Analysis: Dining with Attila the Hun

Date: 451 CE

Geographic Region: Europe

Author: Priscus

Summary Overview

This document describes the events of a diplomatic mission from the Eastern Roman Empire to King Attila of the Huns in 449 CE. The account relates the first meeting as observed by the diplomat and historian Priscus of Panium. This small excerpt from a much larger treatise on the history of the Eastern Roman Empire provides a personal glimpse of Attila and adds context to the political and military events of the period leading to the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

Defining Moment

When Theodosius II rose to command the Eastern Roman Empire in 408 CE, the split between the East and the West had become permanent. However, both halves of the Roman Empire continued to face the same threats from invading “barbarian” peoples. Theodosius II's rule was consumed with defending his empire, and the emperor made constant efforts to appease the aggressive Huns.

The Huns, a nomadic tribe, had begun invading Eastern Europe from Central Asia as early as 370 CE. By the time of Theodosius II, they had established a vast empire from the Alps to the Baltic Sea in the west and to the Caspian Sea in the east. Their lands bordered the Danubian region north of the Eastern Roman Empire and remained a perpetual worry. Attila ruled as king of the Huns from 434 to 453 CE, sharing this rule with his brother, Bleda, for the first eleven years. Early on, the two Huns negotiated a treaty with the Eastern Roman Empire by which the empire would pay an annual tithe to keep the Huns from invading their lands. However, the empire failed to make its payments, and in 441 CE, the Huns attacked. By 443 CE, Attila had reached Constantinople and routed the Eastern Roman forces, forcing another peace treaty with even higher payments. When the Huns launched yet another assault in 447, Theodosius II dispatched more diplomats to negotiate with Attila, now sole ruler of the Huns following his brother's suspicious disappearance. Among these emissaries was the author of this document, Priscus. Another, even harsher peace treaty, with even higher tolls, was reached, and Attila turned the Huns' attention to conquests to the west. Theodosius II died soon after, as did Attila.

The Eastern Roman Empire would withstand invasions by the Huns and other peoples for centuries, until it fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453. Meanwhile, the empire of the Huns collapsed under the power struggles of Attila's successors. However, the conquests of the Huns under Attila uprooted massive numbers of Germanic peoples in Europe, pushing them ever closer to the Western Roman Empire. Under the onslaught of the Goths, the Western Roman Empire was dismembered, its end usually being dated to the sack of Rome in 476 CE.

Author Biography and Document Information

Priscus served as a historian and then as an envoy in the Eastern Roman Empire under Emperor Theodosius II, who ruled from 408 to 450 CE. He was born in the town of Panium in a region in southeastern Europe known as Thrace, where the modern countries of Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey converge. Though his precise position in the court is unknown, Priscus was chosen by another official, Maximinus, to join the diplomatic mission to Attila in 449 CE. He served informally as Maximinus's advisor.

This document provides an account of the first encounter that their embassy had with Attila. Priscus recorded his experiences with and observations of the Huns in his multivolume work The History of Byzantium and of the Period of Attila. The excerpt contained in this document appears in that tract.

Document Analysis

The mission of which Priscus was a part journeyed for many days to reach the encampment of Attila on a plain north of the Lower Danube. There, they waited until the king sent messengers to invite them to his tents for dinner. The excerpt opens with the group from the Eastern Roman Empire—along with a separate diplomatic mission from the Western Roman Empire—joining Attila for a meal. Orestes and his father were fellow officials in the embassy of which Priscus was a part.

The official nature of the meeting begins with the ritual offering of libations, by which the Romans pour out drink from their cups to honor their gods. Priscus describes the tent in which they were seated, in rows according to status, before Attila, who sat on a couch in the middle of the congregation. Here and in later parts of the excerpt, Priscus notes the finery of the tent, but contrasts the wealthy display with Attila's own simple, unadorned appearance and behavior: “A lavish meal, served on silver trenchers, was prepared for us and the other barbarians, but Attila just had some meat on a wooden platter, for this was one aspect of his self-discipline.” He continues, detailing that while the visitors drank out of gold cups, the plainly clothed Attila used a wooden cup instead. The implication is that Attila showed some concern for what might impress others, but was not himself concerned with or impressed by ostentation—in his dress, in his weaponry, in his abode, or in his diet.

Priscus also gives a glimpse of Attila the man through observations of his behavior and the behavior of those around him. He notes that the elder son who sat before Attila appeared frightened of his father and that Attila showed the son little regard. In contrast, Attila gazed fondly and responded with affection to a younger son who later entered the tent. When Priscus inquired about the disparity, he learned that “the seers had told Attila that his family would be banished but would be restored by this son.” This statement reinforces other reports in ancient histories that Attila was subject to superstition and swayed by magic.

Priscus also gives a lively report of the various forms of entertainment brought to the feast, from “barbarian” bards, to a Scythian storyteller, to what appears to have been a Moorish jokester, perhaps equivalent to the jester or fool of later medieval European courts. The account not only represents the diversity of the gathering, but also illustrates what served as entertainment among the peoples of the period and gives added insight into the nature of Attila himself: “He remained impassive, without any change of expression, and neither by word or gesture did he seem to share in the merriment.” The envoys were there, after all, to appeal to Attila, to appease his hunger to invade their lands. Through the revelry, Attila feeds and entertains his guests, regaling them with comforts, but he does not partake himself and maintains a serious mien. It is Attila who is in control, and he seems to know it.

The excerpt in the document ends abruptly with Priscus's group departing the festivities. However, the larger account goes on to relate how negotiations with Attila proceeded. In one report, Attila reveals that he has knowledge of a secret plot among the Romans to assassinate him. Priscus's history goes on to describe Attila's departure from the plain to complete a marriage, and the embassy's journey across Hunnish territory to rejoin and continue negotiations with the king.

Bibliography and Additional Reading

Bauer, Susan Wise. The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome. New York: Norton, 2007. Print.

Gibbon, Edward. The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Ed. Hans-Friedrich Mueller. New York: Modern Library, 2003. Print.

Given, John, trans. The Fragmentary History of Priscus: Attila, the Huns and the Roman Empire, AD 430–476. Merchantville: Evolution, 2014. Print.

Mark, Joshua J. “Attila the Hun.” Ancient History Encyclopedia. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 25 Sept. 2014. Web. 8 Apr. 2015.

Thompson, E. A. The Huns. Oxford: Blackwell, 1996. Print.