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Huns were nomadic people living in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia between the 1st and 7th centuries CE. It was because of this militant person that the Great Migration of the barbarian peoples to the west took place and the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
According to accounts, the Huns originally inhabited the lands east of the Volga River, which were part of Scythia. The appearance of the Huns is associated with the migration to the west of the Scythian tribe – Alans.
In 91 CE, the Huns were to be near the Caspian Sea, and by 150 CE they moved southeast to the Caucasus. By 370 CE, the Huns had stabilized their brief domination in Europe.
Who were the Huns?
The Huns were in fact a confederation of “armed bands of warriors” that influenced other groups to strengthen their military position in the Eurasian Steppe between the 4th and 6th centuries CE. Historian Peter Heather says that they had gained their position through sudden attacks and the subjugation of neighbouring groups. Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus, who formed in the late Western Empire, stated that they resided “beyond the Sea of Azov, near the frozen ocean”. In turn, Jerome of Stridon links them with the Scythians.
In the eyes of Roman and Christian civilization, the Huns appeared to be the embodiment of the worst biblical demons – Gog and Magog – who were to herald the end of the world. The sources do not provide any evidence of national consciousness among the Huns, or even a stronger sense of solidarity.
Hunts’ war tactics
Strategikon – a work from around CE 600 – says that the Huns and the Avars had a reputation for being brilliant warriors. Their tactics were largely based on a sudden and surprising strike and the destruction of the opponent’s supplies. Moreover, they did not set up fortified camps but stayed overnight in grazing fields according to their clan affiliation, where they protected their horses. During the war campaign, the Huns took large amounts of these animals with them, so that they could move quickly (tired horses were exchanged) and give the impression of having a larger army.
The battle line was set up very early in the morning to surprise the enemy as much as possible. According to Strategikon, the Huns did not form a tight battle line like the Romans or Persians, and in reserve, they had considerable strength to prepare ambushes and provide a reserve. The army was usually divided into divisions according to clan affiliation. In the far rear of the troops were luggage, supplies, and free-standing horses that were well protected by guards.
The Huns preferred long-distance combat, organized ambushes, laps and improvised escapes. After their victory, the Huns usually chased the fleeing enemy and harassed him relentlessly. When the enemy took refuge in the fortress, the siege began.
Weapons of the Huns
Strategikon mentions that the Huns used swords, bows and lances in combat, but usually the warrior was armed with a bow and lance, which he used depending on the situation on the battlefield. Horses were dressed in quilted linen, wool, and sometimes with iron sprinkles when they put on caftans and quilted headgear themselves. Historians also believe that the Huns were the first to use the langsaks, a single-edged combat knife with a total length of about 60 cm, which was widely used in the period of the great migration of peoples.
Historical records
The earliest mention of the Huns is in the 2nd century BCE due to Claudius Ptolemy, who places them among the peoples of European Sarmatia. The analysis of his text allows for the assumption that the Huns of that time lived between the Don and Manycz in the north, the upper Kubania in the south and the Sea of Azov in the west. In the east, their territory could extend as far as the Caspian Sea and the Volga estuary region. It seems that during the next two centuries they did not change their whereabouts because Ammianus Marcellinus still places them “beyond the Maeotian swamps”, that is, near the Sea of Azov.
The Romans became aware of the presence of the Huns when thousands of Goths were forced to emigrate to the Lower Danube in 376 CE – the barbarians were looking for lands where they could take refuge from the savage hordes of the Huns. Such a sudden appearance of the Huns in Roman historiography gives rise to suspicions that the Huns crossed the Volga much earlier. First, they invaded the lands of the Alans who inhabited the lands east of the Don. The Huns killed many of them, killing some or forcing them to flee west.
After subjugating the Alans, the Huns and their allies began to plunder the eastern Goth settlements – the Ostrogoths, west of the Don. Their king Hermanaric bravely commanded the defence against the Huns. According to Amman Marcellinus, however, he eventually committed suicide in CE 375, seeing that he was unable to protect his people from the Huns.
After these events, the Ostrogoths surrendered to the Huns, although they were still ruled by their own king. Some Ostrogoths, however, did not come to terms with the Hun domination and made contact with the Athanaricus, the Visigothic leader. However, the Huns unexpectedly crossed the Dniester and defeated Athanaric before he managed to join the disgruntled Ostrogoths. The defeated Visigoths took refuge either in the Carpathian region or in Thrace, where the Romans allowe