Attila the Hun Timeline and History

This timeline shows the significant events in the history of the Huns, with emphasis on the reign of Attila the Hun, in a simple one-page format. For a more-detailed recounting, please see the in-depth timeline of Attila and the Huns. The Huns Before Attila †¢ 220-200 B.C. - Hunnic tribes raid China, inspire the building of the Great Wall of China †¢ 209 B.C. - Modun Shanyu unites the Huns (called Xiongnu by Chinese-speakers) in Central Asia †¢ 176 B.C. - Xiongnu attack the Tocharians in western China †¢ 140 B.C. - Han Dynasty Emperor Wu-ti attacks the Xiongnu †¢ 121 B.C. - Xiongnu defeated by Chinese; split into Eastern and Western groups †¢ 50 B.C. - Western Huns move west to the Volga River †¢ 350 A.D. - Huns appear in Eastern Europe The Huns under Attilas Uncle Rua †¢ c. 406 A.D. - Attila born to father Mundzuk and unknown mother †¢ 425 - Roman general Aetius hires Huns as mercenaries †¢ late 420s - Rua, Attilas uncle, seizes power and eliminates other kings †¢ 430 - Rua signs the peace treaty with Eastern Roman Empire, gets a tribute of 350 pounds of gold †¢ 433 - Western Roman Empire gives Pannonia (western Hungary) to the Huns as payment for military aid †¢ 433 - Aetius takes de facto power over Western Roman Empire †¢ 434 - Rua dies; Attila and older brother Bleda take Hunnic throne The Huns under Bleda and Attila †¢ 435 - Aetius hires the Huns to fight against the Vandals and Franks †¢ 435 - Treaty of Margus; Eastern Roman tribute increased from 350 to 700 pounds of gold †¢ c. 435-438 - Huns attack Sassanid Persia, but are defeated in Armenia †¢ 436 - Aetius and the Huns destroy the Burgundians †¢ 438 - First Eastern Roman embassy to Attila and Bleda †¢ 439 - Huns join the Western Roman army in a siege of the Goths at Toulouse †¢ Winter 440/441 - Huns sack a fortified Eastern Roman market town †¢ 441 - Constantinople sends its military forces to Sicily, en route to Carthage †¢ 441 - Huns besiege and capture the Eastern Roman cities of Viminacium and Naissus †¢ 442 - Eastern Roman tribute increased from 700 to 1400 pounds of gold †¢ September 12, 443 - Constantinople orders military readiness and vigilance against Huns †¢ 444 - Eastern Roman Empire stops paying tribute to Huns †¢ 445 - Death of Bleda; Attila becomes sole king Attila, King of the Huns †¢ 446 - Huns demand for tribute and fugitives denied by Constantinople †¢ 446 - Huns capture Roman forts at Ratiaria and Marcianople †¢ January 27, 447 - Major earthquake hits Constantinople; frantic repairs as Huns approach †¢ Spring 447 - Eastern Roman army defeated at Chersonesus, Greece †¢ 447 - Attila controls all of the Balkans, from the Black Sea to the Dardanelles †¢ 447 - Eastern Romans give 6,000 pounds of gold in back-tribute, yearly cost increased to 2,100 pounds of gold, and fugitive Huns handed over for impaling †¢ 449 - Maximinus and Priscus embassy to the Huns; attempted assassination of Attila †¢ 450 - Marcian becomes Emperor of Eastern Romans, ends payments to Huns †¢ 450 - Roman princess Honoria sends ring to Attila †¢ 451 - Huns overrun Germany and France; defeated at Battle of Catalaunian Fields †¢ 451-452 - Famine in Italy †¢ 452 - Attila leads an army of 100,000 into Italy, sacks Padua, Milan, etc. †¢ 453 - Attila suddenly dies on wedding night The Huns After Attila †¢ 453 - Three of Attilas sons divide the empire †¢ 454 - The Huns are driven from Pannonia by the Goths †¢ 469 - Hunnic king Dengizik (Attilas second son) dies; Huns disappear from history