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Attila reigned over what was then Europe's largest empire, from 434 AD until his death. His empire stretched from Germany and the Netherlands to the Ural River and from the Danube River to Poland and Estonia. He and his horde were feared throughout Europe as sackers of cities. Attila invaded the Balkans twice and besieged Constantinople in the second invasion. He marched through Gaul (modern day France) as far as Orleans before being defeated at the Battle of Chalons. By AD 451, Attila's horde consisted of 700,000 warriors, and intent on ransacking Rome itself. In 452 AD, he drove the western emperor Valentinian III from his capital at Ravenna.

The Huns had a reputation for cruelty and barbarism. They ate their meat raw and had a strong appetite for murder and mayhem. No one was allowed to look Attila in the eyes, not even one of his 400 wives. Much of the fear the Hun’s instilled came not so much from their actual exploits, but from their reputation as barbarians.

In 453 AD, even though he already had many other wives, Attila took another bride, named Ildico. He spent the wedding day drinking and partying, and then took his new bride to bed that night in drunken lust. The next morning he was found drowned in own nosebleed.

Not only did Atilla not trust his own sons to take over his empire, he had not established a successor to his throne; he believed a successor could be chosen in time. However, while his sons quarreled amongst themselves as to who would lead the Huns, in 454 AD, the Ostrogoths and other Germanic tribes revolted against the Huns and the Huns were defeated.

Though Attila’s empire died with him, he is remembered as the epitome of cruelty and barbarism. However, some histories lionize him as a great and noble king, and he plays major roles in three Norse sagas.

In the 1980’s, Wess Roberts published a book called Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun. The book pretends to be a collection of campfire stories told by Attila while training his chieftains to be better leaders. While there is no historical evidence to substantiate this, it does make a good story. This book is legendary amongst students of leadership and management; rumor has it that Ross Perot bought all copies of the first printing in 1985. 

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