Attila the Hun’s Family Tree – the mere mention of his name conjures up images of a fierce warrior, a brilliant strategist, and a ruler who struck fear into the hearts of his enemies. But behind the legend lies a complex family tree that shaped the man who would become one of history’s most notorious figures.
Join me as we embark on a journey through time, tracing the roots of Attila’s lineage. From his powerful father Mundzuk to his ambitious brother Bleda, and from his many wives to his sons who fought for control of his empire, we’ll uncover the stories that have been lost to the ages.
Table of Contents:
- Attila the Hun’s Family Tree and Lineage
- The Rise of Attila the Hun
- The Hunnic Empire After Attila
- Conclusion
Attila the Hun’s Family Tree and Lineage: Attila the Hun’s Family Tree
Attila the Hun was one of history’s most feared and powerful rulers, but what do we know about his family tree?
Let’s dive into the lineage of this legendary figure from the 5th century.
Attila’s Parents and Siblings: Attila the Hun’s Family Tree
Attila was born around 406 AD to his father, Mundzuk, who was the brother of the Hunnic kings Octar and Ruga.
He had an elder brother named Bleda, with whom he initially shared power over the Hunnic tribes.
The Huns were a group of nomadic tribes from Central Asia who achieved military superiority over their rivals through their readiness for combat and amazing mobility.
Attila’s Wives and Children
As was common for powerful rulers of his time, Attila had many wives, but the only one known by name was Kreka.
He had three sons of Ellac, his eldest and successor, Dengizich, and Ernakh.
These sons would play major roles in the fragmentation and downfall of the Hunnic Empire after Attila’s death.
Descendants of Attila the Hun
After Attila died in 453 AD, his sons divided his empire amongst themselves but could not maintain their father’s powerful rule.
The once-mighty Huns largely disappeared from the historical record after that, with Attila’s descendants losing power to rival tribes like the Gepids and Ostrogoths.
Some historians suggest that the Bulgars, a Turkic people who settled in the Balkans in the 7th century, may have been descendants of the Huns.
However, a direct link between Attila and modern Bulgarians or Hungarians is difficult to prove conclusively, as is sometimes claimed.
The Rise of Attila the Hun: Attila the Hun’s Family Tree
How did Attila rise from a young prince to become the “Scourge of God” and one of the most powerful rulers of his time? Let’s explore the key factors in his ascent.
Early Life and Background
Attila and his brother Bleda spent part of their childhood as hostages in Rome, securing a peace treaty their uncle Ruga had negotiated with the powerful Roman Empire.
This early exposure to Roman politics and military tactics likely shaped Attila’s later strategies and ambitions as he sought to build his own empire to rival Rome’s.
During this time, the young Attila learned valuable lessons about leadership, diplomacy, and the inner workings of his greatest enemy.
Uniting the Hunnic Tribes: Attila the Hun’s Family Tree
After their uncle Ruga’s death, Attila and Bleda took joint control of the Hunnic tribes around 434 AD.
They solidified their rule through strategic marriages, military might, and diplomatic maneuvering.
In 435, the brothers negotiated a treaty with the Eastern Roman Empire that doubled the annual tribute paid to the Huns and opened up valuable trade markets.
This wealth and access to Roman goods helped Attila strengthen his position among the Hunnic tribes and build a strong foundation for his future conquests.
Military Campaigns and Conquests
In the 440s, Attila and Bleda turned their attention to the Eastern Roman Empire, launching devastating raids into the Balkans and even threatening the imperial capital of Constantinople itself.
They extracted ever-increasing tributes from the weakened Romans and fought their way to a dominant position on the empire’s borders.
After Bleda’s death (possibly at Attila’s own hand), Attila became the sole ruler of the Huns and intensified his military campaigns.
He led daring invasions into Gaul and Italy, cementing his reputation as an unstoppable conqueror and earning the fearsome nickname “Flagellum Dei” – the Scourge of God.
Key Takeaway: Attila the Hun’s Family Tree
Attila the Hun, born to Mundzuk around 406 AD, ruled alongside his brother Bleda. He had many wives and three known sons: Ellac, Dengizich, and Ernakh. After Attila died in 453 AD, his empire fragmented under his sons’ rule.
Attila’s Invasions of the Roman Empire: Attila the Hun’s Family Tree
Attila the Hun was the Roman Empire’s direst enemy. His military campaigns brought the mighty Romans to their knees.
He achieved a remarkable legacy that histories still lionize to this day. Attila’s invasions were a major factor in the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
Campaigns Against the Eastern Roman Empire
In the 440s, Attila unleashed a series of devastating campaigns against the Eastern Roman Empire. He demanded ever-increasing amounts of gold and tribute.
In 447, the Huns invaded the Balkans and Thrace. They destroyed over 70 cities and even threatened the imperial capital of Constantinople itself.
The Eastern Roman Empire was forced to pay a humiliating annual tribute of 2,100 pounds of gold to Attila. They simply couldn’t match the military might and mobility of the Huns.
Invasion of Italy and Western Roman Empire: Attila the Hun’s Family Tree
Attila then turned his sights to the Western Roman Empire. In 452, he invaded Italy and sacked several cities. The Huns even threatened to march on Rome itself.
Pope Leo I had to negotiate with Attila to spare the city personally. The Western Empire was forced to cede territory and pay tribute to avoid total destruction.
This invasion was one of the last “barbarian invasions” that fatally weakened the Western Roman Empire. Just a few decades later, the empire would completely collapse.
Attila’s Demands and Peace Treaties
Attila imposed humiliating peace terms on both halves of the Roman Empire. The Romans simply had no answer for Attila’s military genius and the Huns’ amazing mobility.
The Eastern Empire paid 2,100 pounds of gold annually – an enormous sum. The Western Empire fared even worse, losing significant territory and also forced to pay tribute.
These peace treaties were a testament to Attila’s power. He brought the Romans – the greatest empire of the ancient world – to heel. An incredible achievement for a “barbarian” king.
The Legacy and Legend of Attila the Hun: Attila the Hun’s Family Tree
Attila the Hun left an indelible mark on history. His military conquests and larger-than-life persona have become the stuff of legend.
He plays a major role in Germanic and Norse sagas and poetry. Attila is often portrayed as a noble, generous king – quite different from Roman sources’ “barbarian” depiction.
Attila in Germanic Heroic Legend
In the Germanic Nibelungenlied epic, Attila is known as Etzel. He is portrayed as a wise, honorable ruler who generously hosts the Burgundian king and his court.
This positive portrayal is a far cry from the ruthless conqueror depicted by the Romans. In the Germanic tradition, Attila is a legendary figure of generosity and hospitality.
The same holds true in the Norse sagas. In the Poetic Edda, Attila (as Atli) plays a major role in the story of the dragon slayer Sigurd. Again, he is shown as an impressive king, not a cruel tyrant.
Attila’s Portrayal in Literature and Popular Culture: Attila the Hun’s Family Tree
For centuries, Attila the Hun has captured the imagination of writers and artists. He is often depicted as the quintessential “barbarian warlord”—fierce, unrelenting, a scourge to civilization.
But he has also been portrayed in a more nuanced light. He is sometimes shown as a capable, even noble leader of a highly disciplined military force.
The Huns were known for their amazing mobility and deadly skill with the composite bow. Attila was a master of using these tactical advantages to overwhelm his enemies.
He has been the subject of countless books, plays, films, and other works. From ancient sagas to modern movies, Attila endures as one of history’s most compelling figures.
The name Attila is still used to this day in Hungary and Turkey. It’s a testament to the lasting legacy and impression this powerful ruler left on the world.
Key Takeaway: Attila the Hun’s Family Tree
Attila the Hun’s military campaigns devastated both the Eastern and Western Roman Empires, forcing them to pay huge tributes. His legacy endures in history and literature as a legendary conqueror.
The Hunnic Empire After Attila: Attila the Hun’s Family Tree
Attila the Hun’s death in 453 AD marked the beginning of the end for the vast Hunnic Empire he had built. The once-mighty empire, which stretched from the steppes of Central Asia to modern-day Germany, quickly crumbled without its charismatic leader at the helm.
The reasons for the empire’s swift collapse were multifaceted, but internal strife played a significant role. Attila’s sons, Ellac, Dengizich, and Ernakh, were left to divide their father’s legacy among themselves. However, they soon fell to squabbling over who would inherit what portions of the empire, fracturing the unity that had made the Huns so formidable under Attila’s rule.
The Collapse of the Hunnic Empire
The cracks in the Hunnic Empire’s foundation began to show almost immediately after Attila’s passing. In 454 AD, just a year after his death, Attila’s eldest son Ellac was killed in battle against the Gepids, a Germanic tribe that had been subjugated by the Huns.
This defeat, known as the Battle of Nedao, proved to be a turning point in the Huns’ fortunes. It demonstrated that they were no longer the invincible force they had once been, and emboldened other tribes to rise up against their Hunnic overlords.
Over the next few years, the Huns suffered a series of setbacks as various Germanic tribes, including the Ostrogoths and the Rugians, successfully fought for their independence. By the 460s AD, the once-mighty Hunnic Empire had been reduced to a shadow of its former self, with Attila’s sons controlling only a fraction of the territory their father had ruled.
The Fate of Attila’s Descendants: Attila the Hun’s Family Tree
The fate of Attila the Hun’s descendants was closely tied to the decline of the Hunnic Empire itself. After the death of Ellac in 454 AD, his brothers Dengizich and Ernakh attempted to hold the empire together, but with limited success.
Dengizich, who had been given control of the Huns’ territories in the Balkans, continued his father’s policy of extracting tribute from the Eastern Roman Empire. However, he lacked Attila’s political savvy and military prowess, and his demands were largely ignored by the Romans.
In 469 AD, Dengizich was defeated and killed in battle against a combined force of Romans and Ostrogoths. His death marked the end of any significant Hunnic presence in the Balkans.
Ernakh, the youngest of Attila’s sons, fared somewhat better than his brothers. He managed to maintain control over a portion of the Huns’ former territories in the Carpathian Mountains for several years. However, by the late 460s AD, his power too had waned, and the Hunnic Empire was no more.
However, it is clear that none of Attila’s sons could match their father’s achievements or maintain the empire he had built. The Hunnic Empire, which had once struck fear into the hearts of Romans and barbarians alike, had crumbled in just a few short years, its legacy reduced to little more than a footnote in history.
Key Takeaway: Attila the Hun’s Family Tree
Attila the Hun’s death in 453 AD led to his empire’s rapid decline. His sons, Ellac, Dengizich, and Ernakh, failed to maintain unity and control. Internal strife and external defeats quickly fractured their power. By the late 460s AD, Attila’s once-mighty Hunnic Empire had collapsed entirely.
Conclusion: Attila the Hun’s Family Tree
Attila the Hun’s family tree is a testament to the complex web of alliances, rivalries, and power struggles that defined the Hunnic Empire. From his early days as a child hostage in Rome to his rise as the sole ruler of the Huns, Attila’s family played a crucial role in shaping his destiny.
Though his sons failed to maintain the empire he built, Attila’s legacy lived on through the legends and tales that spread across Europe and beyond. Today, we remember him not just as a fearsome warrior, but as a man whose family tree was as fascinating as the life he lived.
So the next time you hear the name Attila the Hun, remember the family that stood behind him – the parents who raised him, the brother who fought alongside him, and the children who carried on his name. Theirs is a story that deserves to be told.
