Attila the Hun

Throughout history there have been numerous counts of individuals who have seemingly sprung from nowhere and ravaged prosperous empires. Attila the Hun is no different. To most people, he is merely known as a mindless barbarian. Nothing about the man himself, his world, or his significance is ever discussed, which detracts from the influential person that he was. There was so much more to him than mere barbarism. Attila’s power derived from his astonishing character. He was brutal and arrogant, but also was able to gain the support of millions with his brilliance. The Huns thought him semi divine, Goths and other barbarians adored him, and educated Westerners were proud to serve him. Not only was he a powerful leader, but also a canny politician. With his vast array of qualities, Attila played a significant role in Europe during his lifetime and very nearly altered the course of its future. By becoming such a prominent figure in such a short period of time, it is a disgrace to his legacy that people do not know more about Attila the Hun other than the fact that he was a savage. This portrayal of him in itself does not do him justice because he truly was so much more. The story of Attila begins in Mongolia, which has been the progenitor of great and violent leaders. Though his origins are in question, with a certain amount of empirical evidence it has been popularly concluded that Attila belonged to a group of Mongolian or Turkic nomadic tribes from northeastern China and Mongolia.1 Attila himself was born in 406 to Mundzuk. The name Attila, given to him by his father, signifies iron in the Hunnic language, and this foresees the great future that he had in store.2 His lineage can be traced along the lines of an ancient imperial family, which had once ruled over the whole powerful nation of the Huns.3 So from the start it was clear that Attila was destined for great things. In 434, Rua died and left Mundzuk’s two sons, Attila and Bleda to dually rule the Hun