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The Huns were a mysterious and diverse group who ruled over vast expanses of the Eurasian Steppe from the first to the fifth century AD. Emerging from the East, they toppled entire civilizations. Very little is known about these enigmatic warriors, and the historical accounts that do exist are often biased, portraying them in a negative light. Their origins, language, and influence continue to be elusive.
10. 'The Wrath of God'
Attila the Hun has long been labeled in the West as 'the scourge of God.' This label was part of the anti-pagan propaganda against the ruler of an empire that spanned from the Black Sea to France. Historian Jordanes described Attila as 'a lover of war, yet restrained in action, mighty in counsel, gracious to suppliants, and lenient.' Priscus also noted that he kept his word. From 440 AD onwards, Attila refrained from attacking the Romans after they began paying their annual tribute of 318 kilograms (700 lb) of gold.
Attila was born sometime in the fifth century to a royal Hunnic family. As a youth, he was trained in horsemanship, archery, lassoing, and military tactics. He also learned Latin and Gothic to facilitate interactions with neighboring peoples. Though he dressed simply without excess, Attila entertained guests with luxurious meals served on silver plates, yet he himself ate only meat from wooden boards.
9. Hunnic Tongue
Historian Peter Heather states, 'We do not know what language the Huns spoke and probably never will.' Many scholars speculate that Hunnic was a Turkic language. However, during the Huns' expansion, the Turkic language family was mainly confined to Central and Eastern Asia. Researchers have tried to decipher the Hunnic language through the names of people, places, and tribes, but these names mostly originate from a period when Germanic had become the common language of the Huns.
Chinese records suggest that Hunnic resembled the language of the Toles, a Turkic tribe. Modern Chinese scholars classify it as a 'proto-Altaic' language. The Byzantines believed Hunnic was the same as the language spoken by the Avars, Bulgars, and Szeklers, the latter of whom claim to descend from the European Huns. Some even argue that Slavic speakers are the true descendants of the Huns. In reality, the Huns' mysterious language has left its mark across many languages of the Eurasian Steppe.
8. Xiongnu
Between 300 BC and 450 AD, a group of enigmatic steppe warriors known as the Xiongnu relentlessly raided China. Their frequent invasions led to the creation of fortifications that would later become part of the Great Wall. The true identity of the Xiongnu remains unknown. The most widely accepted theory suggests they were Siberian Mongols, although some scholars argue they were Turkic, Tocharian, Uralic, or a mix of these groups. One theory posits that the names 'Xiongnu' and 'Hun' share a common origin.
In 129 BC, war erupted between the Xiongnu and the Han Empire. Eventually, the Han Empire triumphed, destabilizing the Xiongnu's northern kingdom. The Xiongnu endured a civil conflict between 60 and 53 BC. By AD 89, following the Battle of Ikh Bayan, the southern Xiongnu were absorbed into the Han Empire, while the northern Xiongnu were driven out of Mongolia. Some believe they migrated westward, ultimately becoming the Huns.
7. The Hunnic War Machine
The Huns were among the most formidable cavalry forces to ever roam the steppes. Their mounted troops were primarily made up of archers, consisting of lesser nobles and their followers. They wore simple, loose-fitting clothing and light armor made of either sewn scales or linked plates. Historical accounts describe their armor as being able to withstand frontal blows but vulnerable around the armpits, likely indicating a sleeveless design. Most Huns had basic gear, while nobles and mercenaries could afford more elaborate clothing and equipment.
In the fourth century, the Huns began their westward march. Their first major encounter was with the Alans, whom they swiftly defeated. The few surviving Alans were incorporated into the Hunnic forces as they pressed on to the lands of the Goths. By the 370s, the Huns obliterated the Goths, causing the Greuthung king Ermanaric to take his own life. The Huns drove the Goths to the banks of the Danube, placing them right at the doorstep of the Roman Empire.
6. Hunnic Stonehenge
In 2016, archaeologists revealed the discovery of a 1,500-year-old stone complex in Kazakhstan, attributed to the Huns. Situated along the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea, Altynkazgan spans an area greater than 200 American football fields. The smallest stones measure 4.2 meters by 4.2 meters (14 ft x 14 ft), while the largest ones are colossal, reaching 34 meters (112 ft) by 24 meters (79 ft). Some stones are embellished with carvings of creatures and weaponry.
The dig also uncovered a silver saddle, decorated with images of deer, wild boar, and enigmatic 'beasts of prey.' Researchers believe these designs, or 'tamgas,' were originally carved into leather and then attached to wooden boards, before being covered with silver plates. The site was first discovered by a local man using a metal detector in 2010. Additionally, two bronze items were found, likely parts of a whip. At the time the complex was constructed, the Huns were migrating across the steppes from their eastern homelands towards Europe.
5. Attila The Hoax
In March 2014, archaeologists revealed they had discovered the tomb of Attila the Hun. The burial chamber was found by construction workers digging for a bridge in Budapest. The sixth-century tomb contained horse skeletons, a meteoric iron sword, Hunnic burial artifacts, and human remains. Historian Albrecht Rumschtein from Budapest’s Lorand Eotvos University described the discovery as 'absolutely incredible,' calling it 'certainly the final resting place of the mighty Attila.'
However, there was a catch: No such historian named Albrecht Rumschtein exists, and the remains turned out to belong to a Chinese Ming-era mummy. The entire story was a 'promotional stunt' fabricated by the fake news outlet World News Daily Report. Ancient records claim Attila died on the night of his wedding to Gothic princess Ildico. Legend has it that his men diverted a river and buried him in its bed, then executed the workers to ensure the grave’s location remained secret.
4. Deep Native American Connections
During research into the Huns' influence on European DNA, scientists identified haplotype Q as the probable genetic marker of these Asian invaders. The Huns primarily carried the Q1b and Q1a2 Y-chromosomes, while Native Americans predominantly have Q1a3a. This points to a shared ancestor between the Huns and Native Americans dating back about 18,000 years, likely from the Altai Mountains.
Not every Hun carried the Q haplotype, as historical accounts describe them as a multiethnic confederation. Additionally, not all Europeans with the Q haplogroup are descendants of the Huns. The Q haplogroup is notably found in Sweden due to its spread northwest from Siberia. Unlike the Mongols, the Huns lacked a homeland to return to in Asia. As a result, they assimilated into the cultures they encountered and left descendants across the steppes. In Eastern Europe, the Q1b and Q1a2 haplogroups are concentrated just east of the Rhine and north of the Danube, areas that correspond with Hunnic territories.
3. Umutkor Collar
In December 2014, the Ministry of Culture of Kyrgyzstan revealed that a fifth-century Hunnic gold collar, which had been sold by Sotheby’s, was illegally taken from the country. On December 3, the 'Umutkor collar' was sold for an eye-popping $380,215. Sansyzbay Umutkor obtained the intricately woven gold necklace, adorned with glass and garnets, around 1890. This prestigious item remained in his family’s collection in Bratislava until 2013.
East Hunnic jewelry is exceedingly rare. Finding an intact royal collar in the homeland of the Huns is 'nothing short of spectacular.' The Huns introduced necklaces and torcs with dragon- and beast-head terminals during their westward expansion. Such jewelry has been found across regions from Central Asia to the Carpathians. The Huns were exceptional goldsmiths but relied on imported, pre-cut stones like those seen in the Umutkor collar. It remains unclear whether the collar was meant for a man or a woman.
2. Hungary And The Huns
Every two years, the Hungarian village of Bugac hosts a summer festival known as Kurultaj. In 2016, this tribal gathering of Hun-Turkic nations attracted 250,000 attendees from all over the world. However, the majority of festival-goers were Hungarians, eager to celebrate their profound connection to the East. The Magyar people, originally from Central Asia, settled in Hungary around 900 AD—long after Attila’s death. Nevertheless, Hungarian folklore has long claimed that the Magyar are descendants of the Huns.
In the 19th century, the belief that Hungarians have Central Asian roots evolved into a movement called Turanism. This movement had deep political ties and was used to support Hungary's fight for independence from the Germanic Hapsburg Empire. To this day, Attila is regarded as the father of the Hungarian nation. The 'Attila the ancestor' theory is considered far more illustrious than the alternative notion that obscure Finno-Ugric tribes were the true progenitors of the modern Hungarians.
1. White Huns
During the mid-fifth century, a group of Central Asian warriors known as the 'White Huns' invaded the Indian subcontinent. They became the ruling class of what is now Pakistan and Northern India, maintaining power until the 12th century when Muslim conquerors arrived. These foreign invaders assimilated into Hindu culture. However, their invasions disrupted the local historical continuity. Some sources even state that 'No authentic family or class traditions go back beyond the Huns.'
Much about the White Huns remains mysterious. While most Chinese sources trace their origins to Southern Kazakhstan, others suggest Central China as their homeland. According to the sixth-century historian Procopius of Caesarea, the White Huns were both Hunnic in stock and name. Many believe that the term 'White' refers to geographic origin rather than complexion. The northern Huns were called the 'Black Huns,' the southern Huns were referred to as 'Blue' and 'Green,' while the White Huns hailed from the West.
