Hello, and welcome to the history of Rome, episode 169, Huns and Vandals and Goths,

oh my.

As you know, the Huns have been playing a major role in Roman politics for the last 50

years, at least, arriving on the Hungarian plane back in the three 70s.

The Hun sparked a multi-generational migration of the former native tribes of the region

into Roman territory, which led to, among other things, the Battle of Adrienneople, the

mass invasion of 406, the Sack of Rome, and now the Vandals take over of North Africa.

This is to say nothing of the endless revolts, civil wars and assassinations, all this demographic

unrest, had forced the Romans to deal with within their own ranks.

But for the most part, the Hun impact on the Roman world had thus far been indirect.

Aside from the brief, abortive thrusts of olden in the early 400s, the Huns had basically

stayed on the north side of the Danube River.

Their arrival in the west was an epoch defining event for the Romans, sure, but mostly in

a domino toppling sort of way, rather than a, I'm punching you directly in the face sort

of way.

But that was all about to change.

New leaders were about to take over the Huns, and new leadership meant new policies, and

new policies meant new headaches for the Roman Empire.

Headaches caused by repeated Hun punches to the face.

When old and died in 412, you'll recall that his coalition split into three major factions.

Each pursued its own course and was led by its own leaders for the next decade or so,

but by the mid-420s they began re-coalescing around a pair of brother kings, who I introduced

...