Huns

Question	Answer
Who were the Huns	To the Romans they were alien, with completely different ideas and culture, so they could not negotiate with them. From the 14th century onwards the Huns portrayed as Satanic.
Historical portrayal	In pictures shown as savages. In painting of Pope Lea 1 meeting with Attila shows them as satanic. Contemporary pictures in subsequent centuries tend to show the Hun as destroyers of civilisations
Historical records?	No contemporary illustrations survive No contemporary record of their language survives No typical ‘Hunnic settlement’ has been excavated No distinctive ‘Hunnic’ burial rite has been identified
Hun Origin?	Possibly Mongolia Migrating Westwards after clashes with China and Persia. However their exact origins are unknown and they seemed to have appeared from nowhere
Rome and the Huns	During this period, there was a clash of religions (Pagan Roman Gods versus Christianity, the Aria creed versus the Nicosene Creed) There was also a breakdown of civilisations with the decline of the Roman Empire and the rise of the Gothic migrations
Text written about the Huns, showed that they were the antithesis of Roman culture and religion	Ammianus Marcellinus wrote, the Hun are a savage race who live beyond the Sea of Azov, on the border of the Frozen Ocean Jordans wrote, they were little, foul, emaciated creatures with little speech…no hair on their chins…deep furrowed scars down the sides of their faces…skilful in riding, broad shouldered, good at the use of bow and arrows
Other descriptions of the Huns	They were Nomadic, pastoral, grew no crops, lived in wagons,wore linen and skins, did most things from horseback (meetings, eating and sleeping), were unpredictable, treacherous and inconstant without understanding of right or wrong. Without respect for any religion they loved gold
The Romans against the Huns	As the Huns had no settlements they were mobile, swift moving and difficult to attack. They were difficult to negotiate with as they 'changed their minds' and were thought to be devious. No settlements meant the Romans could not attack then, starve them out or cut off trade routes.
Hun Culture	There is no records of their religion or culture. Evidence of belt buckles? show Hunnic areas are indistinguishable from Gothic. The Huns bound their skulls, possibly to look fiercer in battle but there is no evidence to substantiate this
Hun Language	There is a link between Hunnic language and some Turkish names Possibly Turkic (Bulgar, Avar, Khazar) No Hunnic texts or inscriptions survive. They did not rename the places they conquered
Why the Romans feared the Huns	They were highly mobile, had an unusual appearance, had an unintelligible language, unusual customs, un-Christian and had unknown motives. The Romans feared if the Huns attacked they would destroy the Romans like the Celts did. The Huns did not want to be Roman like the Visigoths and the had no sense of religious monotheism
By AD 360	The Huns were approaching Rome. It was the movement of the Huns towards the Roman empire that had prompted the initial migration of the Goths.
AD394 to AD 408	AD 394 Theodosius was emperor but he died and his two sons Honorius and Arcadius took over under the regency of Stilicho, the Magister Militum By AD408 the empire was divided into three with Honorius, Alaric a Visigoth and Theodosius II Son of Arcadius
24th August AD 410 Sack of Rome	Alaric died in the same year
AD 423	Honorius died of Dropsy without an heir and Johannes a civil servant was initial endorsed as Emperor, Though Theodosius II then appointed Galla Placidia, the half sister of Honorius and Arcadius and the mother of Valentinian to be regent on behalf of Valentinian III, the nephew of Honorius who was only 6 at the time.
Johannes' response	He sent Aëtius, Governor of the Palace on a mission to get the Huns to join him in defeating the Eastern Romans.
AD 425	Before he could come back with the Hun army, the Eastern Romans had eneterned the western region and taken control from Johannes. Valentinian III and Galla Placidia then had Johannes executed
what happened to Aetius?	He was made the Magister Militum (general) of Gaul
Hunnic impact	They were a significant force at the North Eastern margins of the Roman Empire BUT NOT ROMANISED Between AD 420s – 30s Theodosius II gives Huns annual payment of 350 lb Gold Roman Gold melted down and made into non-Roman looking artifacts
AD 441	Atilla had not wanted the Huns to be influenced by Rome and made the Danube and 100m land on the Roman side, a border between the two empires. However in AD 441, the Huns, under leadership of brothers Attila and Bleda invade the Eastern Empire.
AD 442	Theodosius II pays Huns off with a 1,000 lb of gold a year
Hunnic Empire	The Hunic empire now consisted of a complex society incorporating Goths, Vandals and other tribal groups Hunnic court speaks Hun, Gothic, German, Latin and Greek
Hunnic Empire Therefore a coalition of tribes Under rule of Hunnic aristocracy	As Huns do not want to be part of the Roman system, happy to exist outside of the Empire, Atilla prevented free-trade with Rome, Controls movement across the frontiers, Stops Huns from serving as mercenaries and Prevents Huns from settling within the Roman Empire
Cultural apartheid	Instructs Theodosius II to ensure that a 100 mile strip of land south of the Danube (in Roman territory) is maintained as a ‘no-mans-land’ to keep Roman influence at bay
Trade of Hunnic Empire	Margus (Požarevac near Belgrade) Hunnic trade centre under the strict control of Attila Huns buy grain and sell animal products Free access to distinctive Mediterranean goods NOT permitted under Attila’s rule Roman cultural influence sterilised
Roman payment in Gold	Melted down and turned into portable art
AD 451	Justa Grata Honoria (sister of Valentinian III) sends a ring to Attila, promising half the Western Empire as a dowry
AD 451 Battle of the Catalaunian Plains	Hunnic confederacy crosses the Rhine and enters Gaul. Atilla fights against the Roman's, Visigoths and allies headed by Aetius and Theodoric I King of the Visigoths. Roman and Visigothic army defeats Attila
AD 452	Huns move south into Italy and sack: • Aquileia, • Padua, • Mantua, • Vincenza • Verona, • Brescia, • Bergamo, • Milan
What about Atilla?	Atilla was allowed to escape to his home land, and in this most famous war of the bravest tribes, 160,000 men are said to have been slain on both sides.
AD 452	Valentinian III sends ambassador to speak with Attila, Leo I, Bishop of Rome Though seen as a Miracle because Rome is saved and the Huns turn back, in reality it was a complete surrender by Valentinian: Attila promised Honoria as his bride Dowry to be paid in gold (not land)
why Atilla left	Attila keen to depart: Food for his army is short, Disease possible and as his Army has no specific aims its cohesion was threatened.
Political turning point	Bishop of Rome now the ‘true power’ in Italy Marks the transition from a secular to religious Empire New language -Papa – father - Pope Bishop of Rome now foremost amongst Christian leaders in the West (St Peter’s)
AD 453	Atilla died after drinking heavily at his wedding Hunnic ‘Empire’ Collapses as Tribal allegiances weaken
AD 254	Aetius murdered by Valentinian III Of this act, Sidonius Apollinaris: “I am ignorant, sir, of your motives or provocations; I only know that you have acted like a man who has cut off his right hand with his left
March 16 AD 455	Valentinian III murdered by Optila and Thraustila Two Hunnic friends of Aetius So Western Empire left leaderless
Hun relationship with Rome and their lasting impact	Hun relationship with Rome was one of exploitation for Gold. The Hun were not influenced by Roman ways at all. The lasting impact was that the Huns interaction changed the powerbase of Rome from secular to religious and the Emperor was then not so important

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