Attila the Hun
Attila the Hun (406 – March of 453) was the fifth century leader of a nomadic barbarian people known as the Huns and ruler of what was known as the Hunnic Empire from the year 434 until his death in 453. Attila was considered one of the most feared leaders of his time.
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| “ | In the fifth century, one man brought terror and destruction to millions across Europe. Attila the Hun and his bloodthirsty barbarians tortured, raped and murdered all who stood in their way. According to legend, they dipped their arrows in the juice of boiled embryos, drank women's blood, and were descended from unclean spirits.Attila's ruthlessness knew no bounds: He slaughtered deserters and murdered his own brother. His savage Huns struck fear into the mighty Roman empire with their brutality; They razed great cities to the ground and massacred whole populations in pursuit of gold. Christians believed he'd been sent from Hell to punish sinners, Attila became known as 'The scourge of God'. | „ |
| ~ Introduction to a documentary about Attila |
Acts of Villainy edit
After coming to power, he killed his brother, Bleda, so that no one in his family could oppose him. He mounted an attack on the Romans, both on their East and West sections, for the purpose of plundering gold and satisfying his psycho sadistic mind. One city, Naissus, was utterly destroyed, the corpses of its massacred citizens clogging up the Danube River for years. Many other cities would fall, and the poor citizens would be brutally slaughtered while Attila watched with delight. Attila was also ruthless against members of the clergy as he was known to take Christian Churches and monasteries captive and slay its monks and maidens in great number.
He used his fearsome reputation to create a massive extortions racket, gaining ever-increasing amounts of gold from the terrified Romans for the purpose of keeping him away. He would also impale deserters through the rectum, leaving them to die slowly over a period of two days. He was also a polygamist, and one of his wives fed him two of his sons for dinner out of jealousy for the boys' mother, though Attila, whose one redeeming quality was that he was apparently a loving father, did not know of this.
When he was in a good mood, Attila could be a polite party host, even sophisticated. However, his cruelty and ruthlessness knew no bounds, and after the Romans got fed up with paying him, they forced his army into a retreat at the Battle of Chalons. Undeterred, he attacked Italy, going on a frenzied rampage of catastrophic proportions. The Pope managed to convince him to turn back after paying him a massive bribe, which was good for Attila because his men were wracked with disease and having to carry the ever-increasing amount of loot over long distances.
Death edit
Attila returned home, threatening to attack again as soon as he could. Fortunately for his enemies, though, he died in 453 A.D., on the night of his marriage to a new wife, a Germanian princess named Ildico; it is generally accepted that Attila choked to death on his own blood brought upon by a nosebleed as the result of heavy drinking, though some suggest that he may have been murdered by Ildico. He was buried in a grand coffin, and the men who buried him were killed to keep the location of the grave a secret. After Attila’s death, the empire was attacked by Ardaric who led a Germanic revolt against the Huns. The Hunnic Empire quickly collapsed and the fearsome reign of Attila the Hun was officially over. To this day, Attila is ranked as one of the evilest men in history.
Trivia edit
- Attila is ranked by many historians as one of the most evil men to have ever existed. Indeed, before Adolf Hitler, Attila was who came to mind for many in regards to who was most the most evil man in history.
- Despite being one of the most evil men in history, he is portrayed as a hero/anti-hero in the Night at the Museum trilogy.
- There are no surviving first-hand accounts in regards to Attila's appearance, and the Huns left no records of their history. The closest to a description is an account from Pirscus relayed by Jordanes.