Attila the HunAttila the Hun

By Matthew KargesBy Matthew Karges

Huns beginningHuns beginning

Came from Mongolian Came from Mongolian areaarea

Attacked China which Attacked China which triggered the building triggered the building of the Great Wall of of the Great Wall of ChinaChina

Chinese defeat Hunnic Chinese defeat Hunnic tribes causing them to tribes causing them to splitsplit

Western group moves Western group moves towards Volga River towards Volga River and shows up in Europeand shows up in Europe

United by RuaUnited by Rua

Attila the HunAttila the Hun

Born in 406Born in 406 Father was Mundzuk Father was Mundzuk

and mother was and mother was unknownunknown

Rua, leader of the Rua, leader of the Huns, was his uncleHuns, was his uncle

Had a brother Had a brother named Bledanamed Bleda

Becoming a leaderBecoming a leader

In 434, Attila’s uncle In 434, Attila’s uncle Rua diesRua dies

Attila and older brother Attila and older brother Bleda take overBleda take over

Because of continued Because of continued pressure to Eastern pressure to Eastern Roman Empire, a treaty Roman Empire, a treaty was signed making the was signed making the Eastern Empire pay 700 Eastern Empire pay 700 pounds of gold per yearpounds of gold per year

Huns were a mercenary Huns were a mercenary armyarmy

Taking LeadershipTaking Leadership

In 445, Attila murdered BledaIn 445, Attila murdered Bleda Became sole leader of HunsBecame sole leader of Huns Ruled with absolute authorityRuled with absolute authority Army attacked swiftly and suddenlyArmy attacked swiftly and suddenly

Dispersed then came togetherDispersed then came together Huns fight without regard to their own safetyHuns fight without regard to their own safety

Attila (Cont’d)Attila (Cont’d)

Attila was called the Scourge of GodAttila was called the Scourge of God He was rumored to have eaten two of his childrenHe was rumored to have eaten two of his children Eastern Romans refusal to pay tribute angered AttilaEastern Romans refusal to pay tribute angered Attila Decided to take out anger on Western Roman EmpireDecided to take out anger on Western Roman Empire

ScandalScandal

Vandals urged Vandals urged Attila to attack the Attila to attack the VisigothsVisigoths

Defeat of Visigoths Defeat of Visigoths would lessen would lessen pressure on the pressure on the VandalsVandals

Scandal (cont’d)Scandal (cont’d)

Honoria, Roman Princess, Honoria, Roman Princess, was imprisoned because was imprisoned because of an affairof an affair

She sent Attila a ring and She sent Attila a ring and a message asking Attila a message asking Attila to be her championto be her champion

Attila asks for half of Attila asks for half of Western Roman Empire Western Roman Empire as wedding dowryas wedding dowry

Plans to attack Western Plans to attack Western Empire to claim his lands Empire to claim his lands with a huge armywith a huge army

ResultResult

Only though an alliance of Romans and Visigoths are the Only though an alliance of Romans and Visigoths are the Huns defeatedHuns defeated Huns escapeHuns escape

The next year, the Huns attack Italy with 100,000 soldiersThe next year, the Huns attack Italy with 100,000 soldiers Take much of Italy but do not attack Rome because of a Take much of Italy but do not attack Rome because of a

deal with the Popedeal with the Pope

DeathDeath

Attila dies of a hemorrhageAttila dies of a hemorrhage The hemorrhage was because of drinking from his The hemorrhage was because of drinking from his

wedding nightwedding night Sons divide empireSons divide empire Empire dissolvesEmpire dissolves