ATTILA THE HUN AND THE FALL OF ALMIGHTY ROME
ATTILA THE HUN
AND THE FALL OF ALMIGHTY ROME
Attila the Hun (406–453) is one of history's most vilified
warriors and leaders. A greatly feared enemy of the Roman Empire, he led the
Hun Empire which included the Huns, Ostrogoths, and Alans. He invaded and
plundered parts of Italy and the Balkans and forced the Romans to pay him tens
of thousands of pounds worth of gold.
Attila the Hun was a formidable and enigmatic leader who
rose to prominence in the 5th century and carved out a vast empire through a
series of strategic conquests. His ability to overcome powerful empires of the
time, such as the Eastern Roman Empire and the Western Roman Empire, has
intrigued historians for centuries.
Despite popular depictions of an uncouth and uncivilized
man, Attila the Hun was of high birth and education. He was born into the most
powerful family north of the Danube River and his uncles ruled the Hun Empire.
He read and spoke both Gothic and Latin. He was taught archery, horse riding, and
sword fighting as well as military and diplomatic tactics.
Attila's leadership played a pivotal role in the Huns'
military successes. He was a charismatic and capable commander who managed to
unite various Hunnic tribes under a single banner. This unity provided a
significant advantage, allowing Attila to command a formidable force capable of
challenging even the most established empires.
To secure absolute power over his empire, Attila killed his
eldest brother, Bleda in 445. Now the sole ruler, he marched his men through
the Balkans and into Greece and after various clashes with the Romans, forced
them to pay him even higher annual fees.
Attila capitalized on the internal conflicts and divisions
within the Roman Empire. The Western and Eastern Roman Empires were often at
odds, and Attila skillfully exploited these tensions. By playing one against
the other, he weakened their ability to mount a unified defense against the
Hunnic onslaught.
Attila recognized the power of fear as a psychological
weapon. His reputation as the "Scourge of God" and the brutality of
his conquests instilled terror in the hearts of both soldiers and civilians.
This psychological advantage often led to the surrender of cities without
significant resistance, further expanding the Huns' territorial gains.
In 450, Honoria, the sister of Valentian III, Emperor of
Western Rome sent a ring to Attila as a way to get out of marrying a Roman
aristocrat. Attila declared she would be his next wife (he already had many)
and claimed that half the Western Roman Empire should rightfully now be his.
Honoria quickly retracted her intentions and married the aristocrat, but Attila
continued to invade and raid Gaul in the name of Honoria for several years.
Attila was only defeated once, at the Battle of Catalaunian
Plains. Here the Romans joined forces with King Theodoric I of the Visigoths
and were able to successfully defeat Attila and push his forces out of Italy.
This still did little to deter him, as he successfully invaded Italy just a
year later.
Surprisingly, Attila was not only a skilled warrior but also
a shrewd diplomat. He formed strategic alliances and negotiated treaties when
it served his interests. This allowed him to maintain a balance of power and
focus his military efforts on the most advantageous targets.
While he certainly liked power and gold, Attila is recorded
as dressing and eating modestly. Roman diplomat Priscus wrote that Attila,
"ate nothing but meat on a wooden trencher…His cup was of wood, while his
guests were given goblets of gold and silver" and that his "dress,
too, was quite simple, affecting only to be clean.”
In 453 Attila married Ildico (likely daughter of a Goth
noble or royalty). On the morning after their wedding night, guards found
Attila dead. Some say he died from internal bleeding caused by binge drinking,
others say he suffered a severe nose bleed and choked to death and there's also
speculation that one of his other wives murdered him. No wound was found, nor
was his burial site, leaving his cause of death a total mystery.
Attila the Hun's conquests were a result of a combination of
effective leadership, military innovation, diplomatic finesse, and exploitation
of weaknesses within rival empires. His legacy as a powerful and influential
figure in history is a testament to the multifaceted approach he employed in
building and expanding the Hunnic Empire. The story of Attila serves as a
fascinating chapter in the annals of military history, showcasing the impact of
strategic brilliance on the outcomes of ancient conflicts.
Attila invaded Italy, devastating the Northern provinces,
but was unable to take Rome. He planned for further campaigns against the
Romans before he died.
The fact that Attila successfully attacked Rome and even got
Rome to pay him showed the rest of the world that Rome was not invincible after
all. Other tribes and armies took advantage and attacked Rome.
The Huns certainly helped bring down the Western Roman
Empire.
Examples of Attila and the Huns abound in every facet of
life. In politics, governance, business, communities, families and society at
large the little Huns threaten the almightiness of the big and powerful.
Just when you think you have achieved invincibility there
comes that naughty challenger who dares your might. Never look down on them or
underestimate their capabilities. Attila may not have defeated Rome but he
exposed the much required chink in the armor.
Mr President, the Governor, CEO, Community Leader,
Association President, the high and mighty.
Never underestimate the anger of the little guys, the
unions, the opposition, the students, the civil society, ordinary club and
association members.
I have seen a political party thrown out of government by a
coalition of parties hitherto too small to ruffle her feathers.
A Yoruba adage says “Apejo ope a maa pa ota l’ayo” (A
coalition of losers may defeat a champion)
Beware that little seemingly inconsequential Hun round the
corner.
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