8/3/2016

AvarsAncientHistoryEncyclopedia

Avar

JohuaJ.Mark
pulihedon17Decemer2014

TheAvarwereaconfederationofheterogeneou(divereorvaried)peopleconitingofRouran,
Hephthalite,andTurkic-OghuricracewhomigratedtotheregionofthePonticGrateppe(an
areacorrepondingtomodern-daUkraine,Ruia,Kazakhtan)fromCentralAiaafterthefallof
theAiaticRouranmpirein552C.Theareconideredmanhitoriantoetheucceor
oftheHunintheirwaoflifeand,epeciall,mountedwarfare.TheettledintheHun'former
territorandalmotintantletuponacoureofconquet.Afterthewerehiredthe
zantinempiretoudueothertrie,theirkingaanI(reigned562/565-602C)alliedwith
theLomardunderAloin(reigned560-572C)todefeattheGepidofPannoniaandthen
tookovertheregion,forcingtheLomardtomigratetoItal.
TheAvareventuallucceededinetalihingtheAvarKhaganate,whichencompaedaterritor
correpondingroughltomodern-daAutria,Hungar,Romania,eria,ulgariadowntoand
includingpartofTurke.ThedepartureoftheLomardforItalin568Cremovedanother
hotilepeoplefromPannonia,enalingaanItoexpandhiterritoriewithrelativeeaeandfound
theempirewhichlateduntil796C,whentheAvarwereconqueredtheFrankunder
Charlemagne.

THAVARTTLDINTHHUN'FORMRTRRITORY
ANDALMOTINTANTLYTUPONACOUROF
CONQUT.
http://www.ancient.eu/Avars/?utm_content=bufferb05fe&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

1/8

8/3/2016

AvarsAncientHistoryEncyclopedia

ORIGIN&MIGRATION
TheprecieoriginoftheAvar(likethatoftheHun)ideated,utmanhitorian,ucha
Chritophaumer,linkthemwiththeRouranKhaganateofMongolia,northofChina.TheRouran
KhaganatewaoverthrowntheGokturkin552C,andthepeople,ledtheXianei
Mongolian,fledwettoecapetheirrule.Thiclaimeemthemotlikelutinotacceptedall
cholar.TheJu-JuantrieofMongoliaalliedthemelvewiththeWhiteHunagaintthepeople
knownatheToa(whowereTurkih)innumerouengagementandetalihedthemelveaan
empireintheMongolianregionc.394C.ThiempireecameknownatheRouranKhaganate,
whichfelltotheGokturkin552C,hortleforetheAvarappearintheteppec.557C,and
oaumer,andthoewhoagreewithhim,appeartoecorrect.
ThefirtmentionoftheAvarinRomanhitorcomefromPricuofPaniumin463C,who
mentiontheAvarinconnectionwithatrieknownatheairwhoappeartoeau-etofthe
Hun.PricuioneoftheprimarourceontheHun(hemetanddinedwithAttilain448/449
Cwhileonadiplomaticmiion)andtooknoteoftheiractivitiefollowingthedeathofAttilain
453C.TheHunnicmpirewhichAttilaetalihedwaintheproceofdiintegratingatthitime
(c.463C),eginningwiththeHundefeatArdaricoftheGepidin454Cattheattleof
Nedao.
FollowingNedao,othernationthathadeenujugatedtheHunroeagaintthem,andthe
Hunnicmpirewadimantled469C.WhethertheAvarmentionedPricuaretheame
coalitionathoewhofledMongoliain552Cideated.Manoftheo-called"ararian"trie
mentionedRomanwriter(theAlemanni,forexample)changedinethnicmake-upfromthe
timethearefirtmentionedtotheirlaterreference.Motlikel,ahitorianuchaPeterHeather
andDeniinorclaim,thelatterAvarwereadifferentgroupoftheamename.TheearlierAvar
appeartoeanetalihedconfederacoftheregion,whilethelaterAvarwererefugeefrom
CentralAiafleeingtheGokturkwho,iteem,puruedthem.

CONTACTWITHROM
Regardingtheiroriginandflightwet,Heatherwrite:
[TheAvars]werethenextmajorwaveoforiginallynomadichorsewarriors,
aftertheHuns,tosweepofftheGreatEurasianSteppeandbuildanempirein
centralEurope.Thankfully,weknowrathermoreaboutthemthanaboutthe
Huns.TheAvarsspokeaTurkiclanguageandhadpreviouslystarredasthe
dominantforcebehindamajornomadicconfederationonthefringesof
China.Intheearliersixthcenturytheyhadlostthispositiontoarivalforce,
thesocalledWesternTurks[Gokturks],andarrivedontheoutskirtsof
Europeaspoliticalrefugees,announcingthemselveswithanembassythat
http://www.ancient.eu/Avars/?utm_content=bufferb05fe&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

2/8

8/3/2016

AvarsAncientHistoryEncyclopedia

appearedatJustinian'scourtin558(401).

JutinianI(482-565C)receivedtheemaandagreedtohirethemtofightagaintother
trouleometrie.TheAvarperformedtheirdutieadmiralandexpectedcontinuedpament
fromtheempire.Thewantedtheirownhomelandtoettlewherethecouldfeelecurefromthe
puruingTurk.ThekingoftheAvar,aanI,triedtoleadhipeopleouthoftheDanueRiver
utwapreventedtheRoman.HethenledtheAvarnorthutencounteredreitancefromthe
FrankundertheirkingigeertI.ThecontinuedanomadintheerviceofRomeuntilthedeath
ofJutinianin565C.Hiucceor,JutinII(c.520-578C),canceledtheircontractand,whenthe
AvaremaakedforpermiiontocrotheouthernDanue,itwadenied.Theagainought
toreakthroughtothenorthutwererepelledigeertI'arm.aanIthenturnedhi
attentiontoPannoniaor,accordingtootherource,wainvitedtogothereJutinIItodiplace
theGepid.
TheLomardunderAloinwerealreadinPannoniainconflictwiththeGepidwhocontrolled
motoftheregion.AwiththeAvar,ourceconflictonwhethertheLomardmigratedto
PannoniaontheirownorwereinvitedtheempiretodriveouttheGepid.aanIwantedto
takethecapitalcitofirmiumutdidnotknowtheregionandneededthehelpofthoemore
familiarwithit.HealliedhimelfwithAloinandtheLomardand,in567C,thetwoarmie
joinedtocruhtheGepidetweenthem.aanInegotiatedthetermofthealliancewithAloin
eforethewentintoattle:ifthehouldwin,theAvarwouldegiventheGepidland,wealth,
andpeoplealave,andtheLomardwouldeallowedtoliveinpeace.WhAloinagreedto
thiunequalagreementiunknown,utiticlearthathedid.AwiththeHunandtheirpolicie
towardothernation,itipoilethataanIthreatenedAloinwithconquetifhedidnot
complwithAvarinteret.
ThearmiemetinattleomeditancefromirmiumandtheGepid,undertheirkingCunimund,
weredefeated.ourcedifferonwhathappenedintheaftermath:accordingtoomeaccount,
aanIkilledCunimundandhadhikullturnedintoawinecup-whichhethenpreentedto
Aloinaacomradeinarmwhile,accordingother,AloinkilledCunimundandmadehikull
intoacupwhichhethenworeonhielt.
ThearmiemarchedonirmiumuttheGepidhadalreadcalledforhelpfromtheatern
mpire,agreeingtourrenderthecittothem;thetimeaanIandAloinreachedirmium,it
waheavildefendedandtheweredrivenack.incethehadnotpreparedthemelveforan
extendediege,thearmiewithdrew.

RIOFTHAVARMPIR
Althoughirmiumremaineduntaken,theAvarnowcontrolledmotofPannoniaandtheLomard
foundthatthedealthehadrokeredearlierwaanunfortunateoneforthem.Alointriedto
formanalliancewiththeGepidagainttheAvarmarringCunimund'daughterRoamund
whomhehadtakenaftertheattle.Itwanowtoolate,though,atheAvarwereimpltoo
http://www.ancient.eu/Avars/?utm_content=bufferb05fe&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

3/8

8/3/2016

AvarsAncientHistoryEncyclopedia

powerfultocontet.In568C,AloinledhipeopleoutofPannoniatoItalwhere,in572C,he
wouldeaainatedinaplothatchedhiwifetoavengeherfather.
TheAvarunderaanIthenetaoutuildingtheirempireontheplainofPannonia.Thatthere
eemtohaveeenacore"Avar"ethnicitamongthelargerAvarconfederationieeninomeof
aanI'militardeciionanddecree.ThehitorianDeniinorwrite:
TheethniccompositionoftheAvarstatewasnothomogeneous.Bayanwas
followedby10,000Kutrighurwarriorsubjectsalreadyatthetimeofthe
conquestoftheGepids.In568hesentthemtoinvadeDalmatia,arguingthat
casualtiestheymaysufferwhilefightingagainsttheByzantineswouldnot
hurttheAvarsthemselves(222).

UnderaanI'leaderhip,theAvarexpandedacroPannoniaineverdirectionand,through
conquet,enlargedtheirempire.AnumeroflavicpeoplehadfollowedtheAvarintoPannonia,
andtheewerenowujectofAvarruleandeemedtoetreatedwiththeamelackofregard
accordedtheKutrighuroldierinormention.aanIoverawtheelectionoftheAvaraeof
operationintheirnewhomelandandmahavechoenitforitaociationwiththeHun.Hitorian
rikHildingercommentonthi,writing:
TheAvarsestablishedtheirheadquartersnearAttila'soldcapitalofahundred
yearsbeforeandfortifiedit.ItwasknownasTheRing.Nowwellestablished
inPannonia,BayanfoughttheFranksofSigebertagainanddefeatedthemin
570.AdozenyearslaterBayanattackedByzantineterritoryandseizedthecity
ofSirmiumontheSavaRiver.Hefollowedthiswithfurthercampaigns
againsttheByzantines,theAvarstakingSingidunum(Belgrade)andravaging
MoesiauntiltheyweredefeatednearAdrianoplein587.TotheByzantines,it
musthaveseemedlikearepriseoftheHunnicaggressionofthefifthcentury
(76).

AVARCONQUT
Withirmiumnowtaken,andoperatingefficientlfromTheRing,aanIcontinuedhiconquet.
ChritophaumerwritehowaanIdrovehiarmieintothealkananddemandedtriutefrom
theaternmpireforpeaceandthen,"togetherwiththeeatenlav,whomtheauedaa
kindof'cannonfodder',theinvadedGreeceinthe580'"(VolumeII,208).Theoperatedin
warfarewithtacticimilartothoeuedtheHunacenturefore.LiketheHun,theAvar
wereexperthoremen.aumernotethat,"Theirontirrupcametouropeonlwiththeinvading
Avarintheecondhalfoftheixthcentur."Thetirrup"enaledridinginaquattingoralmot
tandingpoition,whichimprovedtherider'moilit,utaloincreaedtheimpactofanattacking
cavalr"(VolumeI,86).ThetirrupgreatlenhancedthealreadformidaleAvarcavalrandmade
themthemotfearedandinvincilemountedmilitarforceincetheHun.aumerwrite:
http://www.ancient.eu/Avars/?utm_content=bufferb05fe&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

4/8

8/3/2016

AvarsAncientHistoryEncyclopedia

InhisfamousmilitaryhandbookStrategikon,theByzantineemperorMaurice
(reigned582602)aptlydescribedthebattlestyleoftheAvars,whomhe
comparedtotheHuns,asfollows:`theypreferbattlesfoughtatlongrange,
ambushes,encirclingtheiradversaries,simulatedretreatsandsudden
returns,andwedgeshapedformations...Whentheymaketheirenemiestake
toflight,theyarenotcontent,asthePersiansandtheRomans,andother
peoples,withpursuingthemareasonabledistanceandplunderingtheir
goods,buttheydonotletupatalluntiltheyhaveachievedthecomplete
destructionoftheirenemies...Ifthebattleturnsoutwell,donotbehastyin
pursuingtheenemyorbehavecarelessly.Forthisnation[thesteppenomads]
doesnot,asotherdo,giveupthestrugglewhenworsenedinthefirstbattle.
Butuntiltheirstrengthgivesout,theytryallsortsofwaystoassailtheir
enemies(VolumeI,265267).

JutinIIhadegunawaragainttheaanidin572Cand,withimperialforcedrawntotheeat,
aanIinvadedfurtherintozantineterritorie.Hedemandedhigherandevenhighertriuteand
defeatedtheimperialarmieentagainthim.Itwanotuntil592C,withtheconcluionofthe
empire'warwiththeaanid,thattheemperorMauricewaaletoendanarmofadequate
forceagaintaanI.TheAvarweredrivenfromthealkanandackintoPannoniathe
imperialtroopunderthegeneralPricu,almottotheircapital.TheAvarwouldmotlikelhave
eendetroedenmaewereitnotfortheinurrectioninContantinopleknownaPhoca'
Reellionin602C.
Mauricerefuedtoallowthearmtotanddownandorderedthemtowinterinthealkanincae
theAvarhouldmountanunexpectedattack.Theoldierreelledand,accordingtothehitorian
Theophane(c.760-818C),choethecenturionPhoca(547-610C)atheirleader:
ThesoldiersputPhocasattheirhead,andmarchedonConstantinople,where
hewasspeedilycrowned,andMauricewithhisfivesonsexecuted.Thiswas
onthe27thofNovember,602.TheusurpationofPhocaswasfollowedbyan
attackontheempire,botheastandwest,bythePersiansontheonehandand
theAvarsontheother.ButtwoyearslatertheKhagan[KingoftheAvars]was
inducedtomakepeacebyanincreasedannualstipend(451).

Atthiametime(602C),aplaguerokeoutinthealkanandweptacrotheurrounding
region.ItilikelthataanIwaoneofthemanvictimofthedieae.ThehitorianH.H.
Howorth,eq,writingintheJournalofRoalAiaticocietofGreatritainandIreland,note:
WedonotreadagainofBayan,anditwouldappearthathediedaboutthis
time,perhapsfromthepestilencealreadynamed.Itisnotimpossiblethatit
wasthatpestilence,andthelossoftheirgreatleader,whichmadeitpossible
forPriscustowinhisvictoriessoeasily...TheAvarsneveragainrecoveredthe
http://www.ancient.eu/Avars/?utm_content=bufferb05fe&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

5/8

8/3/2016

AvarsAncientHistoryEncyclopedia

vastpowerwhichtheyexercisedunderBayan,whomustbeclassedamongthe
mostsuccessfulofgeneralsandthemostpowerfulofrulers(777).

aanIwaucceededhion(whoenameinotknown)whoattemptedtocarronhifather'
empire.In626CheledacampaignagaintContantinople,alliedwiththeaanid,inalandand
eaattack.TheformidaledefeneoftheTheodoianWall(uiltunderthereignofTheodoiu
II,408-450)repelledthelandattack,whilethezantinefleetdefeatedthenavalaault,inking
manoftheAvarhip.ThecampaignwaacompletefailureandtheurvivingAvarreturned
hometoPannonia.

THDCLINOFTHAVARMPIR
TheemperoratthitimewaHeracliu(reigned610-641C),whoimmediateltoppedthe
pamenttotheAvar.aumernotethat,"thideprivedtheAvarKhaganate,whoetrieand
clandependedonregularditriutionofgood,oftheireconomicai"(VolumeII,208).When
aan'ondiedin630C,theulgaroftheregionroeinrevoltandcivilwarrokeoutetween
theAvarandtheulgar.Theulgarappealedtotheaternmpireforaitanceutthewere
tooufightingoffanattacktheAratohelp,otheulgarpreedonthemelve.
AlthoughtheAvarwonthitruggle,theconflictwacotlandthepoweroftheAvardeclined.
aumerwrite:
ArchaeologicalresearchshowsthatAvarmaterialculturechangedafter630,
forinmalegravesthenumberofweaponsasburialobjectsdeclined
considerably.TheeconomyoftheAvarEmpireceasedtobebasedonwars
andraids,beinggraduallyreplacedbyagriculturetheformerhorsewarriors
exchangedlanceandarmourfortheploughandnowlivedinhouseswith
saddlebackroofswhichweredugintotheground(VolumeII,209).

PeterHeathernotethat,"jutliketheHun,theAvarlackedthegovernmentalcapacittorule
theirlargenumerofujectgroupdirectl,operatinginteadthroughaerieofintermediate
leaderdrawninpartfromthoeujectgroup"(608).Thitemofgovernmentworkedwella
longaaanIruledut,withouthim,ledtodiunit.WhenCharlemagneoftheFrankroeto
powerin768C,theAvarwereinnopoitiontochallengehim.Charlemagneconqueredthe
neighoringLomardin774CandthenmovedontheAvaruthadtohalthicampaigntodeal
witharevolttheaxon.Inteadoftakingadvantageofthireprievetotrengthentheir
defeneandmoilize,theAvarfoughtamongthemelveandtheconflictfinallrokeintoopen
civilwarin794Cinwhichtheleaderofothfactionwerekilled.Theuordinateauthoritleft
inchargeofferedtheremnantoftheAvarmpiretoCharlemagne,whoaccepted,utthen
attackedanwain795C,takingTheRingeailandcarringoffthehoardeofAvartreaure.The
empireofficiallendedin796Cwiththeofficialurrenderand,afterthatdate,theAvarwere
ruledtheFrank.TheAvarrevoltedin799CutwerecruhedtheFrank802/803C
and,afterward,mergedwithotherpeople.
http://www.ancient.eu/Avars/?utm_content=bufferb05fe&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

6/8

8/3/2016

AvarsAncientHistoryEncyclopedia

Theirlegac,however,watoforeverchangetheethnicmakeupoftheregionthehad
conquered.PeterHeatherwrite:
Thereiseveryreasontosupposethat[theAvarEmpire'ssystemof
government]hadthepoliticaleffectofcementingthesocialpowerofchosen
subordinates,furtherpushingatleasttheirSlavicsubjectsinthedirectionof
politicalconsolidation[andto]bothpromptandenableawiderSlavic
diaspora,assomeSlavicgroupsmovedfurtherafieldtoescapetheburdenof
Avardomination.LargescaleSlavicsettlementintheformereastRoman
BalkansasopposedtomereraidingonlybecamepossiblewhentheAvar
Empire(incombinationwiththePersianandthenArabconquests)destroyed
Constantinople'smilitarysuperiorityintheregion(608).

LiketheHun,towhomtheareoftencompared,theAvarradicallchangedtheworldthe
inhaited.Thenotonldiplacedlargenumerofpeople(uchatheLomardandthelav)
utrokethepoliticalandmilitarpowerofthelatterhalfoftheRomanmpire.Thewere
amongthefiercetmountedwarriorinhitorut,aHoworthphraeit,thewerealo
"herdmanandfreeooter,anddoutleweredependentontheirneighorandlavefortheir
handicraft,exceptperhapthatofword-making"(810).ventheirwordwerelinkedtotheHun
inthat"`Hunnicword'arereferredtotheFrankchronicler,whichperhapDamacened
ladearemeant,uchathoefoundinlargenumerinaoatatNdaminDenmark,apparentl
datingfromthiperiod"(Howorth,810).ThelegacoftheAvaritillrecognizedinthepreent
dainthepopulationofthelandtheconquered.TheareooftencomparedwiththeHunfor
goodreaon:throughtheirmilitarcampaign,theignificantlalteredthedemographicofthe
regiontheraided,uprootinganddiplacinglargenumerofpeoplewhothenetalihedtheir
cultureelewhere.

AOUTTHAUTHOR
JOHUAJ.MARK
Afreelancewriterandpart-timeProfeorofPhiloophatMaritCollege,New
York,JohuaJ.MarkhalivedinGreeceandGermanandtraveledthrough
gpt.Heteacheancienthitor,writing,literature,andphilooph.

HLPUWRITMOR
We'reamallnon-profitorganiationrunahandfulofvolunteer.acharticlecot
http://www.ancient.eu/Avars/?utm_content=bufferb05fe&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

7/8

8/3/2016

AvarsAncientHistoryEncyclopedia

uaout$50inhitorookaourcematerial,plueditingandervercot.Youcan
helpucreateevenmorefreearticleforalittlea$5permonth,andwe'llgiveou
anad-freeexperiencetothankou!
COMAMMR

ILIOGRAPHY
aumer,C,TheHitorofCentralAia:VolumeI(I..Tauri,London,2012).
aumer,C,TheHitorofCentralAia:VolumeII(I..Tauri,London,2014).
Heather,P,mpireandararian(OxfordUniveritPre,2012).
Hildinger,,Warrioroftheteppe:AMilitarHitorofCentralAia(DaCapoPre,2001).
Howorth,H.H,JournaloftheRoalAiaticocietofGreatritainandIreland,Volume21:TheAvar(W.H.Allen&Co.,
London,1939).
inor,D,TheCamridgeHitorofarlInnerAia(CamridgeUniveritPre,1990).
CITTHIWORK

LGALNOTIC
WrittenJohuaJ.Mark,pulihedon17Decemer2014underthefollowinglicene:CreativeCommon:
Attriution-NonCommercial-hareAlike .Thiliceneletotherremix,tweak,anduilduponthicontentnoncommerciall,alongathecredittheauthorandlicenetheirnewcreationundertheidenticalterm.

ADVRTIMNT

RMOVAD

http://www.ancient.eu/Avars/?utm_content=bufferb05fe&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

8/8