Attila the Hun is a household name – a byword for barbarism and violence – but few people know much about him. This book brings the man himself alive, revealing his world and his true significance.

 

For a crucial 20 years in the early 5th century AD, Attila held the fate of the Roman Empire and the future of Europe in his hands. In numerous raids and three major campaigns he and his warriors earned an undying reputation for savagery, and his empire briefly rivaled that of Rome, reaching from the Rhine to the Black Sea, from the Baltic to the Balkans.

 

Attila’s power derived from his astonishing character – capricious, arrogant and ruthless, but also brilliant. His own people thought him semi-divine, while educated westerners were proud to serve him. From his base in Hungary, this ‘Scourge of God’ very nearly dictated Europe’s future.

 

Researching this book took me to Hungary, of course, where Lajos Kassai has resurrected the Hunnish techniques of mounted archery. I also explored the Huns’ origins. Possibly, they arose from the people known as Hunnu in Mongolia, where English-speakers refer to them as Huns. We call them Xiongnu. They ruled Inner Asia for 400 years (200 BC- 200 AD). We know a lot about them – but not (yet) if they are Attila’s ancestors.