Attila The HUN

=============Biography==============Attila was the final and most powerful king of the Huns. Reigning over what was then Europe's largest empire, from 434 until his death. The origins of the European Huns has been a matter of debate for centuries; however, it can be said upon historical authority, that the Huns were a confederation of Eurasian tribes. Mostly of diverse origin with a Turkic-speaking aristocracy, who appeared in Europe in the 4th century. The Huns achieved military superiority over countless rivals (most of them highly cultured and civilized) by their state of readiness for combat, amazing mobility, and weapons like the Hun bow. Attila was born around 406. There is not much known about his childhood because it was traumatic and Attila killed anyone who reminded him of it, but as a member of the ruling family of the Huns; the supposition that at an early age he was a capable leader and a capable warrior was undisputed. Following negotiation of peace terms in 418, at the age of 12, he was sent as a child hostage to the Roman court of Emperor Honorius. In return, the Huns received Flavius Aetius in a child hostage exchange arranged by the Romans. The empire educated Attila in its courts, customs and traditions and in its luxurious lifestyle, in the hope that he would carry an appreciation of these things back to his own nation and sparring their own lives in future dealings, thus serving to extend Roman influence. The Huns would probably have hoped that he would enhance their future espionage capabilities by the exchange, but Attila had his own agenda. Attila attempted to escape during his stay in Rome, but it was a ruse, he was testing their sentries. Attila does not cower or run away. Attila turned my attention to an intense study of the empire, while outwardly ceasing to struggle against his hostage status. He studied the internal and foreign policies of the Romans. He often secretly observed them in diplomatic conferences with foreign ministers. Attila learned about leadership, protocol and other essentials suited to future rulers and diplomats. Attila's empire stretched from Germany and the Netherlands to the Ural river and from the Danube River to Poland and Estonia. During his rule, he was among the direst enemies of the Eastern and Western Roman Empires: he invaded the Balkans twice and encircled Constantinople in the second invasion; he marched through Gaul (later France) as far as Orleans before being turned back at Battle of Chalons; and drove the western emperor Valentinian III from my beloved capital at Ravenna in 452.