European Kingdoms

Huns

These Asiatic horse warriors are understood to have originated from the Ordos region of Mongolia. Usually identified as the Hsiung-nu (Xiongnu) people in contemporary Chinese records, they may not have formed this peoples directly, but could have been part of a temporary confederation. For whatever reason (probably population pressure on traditional hunting grounds) they began a migration towards the west in the fourth century. In the 360s, they left Scythia (also known as Samartia), the plains to the north of the Black Sea which reached as far as the Caspian Sea.

They first arrived in the West in the 370s, where they clashed with the Germanic Ostrogoths and other barbarians on the northern borders of the Roman empire. They were described at this time as a loose confederation of nomadic tribes. Once they reached the Danube, they settled in Roman-named Pannonia (the Karpatian basin in modern Hungary), and eventually the region came to be known after their settlement there.

It is a matter of contention as to whether the Huns had a single, overall leader before 374. The historian Ammianus Marcellinus, writing in circa 395 states that they had no kings, and that each group was lead by a 'primate'. Perhaps the greater chance of largescale conquests and the opportunity of facing more organised enemies in Europe forced them to accept a single leader.

(Information on AD 453 by Peter Klinko. Additional rulers' names (in red) by Kemal Cemal. Additional information by Edward Dawson, and from The World of the Huns, Chapter IX, Language, O Maenchen-Helfen.)

c.360

Vund

Hunnic leader before the entry into Scythia.

c.360 - 378

Balamber / Balamir

Possibly fictitious to cover the beginnings of European invasion.

372

The Huns cross the River Volga and burst into Scythia and stir up a wave of rumours and horror stories which sweep through Europe, and reach the ears of the Romans by 376. They clash with a group of steppe people called the Alans, defeating them. The Alans have little choice but to become Hunnic allies.

372 - 432

The Huns and Alans arrive in the territory north of the Danube and take control. The region is nominally under the control of the Ostrogoths, and is peopled by Gepids, Heruli, Illirs (called Pannons by the Romans, they later gave their name to Illyria - the region at the top of the Adriatic Sea), Scirii, and Avars, plus some Saxons who had settled in Dacia (later Transylvania). The Germanic Rugian kingdom in Austria is also made a client state and the Quadi are effectively destroyed. The Huns eventually unify and only then begin to threaten the Western Roman empire. They start by clashing with the Ostrogoths, overrunning them, and in 376 they also defeat the Visigoths.

The approach of the Huns into Central Europe spread terror and fear

378 - 390

Baltazár / Alypbi

Son.

390 - 410

Uldiz / Uldin

Aided Stilicho to defeat a barbarian army in 406.

407

The Alans leave the Western Huns of Uldiz behind when they cross the Rhine along with the Suevi and Vandali, both of which have been forced to migrate westwards by the Hunnic invasion. The death of Uldiz leads to the Hunnic confederation splitting into three main groups which are not fully reunited until Attila's reign.

c.410 - 412

Donatus

Khan of the Eastern Huns of the Black Sea.

c.412 - 415

Charaton / Karaton / Karatun / Aksungur

Charaton and Aksungur may be western and eastern rulers.

c.415?

Continuing their southwards migration, the Langobards enter 'Vurgundaib', which is believed to be the original lands of the Burgundians. Once there, they are attacked in their encampment by 'Bulgars', probably the Huns. They are defeated, their king is killed, and they are subjugated. However, it seems that they quickly rise up under the leadership of the king's son and inflict an unusual defeat on the Huns, although how long it takes for this to happen after their subjugation is unclear.

c.415 - 422

Bendeguz / Muncuk

c.422 - 432

Octar / Uptar

Brother. Reunited some elements of the Huns.

c.422

Octar's name is an interesting example of Hunnic names being recorded in non-Hunnic forms. O Maenchen-Helfen says: "Before the East Romans had any contact with the Huns, they heard about them from the Goths. They must have heard many names as they were pronounced by Goths and other non-Huns, [including the Gaulish tribes in the Balkans. Even after it had been recorded as Octar by Jordanes], Octar's name underwent some alteration in the course of transmission. The transition from '-ct-' to '-pt-' is characteristic of Balkans Latin, [and it] was probably there that Octar became Optar-Uptar." Which suggests that Gaulish tribes in the Balkans were following the usual Celtic habit of swapping 'k' to 'p' even this late.

c.432 - 434

Rua / Rugila

Brother. United the Huns under a single kingship.

434 - 453

Attila

Son of Bendeguz. Died in bed.

434 - 445

Bleda / Buda

Brother. Joint ruler. Killed by Attila.

434 - 453

Although highly successful in his initial command of the Huns, Attila never takes his people into the Roman empire to settle among the rich villa estates: the aim of all barbarians. Instead he leads major incursions into Roman, Byzantine and Goth territory. There are also incursions into southern Lithuania around this time, suggesting the Huns or their allies also raid northwards.

451

To preserve their new domains, the Visigoths fight on the side of Rome to halt the advance of the Huns at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains. Atilia is aided by his own allies, which include the Gepids, Ostrogoths, Rugii, and Scirii. Although both sides fight to a standstill, it is Attila who withdraws and it is seen as his first major defeat, ending his reputation for invincibility.

452

By this time, the Hun headquarters are situated on the west bank of the Danube at Sicambria (Roman Aquincum, and modern Buda). Attila meets Pope Leo I and is persuaded not to attack and destroy Rome, and also to give up slaughtering Christians. Even so, his approach into Italy causes panic, and refugees from Aquileia and other cities which had been burned down by Attila before his meeting with the Pope escape into the lagoon marshes and form a settlement which becomes Venice.

453

Upon the death of Attila, his sons fight each other for control, and the Huns begin to dissolve as a cohesive entity.

Despite his great success over the barbarian tribes of eastern and central Europe, Attila's stalemate against an allied Roman-led army in 451 was a blow to his prestige, and his death soon afterwards caused his empire to crumble

453 - 454

Ellac / Ilek

Son of Attila. Killed in battle.

454

Ellac is defeated and killed at the Battle of Nedao by an alliance between Ardaric, king of the Gepids, and former Hunnic subjects. The defeat ends any presumption by the Huns to be the major power in the region. The Pannonian basin is occupied by the Gepids, while the Rugii head for Bohemia and northern Austria.

454 - 456

Dengisich / Dengizik / Tingiz

Brother. After 456, ruled Kutrigurs & Altyn Ola, north of Danube.

456 - 457

The Ostrogoths defeat and rout Attila's sons in their fight for independence. The central core of Huns apparently divides into the Kutrigur Bulgars and the Utigur Bulgars (the 'Bulgarian Huns'). Dengisich may be king (khan) of the former, while Ernakh could be king the latter. The two also apparently control the Altyn Oba horde during their lifetimes. The alternative is that the Kutrigurs and Utigurs are named after, and are led by, two of Ernakh's sons.

The Ostrogoths reassert power over the region following their military victory, and most Huns drift back to Scythia. One group settles permanently in Dacia (the Szekelys). They find that the plains of Pannonia (essentially western Hungary, northern Croatia, Slovenia, and eastern Austria) to the west of Dacia, secured by the Carpathians, is a perfect place in which to maintain their nomadic lifestyle, with its wide open grazing lands.

fl 457

Tuldila

A Hun in the Roman army of Majorian.

454 - 456

Ernakh / Irnek / Hernach / Belkermak

Brother of Dengisich. Ruled the Altyn Ola & Utigurs.

Ernakh governs the surviving eastern territories, and is king of the Akathirs, a Turkic tribe within Roman territory (probably the Utigurs). It is claimed by Procopius that his two sons later share power and give their name to their subjugated people, who emerge in two groups named the Kutrigur Bulgars and the Utigur Bulgars.

Altyn Ola Horde

This grouping was a division of the Huns. The death of Attila in 453 led to his sons fighting each other for control, and the Hun confederation began to dissolve as a cohesive entity. The following year, the core Hunnic lands were conquered by the Gepids, scattering them, and within two years Attila's sons had been routed by the Ostrogoths. Two main branches emerged, the Kutrigurs and the Utigurs, A third grouping, the Altyn Ola, may have been a division of the Kutrigurs. It is referred to in some sources but its existence cannot be fully confirmed, so perhaps it was merely a more westerly extension of the Kutrigurs. It remained on the northern side of the Black Sea, in modern Ukraine, and west of the River Don.

456 - 469

Dengisich / Dengizik / Tingiz

Son of Attila the Hun. Ruler of the Kutrigurs and Altyn Ola.

456 - 481

Ernakh / Irnek / Hernach / Belkermak

Brother. Ruler of the Utigurs and Altyn Ola.

c.481/98 - c.505

Djurash Masgut

fl early 500s

Tatra

? - c.590

Boyan Chelbir

c.590 - 600s

The Altyn Ola are absorbed by the early Bulgars, probably immediately prior to the formation of Great Bulgaria.

The plains of Pannonia (now western Hungary) were not under Hunnic domination for very long, before they were forced back towards the east

Kutrigur Bulgars

The Kutrigurs formed a division of the Huns. The death of Attila in 453 led to his sons fighting each other for control, and the Hun confederation began to dissolve as a cohesive entity. The following year, the core Hunnic lands were conquered by the Gepids, scattering them, and within two years Attila's sons had been routed by the Ostrogoths. Two main branches emerged, the Kutrigurs and the Utigurs, but they may not have been formalised as such until the next generation of leaders succeeded Attila's sons. One of these, Kutrigur, son of Ernakh, perhaps gave his name to this particular grouping which migrated to the west of the River Don.

456 - 469

Dengisich / Dengizik / Tingiz

Son of Attila the Hun. Ruler of the Kutrigurs and Altyn Ola.

470s - 488

Labertam

490s - 510s

Kutrigur

Son of Ernakh.

540s - 551

Khinialon

551 - late 550s

Sinnion

late 550s - c.582

Zabergan

550/551

The Kutrigurs are enlisted as allies by the Gepids, whose kingdom is under threat by the Langobards and Eastern Romans. They are ferried across the Danube either in 550 or 551 but Emperor Justinian immediately brings into action his own allies, the Utigurs, cousins of the Kutrigurs. The Utigurs request help of their own allies, the Tetraxite Ostrogoths of the Crimea. The latter invade the Kutrigur homeland, taking advantage of the absence of the main Kutrigur force of warriors, and the Kutrigurs are forced to abandon their mission and return to defend their homeland on the north-western shore of the Black Sea.

582 - 584

Gostun

c.584 - 600s

The Altyn Ola are absorbed by the early Bulgars, probably immediately prior to the formation of Great Bulgaria.

Utigur Bulgars

The Utigurs (or Akathirs) formed a division of the Huns. The death of Attila in 453 led to his sons fighting each other for control, and the Hun confederation began to dissolve as a cohesive entity. The following year, the core Hunnic lands were conquered by the Gepids, scattering them, and within two years Attila's sons had been routed by the Ostrogoths. Two main branches emerged, the Kutrigurs and the Utigurs, but they may not have been formalised as such until the next generation of leaders succeeded Attila's sons. One of these, Uturgur, son of Ernakh, perhaps gave his name to this particular grouping which migrated to the River Don, probably alongside the Kutrigurs, and crossed the river to resettle on its eastern side.

456 - 481

Ernakh / Irnek / Hernach / Belkermak

Son of Attila the Hun. Ruler of the Utigurs and Altyn Ola.

490s - 510s

Uturgur

Son.

540s - 560s

Sandlikh

550/551

The Kutrigurs are enlisted as allies by the Gepids, whose kingdom is under threat by the Langobards and Eastern Romans. They are ferried across the Danube either in 550 or 551 but Emperor Justinian immediately brings into action his own allies, the Utigurs, cousins of the Kutrigurs. The Utigurs request help of their own allies, the Tetraxite Ostrogoths of the Crimea. The latter invade the Kutrigur homeland, taking advantage of the absence of the main Kutrigur force of warriors, and the Kutrigurs are forced to abandon their mission and return to defend their homeland on the north-western shore of the Black Sea.

c.560s - 600s

The Altyn Ola are absorbed by the early Bulgars, probably immediately prior to the formation of Great Bulgaria.

896

The region of Pannonia, and whatever Hunnic descendants it still contains, is subjugated by the invading Magyars. However, it retains its Hunnic-inspired name, even when the Magyars later form the kingdom of Hungary. Other elements of the Hunnic peoples may resurface in the early Bulgarian state in the early eighth century.