The Huns under Attila were among the most notorious of the barbarian invaders from the steppe who threatened the Roman Empire during the 5th century. They formed a large empire that stretched from modern Hungary to the Rhine, exerting power through a number of Germanic (and other "barbarian") tributaries. However, Attila's empire faced a setback due to the Roman victory at Chalons/Catalaunian Fields in Gaul and soon after crumbled following Attila's death that led to civil war and revolts among their Germanic tributaries that culminated in the Battle of Nedao where the Huns were decisively defeated. The battle (and campaign) involved great casualties on either side that changed the balance of power in Gaul and led indirectly to the rise of the Franks in Gaul and Germania.
The Huns were nowhere near as organised as later steppe empires like the Mongols and relied greatly on local Germanic tributaries such as the Gepids to rule. Their hegemony was thus reliant on their Germanic allies to function, meaning in the long-term it likely would have evolved into a Hunno-Germanic empire (hence the name of the thread). I particularly like the idea of this empire forming a proto-German empire, particularly one of East Germanic character (given the Ostrogoths, Gepids, Rugians, and other East Germanic-speaking peoples)--how plausible is this?
Attila himself became a legendary figure in Germanic epics, attributed legends like the "Sword of Mars" granted to him by the gods (or God) as proof of his invincibility and legitimacy to rule the world. Much of this no doubt stems from his success in ruling over the Germanic tribes and of course his success in campaigns against the Romans. His prowess as a ruler would give him and his descendents--if successful--a powerful legitimacy akin to the Merovingians which could make for the roots of a successful state akin to the Frankish Empire. I'm imagining the core of this empire would of course be the Danube, in particular Pannonia, but I imagine Hunnic rule and vassals extending over all of modern Germany, the Low Countries, and northern France, perhaps stretching into the Balkans and to the Adriatic. Coincidentally, this would look somewhat like the 16th century Hapsburg realm (minus Spain/Italy of course).
Let's assume the years 450 - 480 go a little better for the Huns--decisive victory at Catalaunian Fields, lots of tribute extracted from Rome, and relatively smooth succession after Attila's death (rivals eliminated and allies kept in line), and even a stable succession after that (maybe Ellac or Dengizich have a good 25 years of rule or so and the transition goes well). What does the Hunnic state and its institutions look like and how do they evolve? Are they going to strengthen Germanic paganism or is conversion to Arianism inevitable? Would they end up losing much of their eastern territories to new invaders like the Avars and Slavs and would they be able to eventually shift their center of power to the Rhine? How far west could East Germanic languages spread?
The Huns were nowhere near as organised as later steppe empires like the Mongols and relied greatly on local Germanic tributaries such as the Gepids to rule. Their hegemony was thus reliant on their Germanic allies to function, meaning in the long-term it likely would have evolved into a Hunno-Germanic empire (hence the name of the thread). I particularly like the idea of this empire forming a proto-German empire, particularly one of East Germanic character (given the Ostrogoths, Gepids, Rugians, and other East Germanic-speaking peoples)--how plausible is this?
Attila himself became a legendary figure in Germanic epics, attributed legends like the "Sword of Mars" granted to him by the gods (or God) as proof of his invincibility and legitimacy to rule the world. Much of this no doubt stems from his success in ruling over the Germanic tribes and of course his success in campaigns against the Romans. His prowess as a ruler would give him and his descendents--if successful--a powerful legitimacy akin to the Merovingians which could make for the roots of a successful state akin to the Frankish Empire. I'm imagining the core of this empire would of course be the Danube, in particular Pannonia, but I imagine Hunnic rule and vassals extending over all of modern Germany, the Low Countries, and northern France, perhaps stretching into the Balkans and to the Adriatic. Coincidentally, this would look somewhat like the 16th century Hapsburg realm (minus Spain/Italy of course).
Let's assume the years 450 - 480 go a little better for the Huns--decisive victory at Catalaunian Fields, lots of tribute extracted from Rome, and relatively smooth succession after Attila's death (rivals eliminated and allies kept in line), and even a stable succession after that (maybe Ellac or Dengizich have a good 25 years of rule or so and the transition goes well). What does the Hunnic state and its institutions look like and how do they evolve? Are they going to strengthen Germanic paganism or is conversion to Arianism inevitable? Would they end up losing much of their eastern territories to new invaders like the Avars and Slavs and would they be able to eventually shift their center of power to the Rhine? How far west could East Germanic languages spread?