Hunnen

Hunnen, usually anglicized as Huns, were a late antique confederation of nomadic peoples that originated in the Eurasian steppe and expanded into Europe in the 4th and 5th centuries. The term was used by Roman authors to describe a diverse range of tribes united under strong leaders and a centralized court. The best known ruler was Attila, who commanded Hunnic forces from about 434 until his death in 453, conducting campaigns across the Danube frontier, Gaul, and Italy. After his death, the political structure fractured and the Hunnic power quickly declined, with remnants absorbed by other groups such as the Avars.

Origins and society: The exact origins and linguistic affiliation of the Huns remain uncertain. They likely emerged as a confederation of various peoples on the eastern steppe, and by the 5th century they formed a mobile, horse-based society renowned for cavalry warfare and archery. The language of the Huns is poorly attested; scholars propose links to Turkic, Mongolic or mixed linguistic strata, but no consensus exists. Social organization centered on a ruler who controlled tribute and military manpower, with subordinate tribes contributing to campaigns.

In Europe and decline: From the late 360s, Hunnic pressure pushed into Roman territory, contributing to the upheavals that accompanied the decline of the Western Roman Empire. Attila's campaigns in Gaul (the Catalaunian Plains, 451) and in Italy (452) are the best-documented episodes. Attila's death in 453 precipitated the rapid dissolution of the confederation; by the late 460s, Hunnic power in Europe had essentially collapsed, and some survivors merged with incoming groups or with the Avar confederation.

Legacy: The Huns left a lasting mark on the memory of late antiquity and on the demographic and political transformations of Europe, though their ethnogenesis and direct linguistic legacy are subjects of scholarly debate. They are often considered a catalyst for broader migrations rather than a durable empire.