Who Was Atilla The Hun?

He was an incredibly successful warload among and ultimately leader of the Huns, a tribe whose origin is itself unclear. It's generally agreed that the Huns spoke a language in the Turkic family and probably originated as a tribal group on Central, possibly far eastern Asian steppes. They appeared as harangers and invaders on the eastern borders of the Roman Empire in the 4th century AD. Raids by the Huns are a big part of what destroyed the Roman empire.

Atilla was born about 406 AD. Almost nothing is known of him before he became joint King of the Huns with his brother Bleda, in 434 AD. The Huns basic tactic was to lay seige to towns and cities and demand booty (gold or similar). When they were paid off they would move on to lay siege to someone else. Although the Huns sometimes held onto territories, their numbers were probably too few to implement any type of government or legal order in most of their conquered areas.

The Roman historian Priscus dined with Atilla, supplying the only description of the man himself. Atilla was simply-dressed, and drank from a wooden vessel while supplying his guests with golden and silver goblets.

In 452 AD, Attilla famously turned back from invading Rome after hearing pleas from the Pope (we don't know why Atilla didn't proceed). Atilla died in 453 AD, in mysterious circumstances.

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