Die Hunnen

The Nibelungenlied has secured a firm place for the Huns in our cultural memory. However, beyond all legends, the Huns proved to be a historically significant force during the migration period in the 4th and 5th centuries: under their king Attila, their cavalry became a formidable opponent even for the Roman Empire. It was only when the Huns were defeated in 451 in a true battle of nations by a coalition army of Romans, Visigoths, Burgundians, Franks, and many other tribes that the threat they posed began to wane.