The marauding King who brought might Rome to its knees
The Huns were a nomadic tribes who migrated from Volga to Europe around 370AD and were never one people. Infighting was very common, and Attila brought them all to unite and come under one banner. This probably is the only reason the Huns ever challenged the might of Rome.
Attila ( /ˈætɨlə/ or /əˈtɪlə/; ?–453), more frequently referred to as Attila the Hun, was the ruler of the Huns from 434 until his death in 453.
He was leader of the Hunnic Empire, which stretched from the Ural River to the Rhine River and from the Danube River to the Baltic Sea. During his reign he was one of the most feared enemies of the Western and Eastern Roman Empires.
He crossed the Danube twice and plundered the Balkans, but was unable to take Constantinople. He also attempted to conquer Roman Gaul (modern France), crossing the Rhine in 451 and marching as far as Aurelianum (Orléans) before being defeated at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains.
Subsequently he invaded Italy, devastating the northern provinces, but was unable to take Rome. He planned for further campaigns against the Romans but died in 453.
(copied from Wikipedia - click here to read more)
Attila : the man behind the Legend
Details about Attila the Hun vary significantly. Watch the following documentaries to gain a deeper insight to his life and times.
An axe to grind
Like many hugely successful conquerors Attila too was foretold he would be a great king. His childhood was filled with hardships . Attila rose to power with grit and determination : and with an Axe to grind : specially with the Western World whom he considered insults to their freedom and way of life.
The strongest steel comes from the harshest fires
Attila was groomed by his circumstances. His childhood must have been exceedingly tough.
The trials he had to go through made him tougher - both physically and emotionally, enabling him to be the leader he became in his prime. It is important to understand that Leaders are the result of circumstance being made into an opportunity by a relentless will - which Attiila certainly was.
Equality
The Huns were made up of many different ethnic groups and tribes. Anyone could literally become a Hun provided they fought with them, and accepted their Leadership. As such, the Huns were able to bring together various talents and strengths enriching their tribes and strengthening their bloodlines. It also meant they could increase in numbers without having to rely solely on offspring. This openness to diversity also made them stronger in battle - as only the strongest chose to be Huns : and as long as people accepted the Hun way of life, they could be part of this big family.
The ‘Bigger Picture’
From a very early age Attila understood that it was pointless to resort to infighting which only weakened the overall strength the Huns had. This ability to see beyond the petty prejudices most chieftains subscribed to enabled Attila to have a far bigger Vision than any of his contemporaries or predecessors. This also enabled Attila to have a much bigger rallying call for his people !
Learning from the enemy
Attila spent many years in the Roman Courts : as a hostage (which was a common practice - and Ageas, a Roman also spent time in the Hunnic Court in return) Attila made much use of his time in the Roman Court to ensure that he learnt as much he could about the military tactics of the Romans - and used this knowledge extremely well to his advantage later in his campaigns against Romans.
No half measures
When Attila attacks he attacks with a ferocity that made everyone tremble. Even the Visigoths and other ‘Barbarian’ tribes found the Hun horseman a fearsome sight. Attila had no stomach for half measures. When he waged war, it was all out war : with absolutely no regard for the city or its inhabitants. This reputation of ruthlessness had a massive psychological impact : and probably enabled him to win a lot easier than otherwise possible.
Wisdom
For all his fierce wars, he was also a wise and extremely tactical leader. Attila was adept at negotiations as much as he was in the art of war. His time in the Roman court no doubt enabled him to develop skills that most Huns would probably not have had : but over time, Attila became a shrew politician as much as he was a warrior.
Strategy
Attila the Hun was also a very good military strategist. He did not simply rush into battle - but rode to battle with a definitive plan built around making maximum use of his enemies’ weaknesses. His conquests was not simply about reckless abandon, but carefully planned and well executed campaigns with a definitive end in mind.
Click here to view a documentary on Hunnic warfare
From an orphan to an emperor
Attila the Huns rise is praiseworthy, and his accomplishments will certainly be remembered.
The type of war he waged caught the Romans by surprise, and they certainly were not quite ready to be able to defend themselves well enough. Though absolutely rughless and certainly barbaric in many ways, Attila the Hun teaches us the importance of tenacity, bravado and dedicated ambition. His legacy is that a simple horde of horseman could bring an empire to its knees !
The entirety of the Western World may well have painted him black - but in his defense - Attila was no more bloodthirsty that Alexander or Caesar before him.
Ambition
What is very clear about Attila’s character is that the ambition to rule ‘the world’ set in at a very young age. Fueled by a prophesy and tempered with life’s challenges, Attila’s ambition was deep rooted - and all encompassing.
Dedication
Attila did not simply inherit his empire : he had to work hard at it. He worked on this with a dedication that was as all encompassing as his ambition. He was clear in his head about what needed to be done, and went about it with precision and sheer courage and dedication.
Marking time
What probably makes Attila extremely effective was the fact that he was able to ‘bid time’ and wait for the opportune moment to present itself. He did not make too many rash decisions and was able to weigh the pros and the cons very well. Attila’s ability to be patient coupled with his ruthlessness and ambition made a very powerful combination and made him the empire builder he was.
A bloody Legacy...
Attila the Hun is synonymous : much like Genghis Khan as a blood thirsty conqueror who ravaged everything that lay in his path. In the Western World Attila the Hun is synonymous with death, destruction and sheer barbarianism.
However, just like Genghis Khan, Attila is considered a hero in Hungary and other parts of the then Hunnish Empire. He is also considered a wise and very calculating ruler who was able to make the Hunnish Empire much more vast - and also richer in culture and administration.
Probably the most endearing fact about Attila is that he understood the role of Leadership very well, and what remains of his ‘advice’ to his fellow Huns on Leadership is as astute as any Leadership book today.
Final thoughts
Attila the Hun challenged the might of Rome - and proved that warring tribes can be brought together towards a common objective. He extended his empire and brought absolute fear wherever he roamed. Above all else, he was able to inspire his people to do what few in his time even thought possible. His leadership lessons are certainly something to learn from
Credits and acknowledgements
This article was inspired by the book ‘Leadership Lessons from Attila the Hun’ by Dr. Wess Roberts (ISBN 9780446391061)as well as the Movie ‘Attila the Hun’
We have also sought insights from numerous videos (most links are in the article itself) and also internet based reading.
Click here to watch the movie on YouTube
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