Do you know how Attila died? Well, Attila’s death occurred in the year 453 under mysterious circumstances; no one has been able to explain his death to this day. However, there are different theories that seek to decipher the enigma of his death.
Attila was one of the most important conquerors in all of human history.. The Huns, as his people were known, became the most powerful empire on the European continent during the life of the great leader.
Known as the Scourge of Godhis kingdom extended from Central Europe to the Black Sea and from the Danube River to the Baltic Sea.
After the death of Attila, this great empire fractured and disintegrated. In this article we will delve into precisely that, how Attila died. If you want to know everything about Attila’s death and tomb, you just have to keep reading. Remember that there are several theories and in we are going to analyze all of them. Discover them!
Theories about Attila’s death
Many things have been written about the death of Attila. There are two versions that have more weight than the rest. As you can imagine, the biggest difficulty is that the event happened in the year 453 and, therefore, any source is not very reliable.
The date of his death is the data on which all experts agree and we can find writings by contemporary authors. Consequently, we may never know what happened, although we do have some clues to hypothesize.
1. Death after their wedding
One of the most accepted hypotheses is that Attila’s death was not glorious at all. Attila married a woman named Ildico and on their wedding night he met her death. Those attending the marriage discovered the body of the leader of the Huns in the wedding bed.
This theory says that from partying and drinking so much, it is possible that a blood vessel burst.. The first to tell the version of Attila’s death from drunkenness was Priscus, a Thracian historian who lived during the 5th century. Being a contemporary of the leader of the Huns, this story is given a lot of credibility.
It seems quite plausible that after a night of excess, the warrior’s body collapsed. Plus the way he was found, which points to an internal spill.
The version of accidental death is the official one, although there is another that contains a small variation. Attila died due to drowning due to a nosebleed that occurred while making love to his brand new wife..
One version or another are two ways of dying that are much more ridiculous than expected. Priscus knew firsthand all the political intrigues surrounding Attila and if he had been murdered, the news would have been known from the first version.
2. Murdered at the hands of his wife
Other sources support the version that Attila died on his wedding night, but not from a natural death, but because was murdered by his newly taken wife. According to this writer, the wife pierced the warrior’s throat with a dagger so that he bled to death.
At the beginning of the 5th century, betrayals and violent deaths were commonplace.. It should not surprise us at all that this theory is true. This version was the work of a Roman chronicler, called Count Marcellinus.
The only weak point that this hypothesis raises is that it arose almost one hundred years after the death of Attila. Hence It could have been built to add more drama to the death of the great conqueror.
The reasons given by this Roman chronicler and future writers who also defend this version, is that the wife was in cahoots with an enemy of Attila and her murder would lead to chaos and the breakup of his powerful empire. Something, by the way, really happened as soon as the famous warrior was buried.
3. Reflection on the death of Attila
As we have mentioned previously, most experts in the field accept the first version as good. They describe the murder hypothesis as an invention made to make the story more epic and dramatic.
We are sure that both explanations about how Attila died They have surprised you a lot. Without a doubt, the version of the murder is much more romantic and appropriate for a good book. While the theory that he choked on his own blood while drunk is quite disappointing, although more plausible, especially since the author who developed it lived in the times of the leader of the Huns.
The mystery of Attila’s tomb
Although there are two possible theories about the death of Attila, his grave is also a mystery. So far the tomb has not been found and no one knows where it really is. So what is known about the burial of Attila, the Hun, and his tomb? The answer lies in an ancient writer named Jordaneswho lived in the 6th century.
Many experts claim that there is only one written source about Attila’s burial. The writer Jordanes assured that Attila was buried in a triple coffin. The first was made of gold, the second of silver and the last of copper.
In addition, it also says that the servants in charge of the grave were killed to be silenced about the location of Attila’s tomb.
Despite the mystery, Historians believe the tomb may be somewhere on the Great Hungarian Plain. The above is obvious because his headquarters had been in this place. Other experts suggest something interesting: Attila’s grave was emptied. Some hope to find said tomb one day.
Now we would very much like to know your opinion on how Attila died. Did you think that a great warrior could die in such an unepic way? Do you think that he was actually murdered by his wife and thus provided a political benefit for another king? Which version of Attila’s death is true for you? Don’t hesitate to comment, we look forward to reading you!