also key figures of their era, who caused many historical changes.

The history of the Huns is very interesting. For the Slavic people, it is interesting because there is a high probability that the Huns are - there is a number of historical documents and ancient writings that reliably confirm that the Huns and Slavs are one people.

It is very important to conduct constant research of our origin, since according to the existing history, our distant ancestors before the arrival of Rurik were a weak and uneducated nation that did not have culture and traditions. According to some scholars, things were even worse, since the disunity of the ancients prevented the independent management of their lands. Therefore, the Varangian Rurik was summoned, who laid a new dynasty of rulers of Russia.

For the first time, a major study of the Hunnic culture was carried out by the French historian Deguigne. Ono found similarities between the words "Huns" and "Huns". The Xiongnami was one of the largest peoples who lived in the territory of modern China. But there is another theory, according to which the Huns were the ancestors of the Slavs.

According to the first theory, the Huns are a mixture of two peoples, one of which is the Ugrians, and the second is the Huns. The first lived on the territory of the lower Volga and the Urals. The Huns were also a powerful nomadic people.

Huns' relations with China

Representatives of this tribe for many centuries pursued a policy of conquest in relation to China and had a fairly active lifestyle. They carried out unexpected raids on the provinces of the country and took away everything they needed for life. They set fire to dwellings and made the inhabitants of local villages slaves. As a result of these raids, the lands were in decline, and the smell of burning and the ashes raised upward hovered over the ground for a long time.

It was believed that the Huns, and somewhat later the Huns, are those who do not know anything about pity and compassion. The conquerors swiftly left the plundered settlements on their stunted and hardy horses. In one day, they could overcome more than a hundred miles, while engaging in battle. And even the Great Wall of China was not a serious obstacle for the Huns - they easily bypassed it and carried out their raids on the lands of the Celestial Empire.

Over time, they weakened and disintegrated, as a result of which 4 branches were formed. They were more actively crowded out by other, stronger nations. In order to survive, the northern Huns in the middle of the 2nd century headed west. The Huns appeared on the territory of Kazakhstan for the second time in the 1st century AD.

Unification of Huns and Ugrians

Then the once strong and huge tribe on the way met the Ugrians and Alans. With the second, they did not have a relationship. But the Ugrians gave shelter to the wanderers. In the middle of the 4th century, the state of the Huns arose. The priority position in it belonged to the culture of the Ugrians, while military affairs were largely taken over from the Huns.

In those days, the Alans and Parthians practiced the so-called Sarmatian battle tactics. The spear was attached to the body of the animal, the poet put all the strength and power of the galloping horse into the blow. It was a very effective tactic that almost no one could resist.

The Huns are tribes that came up with completely opposite tactics, less effective in comparison with the Sarmatian one. The people of the Huns focused more on exhausting the enemy. The manner of fighting was in the absence of any active attacks or attacks. But at the same time, they did not leave the battlefield. Their soldiers were equipped with light weapons and were at a considerable distance from their opponents. At the same time, they fired at enemies with bows and, with the help of lassoes, threw the riders to the ground. Thus, they exhausted the enemy, deprived him of his strength, and then killed.

The beginning of the Great Migration of Nations

As a result, the Huns conquered the Alans. Thus, a powerful alliance of tribes was formed. But the Huns were far from dominant in it. Around the seventies of the 4th century, the resettlement of the Huns through the Don took place. This incident marked the beginning of a new period in history, which in our time is called. Many people at that time left their homes, mixed with other peoples and formed completely new nations and states. Many historians are inclined to think that the Huns are those who had to make significant changes in world geography and ethnography.

The next victims of the Huns are the Visigoths who settled in the lower reaches of the Dniester. They were also defeated, and they were forced to flee to the Danube and seek help from Emperor Valentine.

Ostrogoths put up a worthy resistance to the Huns. But they were awaited by the ruthless reprisal of the Hunnic king Balamber. Following all these events, peace came to the Black Sea steppe.

Preconditions for the great conquests of the Huns

Peace lasted until 430. This period is also known for the arrival on the historical scene of such a person as Attila. It is directly associated with the great conquests of the Huns, which had many other prerequisites:

• the end of a secular drought;
• a sharp increase in humidity in the steppe regions;
• expansion of the forest and forest-steppe zone and narrowing of the steppe;
• a significant narrowing of the life area of \u200b\u200bthe steppe peoples who led a nomadic lifestyle.

But somehow it was necessary to survive. And compensation for all these costs could only be expected from the rich and nourishing Roman Empire. But in the 5th century it was no longer such a powerful power as it was two hundred years ago, and the Hunnic tribes under the leadership of their leader Rugila easily reached the Rhine and even tried to establish diplomatic relations with the Roman state.

History speaks of Rugil as a very smart and forward-thinking politician who died in 434. After his death, the two sons of Mundzuk, the brother of the ruler, Atilla and Bled, became candidates for the throne.

Rise of the Huns

This was the beginning of a twenty-year period, which was characterized by an unprecedented rise of the Hunnic people. The policy of subtle diplomacy did not suit the young leaders. They wanted absolute power, which could only be obtained by force. Under the leadership of these leaders, the unification of many tribes took place, which included:

• ostrogoths;
• tracks;
• geruls;
• gepids;
• bulgars;
• acatsir;
• turklings.

Roman and Greek soldiers also stood under the Hunnic banners, who had a rather negative attitude towards the power of the Western Roman Empire, considering it selfish and rotten.

What was Attila like?

Attila's appearance was not heroic. He had narrow shoulders and short stature. Since in childhood the boy used to ride horses for a very long time, he had crooked legs. The head was so large that it could hardly be supported by the small neck - it swung on it all the time like a pendulum.

His lean face was embellished rather than marred by deep-set eyes, a pointed chin, and a wedge-shaped beard. Attila, the leader of the Huns, was a rather intelligent and decisive person. He knew how to keep himself in control and achieve his goals.

In addition, he was a very loving man with a large number of concubines and wives.

He valued gold more than anything else. Therefore, the conquered peoples were forced to pay tribute to him exclusively with this metal. The same applied to the conquered cities. For the Huns, precious stones were ordinary, worthless glass. And there was a completely opposite attitude to gold: this weighty precious metal had a noble luster and symbolized immortal power and wealth.

Brother's murder and power seizure

The invasion of the Huns on the Balkan Peninsula was carried out under the command of the formidable leader with his brother Bleda. Together they approached the walls of Constantinople. During that campaign, more than seven dozen cities were burned, thanks to which the barbarians enriched themselves fabulously. This raised the authority of the leaders to unprecedented heights. But the leader of the Huns wanted absolute power. Therefore, in 445, he killed Bleda. Since that time, the period of his sole rule begins.

In 447, a treaty was concluded between the Huns and Theodosius II, which was very humiliating for the Byzantine Empire. According to him, the ruler of the empire had to pay tribute every year and cede the southern bank of the Danube to Singidun.

After the emperor Marcian came to power in 450, this treaty was terminated. But Attila did not get involved with him in the fight, because it could have a protracted nature and take place in those territories that the barbarians had already plundered.

Hike to Gaul

Attila, the leader of the Huns, decided to make a trip to Gaul. At that time, the Western Roman Empire was already almost completely morally decayed, therefore it was a tasty prey. But here all events began to develop not according to the plan of an intelligent and cunning leader.

It was commanded by the talented commander Flavius \u200b\u200bAetius, the son of a German and a Roman woman. Before his eyes, the rebel legionnaires killed his father. The commander had a strong and strong-willed character. In addition, in the distant days of exile, they were friends with Attila.

The expansion was prompted by Princess Honoria's request for betrothal. Allies appeared, among whom were King Henzerich and some Frankish princes.

During the campaign into Gaul, the kingdom of the Burgundians was destroyed and razed to the ground. Then the Huns reached Orleans. But they were not condemned to take it. In 451, a battle took place on the Catalaun plain between the Huns and the army of Aetius. It ended with Attila's retreat.

In 452, the war was resumed with the invasion of Italy by the barbarians and the capture of the most powerful fortress of Aquileia. The whole valley was robbed. Due to the insufficient number of troops, Aetius was defeated and offered the invaders a large ransom for leaving the territory of Italy. The trip ended successfully.

Slavic question

After Attila turned fifty-eight, his health seriously deteriorated. In addition, healers were unable to heal their ruler. And it was not so easy for him to cope with the people as before. The constantly breaking out uprisings were suppressed quite brutally.

Elder's son Ellak, together with a huge army, was sent to reconnaissance towards the Slavic territories. The ruler was looking forward to his return, as it was planned to carry out a campaign and conquer the territory of the Slavs.

After the return of his son and his story about the vastness and wealth of these lands, the leader of the Huns made a rather unusual decision for him, offering the Slavic princes friendship and patronage. He planned to create their united state in the Hunnic Empire. But the Slavs refused, as they treasured their freedom very much. After that, Attila decides to marry one of the daughter of the prince of the Slavs and thus close the question of the ownership of the lands of the rebellious people. Since the father was against such a marriage of his daughter, he was executed.

Marriage and death

The wedding, like the leader's lifestyle, was of a usual scale. At night, Attila and his wife retired to their chambers. But the next day he did not come out. The soldiers were worried about his so long absence and knocked down the doors of the apartments. There they saw their ruler dead. The cause of death of the warlike Hun is unknown.

Modern historians suggest that Attila suffered from hypertension. And the presence of a young temperamental beauty, excessive amounts of alcohol and high blood pressure became that explosive mixture that provoked death.

There is a lot of conflicting information about the burial of the great warrior. The history of the Huns suggests that the burial place of Attila is the bed of a large river, which was temporarily blocked off by a dam. In addition to the body of the ruler, a lot of expensive jewelry and weapons were placed in the coffin, and the body was covered with gold. After the funeral, the riverbed was restored. All participants in the funeral procession were killed in order to avoid divulging any information about the burial place of the great Attila. His grave has not yet been found.

End of the Huns

After the death of Attila, a time of decline began in the Hunnic state, since everything was based solely on the will and mind of its deceased leader. A similar situation was with Alexander the Great, after whose death his empire completely collapsed. Those state formations that exist thanks to robberies and robberies, moreover, have no other economic ties, instantly collapse immediately after the destruction of just one link.

The year 454 is known for the separation of the motley tribes. This led to the fact that the tribes of the Huns could no longer threaten the Romans or the Greeks. This could be the main cause of death of the commander Flavius \u200b\u200bAetius, who was mercilessly stabbed to death by the sword of the emperor of the Western Roman Empire Valentinian during a personal audience. It is said that the emperor cut off his right hand with his left.

The result of such an act was not long in coming, since Aetius was practically the main fighter against the barbarians. All the patriots who remained in the empire rallied around him. Therefore, his death was the beginning of the collapse. In 455, Rome was captured and plundered by the Vandal king Henzerich and his army. In the future, Italy as a country did not exist. She was rather a piece of the state.

For more than 1500 years, there has been no formidable leader Attila, but his name is known to many modern Europeans. It is called "the scourge of God", which was sent to people because they did not believe in Christ. But we all understand that this is far from the case. The king of the Huns was an ordinary person who really wanted to command a huge number of other people.

His death is the beginning of the decline of the Hunnic people. At the end of the 5th century, the tribe was forced to cross the Danube and ask for citizenship from Byzantium. They were given land, "the territory of the Huns," and this is where the history of this nomadic tribe ends. A new historical stage began.

Neither of the two theories of the origin of the Huns can be completely refuted. But we can say for sure that this tribe influenced world history quite strongly.