Attila

Attila (N - 453) - the leader of the Huns from 434 to 453 per year, one of the greatest rulers of the barbarian tribes, when - or invaded the Roman Empire. In Western Europe it differently, as "Scourge of God" is not called. The first outing Attila performs with his brother Bled. According to historians, the Hun Empire, the brothers inherited after the death of their uncle Rugily, stretching from the Alps and the Baltic Sea in the west to the Caspian (Hun) Sea in the east. For the first time, these rulers are mentioned in historical annals in connection with the signing of a peace treaty with the ruler of the Eastern Roman Empire in the city of Margus (now - Pozarevak). Under this treaty the Romans had to double payment of tribute Huns, the amount which should have been further seven hundred pounds of gold a year.
. The life of Attila from 435 to 439 a year is not known, but one can assume that at this time he led several wars against barbarian tribes to the north and east of its major holdings
. Obviously, it took advantage of the Romans and not pay the annual tribute due to the contract Margus. Attila reminded them.
. In the year 441 by using the fact that the Romans waged war on the Asian side of the empire, he broke a few Roman troops crossed the frontier of the Roman Empire, which was held on the Danube and invaded the Roman provinces
. Attila conquered and slaughtered en masse, many important cities: Viminatsium (Kostolak), Margus, Singidunum (Belgrade) and Sirmium (Metrovika) and other. As a result of long negotiations, the Romans still managed to conclude a truce in 442, and move its troops to the border of another empire. But in 443 Attila again invaded the Eastern Roman Empire. In the early days he was seized and destroyed Ratiary (Archar) on the Danube, and then moved toward the NAIS (Niе?) and Serdica (Sofia), who also fell. Aim was to seize Constantinople, Attila. By the way Gunn gave a few battles and conquered Filippol. After meeting with the main forces of the Romans, he defeated them at Aspera, and finally went to the sea, defended Constantinople from the north and south. The Huns were unable to take the city, surrounded by impregnable walls. Therefore, Attila took up pursuit of the remnants of the Roman troops, who fled to the Gallipoli Peninsula, and broke them. One of the conditions of the ensuing peace treaty, Attila raised the payment of tribute by the Romans over the years, which, according to the calculations of Attila, was six thousand pounds in gold, and tripled its annual tribute to two thousand one hundred pounds of gold.
. Until we also got the certificate of Attila's actions after the conclusion of a peace treaty until the autumn of 443 years
. In the year 447, according to an unknown reason, Attila made a second trip to the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire, but have survived only a minor detail description of this campaign. We only know that the forces were involved in more than in the campaigns of 441 - 443 years. The main blow fell on the province of Lower Scythian state and Moesia. Thus, Attila moved much farther east than in the previous campaign. On the bank of the river ATUS (view) Huns met with Roman troops and defeated them. However themselves suffered heavy losses. After capturing Martsianopolisa and looting of the Balkan provinces Attila moved south to Greece, but was stopped at Thermopylae. On the further course of the campaign of the Huns did not know. Next three years were devoted to the negotiations between Attila and the Eastern Roman Emperor Theodosius II. These diplomatic negotiations show excerpts from "History" Prisca Paniyskogo, which in the year 449 in the Rome embassy himself visited the camp of Attila the territory of modern Wallachia. The peace treaty was finally concluded, but the conditions were much harsher than in the 443. Attila the Hun demanded to provide for a vast territory to the south of the Middle Danube and again overlaid them tribute, the amount of which is unknown to us.
The next campaign was the invasion of Attila in Gaul in 451. Until then, it seemed, was on friendly terms with the commander of the Roman court Aetsiem guards, guardian, ruler of the western part of the Roman Empire, Valentinian III. The chronicles do not say anything about the motives Attila join Gaul. First, he announced that his goal in the West - West Gothic kingdom with its capital in Tolosa (Toulouse), and he has no claims to the emperor of the Western Roman Empire, Valentinian III. But in the spring of the year 450 Honoria, sister of the emperor, sent Hun chieftain ring, asking her to release her from the imposed marriage. Attila Honoria declared his wife, and demanded of the Western Empire as her dowry. After entry Hun Aetius in Gaul was supported by the Visigothic king Theodoric, and Franks, who agreed to put their troops against the Huns. Subsequent events covered with legends. However, there is no doubt that before the arrival of the Allies Attila almost conquered Aurelianium (Orleans). Indeed, the Huns had already firmly established in the city when Aetius and Theodoric knocked them out. The decisive battle took place on Catalaun fields or, in some manuscripts, with Maurice (near Troyes, exact location unknown). After a fierce battle in which the Visigothic king was killed, Attila withdrew and soon left the Gaul. It was his first and only defeat.
In 452 the Huns invaded Italy and sacked the city: Aquileia, Patavium (Padua), Verona, Bressanone (Brescia), Bergamum (Bergamo) and Mediolanum (Milan). At this time Aetius was not able to anything to counter the Huns. However, famine and the plague was raging in the year in Italy, forced the Huns to leave the country.
. In 453 Attila intends to cross the border of the Eastern Roman Empire, the new ruler which Marcian refused to pay tribute to the Huns treaty with the Emperor Theodosius II, but the wedding night with a girl named IldikцЁ leader died in his sleep
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Attila with goat's horns (medallion XVI century from Pavia (Italy))
Those who buried it and hid the treasure, were killed by the Huns to the grave of Attila, nobody could find. Heirs of the leader were his numerous sons, which they divided among themselves created an empire of the Huns.
. Prisk Paniysky, who saw Attila during his visit to the 449 year, described him as a low, stocky man with a big head, deep-set eyes, flat nose and a sparse beard
. He was rude, irritable, savage, when negotiating very persistent and ruthless. At one lunch Prisk noticed that Attila was served food on wooden plates and he ate only meat, while his commander were treated to delicacies on silver platters. Did not reach us no description of battles, so we can not fully appreciate the strategic talent of Attila. However, his military successes that preceded the invasion of Gaul, of course.