Attila the Hun Essay Example

Attila the Hun Essay Attila the Hun is known as one of the most ferocious leaders of ancient times. He was given the nickname Scourge God because of his ferocity. During the twentieth century, Hun was one of the worst name you could call a person, due to Attila. The Huns were a barbaric and savage group of people, and Attila, their leader, was no exception. He was the stereotypical sacker of cities and killer of babies. The Huns lasted long after their disappearance in mythology and folklore, as the bad guy. Generally, they were not fun people to be around. Priscus saw Attila the Hun at a banquet in 448. Priscus described him as being a short, squat man with a large head and deep-set eyes. He also had a flat nose and a thin beard. Historians say that his general personality was irritable, blustering, and truculent. He was said to be a persistent negotiator, and not at al pitiless. While Priscus was at the banquet in 448, he observed a few other details about Attila. All of Attilas chief lieutenants wer e served dainties on silver platters, but he was served only meat on wooden plates. No other real qualities of Attila as a general really survived through time, but he is thought to have been an outstanding commander from his accomplishments as a barbarian. Huns themselves were mysterious and feared people. Theyfirst appeared in the Fourth Century around the Roman Empire. They rode their warhorses around and cause the Germanic barbarians and Romans alike to fear them. Yet, it was said that they were very uncivilized. It was said that they made no use of fire, and just ate the roots of plants they found in fields. They were also said to have eaten the almost raw meat of animals. The only reason the meat was almost raw was because they were said to have cooked it by placing it between their thighs and the backs of their horses to give it warmth. The Huns sometimes engaged in regular battle. The Attila the hun Essay Example Attila the hun Essay Attila was called the Scourge of God or King of the Huns. Very little is known of Attilas early life beyond the fact that he was a member of the ruling family of the Huns. Huns are a nomadic Asian people who spread from the Caspian steppes in repeated attacks on the Roman Empire. Before Attilas birth, the Huns reached the Danube River in raids against the Eastern Roman Empire.By AD 432, they had gained so much power that Attilas uncle, the Hunnish King Roas, was receiving a large annual tribute from Rome. Attila gained the throne from his uncle, but atfirst he was sharing it with his brother. Attila put his brother to death in 445. He later advanced through Illyria and devastated the whole region between the Black and the Mediterranean seas. Those that he conquered were not destroyed, but were forced to serve in his armies. Then in 451 with great numbers of Ostrogoths, whom he had conquered, in his army, Attila invaded Gaul in alliance with Gaiseric, king of the Vandals. He was met by the Roman general Flavius Aetius and defeated that same year in the great Battle of Ch;lons. According to all accounts it was one of the most terrible battles of ancient history. The Visigoths, under their King, Theodoric, assisted the Romans. Historians of the period estimated the losses of the army of Attila at from 200,000 to 300,000 slain, a number now believed greatly exaggerated. Aetius wisely allowed the Huns to retreat, pursuing as far as the Rhine River. After his defeat. Attila turned his attention to Italy, where he devastated Aquileia, Milan, Padua, and other cities and advanced upon Rome. Attila had a major impact on the people he invaded; many of the empires he invaded were so devastated that they never would be able to rise as they were before he came. He was one of the factors that caused the empire of Rome to fall, because he weakened the empire. I think Attila was a pretty sick guy he slaughtered Monks and virgins