Ellac
Ellac | |
---|---|
King of the Huns (co-rulership) | |
Reign | 453–454 |
Predecessor | Attila |
Successor | Dengizich and Ernak |
Ruler of Pontic Scythia | |
Reign | 448–454 |
King of the Akatziri | |
Reign | 448–454 |
Predecessor | Karadach |
Born | 5th century Pannonia |
Died | 454 Nedao, Pannonia |
Dynasty | Attilid |
Father | Attila |
Mother | Kreka |
Ellac (died in 454 AD) was the oldest son of Attila (434–453) and Kreka.[1] After Attila's death in 453 AD, his empire crumbled, and its remains were ruled by his three sons, Ellac, Dengizich and Ernak. He ruled briefly and died at the Battle of Nedao in 454 AD.[2] Ellac was succeeded by his brothers, Dengizich and Ernak.
Etymology
Several scholars derive Ellac from a word akin to
History
In 448 or 449 AD, as
Priscus also mentions the number of sons "Onegesios was seated on a chair to the right of the king's couch, and opposite Onegesios two [Dengizich and Ernak] of Attila's children were sitting on a chair. The eldest [Ellac] was seated on Attila's couch, not near him but at the edge, looking at the ground out of respect for his father".[10]
After the rites of Attila's death in 453, according to Jordanes in Getica, the sons Ellac, Dengizich and Ernak (but possibly existed also other sons who pretended the throne[11]):
"since young minds are usually excited by the chance to snatch power, the heirs of Attila began contesting the kingship. All desiring to rule autonomously, they all destroyed the empire simultaneously. Thus an abundance of heirs often burdens kingdoms more than a lack of them. Attila's sons ... demanded that the subject nations be divided among them by equal lot in order that, as with household property, warlike kings and their people might be distributed by lot".[12]
A coalition of Germanic tribes, led by Ardaric, king of the Gepids, revolted against such slavery treatment, and "so they were armed for mutual destruction. War was waged in Pannonia, next to a river called Nedao. Various nations Attila had held in his sway came into combat there ... Goths, Gepids, Rugii, Suavi, Huns, Alans and Heruli".[13] By "slavery" status is considered the pay of tributes and military service.[11] There were many "grim clashes", but unexpected victory fell to the Gepids. Ardaric and his allies annihilated nearly 30,000 Huns and their allies.[14] In the battle Attila's oldest son, Ellac, died.[2] According to Priscus:
"[His] father was said to have loved so much beyond his other children that he placed him first among all the various children in the kingdom. His fortune, however, was not in harmony with his father's desire. For it is undisputed that, after slaughtering many enemies, he was killed so heroically that his father, if he had outlived him, would have wished to die so gloriously".[14]
Jordanes recounts:
"When Ellac was slain, his remaining brothers were put to fight near the shore of the Sea of Pontus where we have said the Goths settled. And so yielded the Huns to whom the whole world was once thought to yield: their disintegration was so calamitous that a nation which, with their forces united, used to terrify, when divided, tumbled down ... Many nations, by sending embassies, came to Roman lands and were welcomed by the emperor Marcian ... Now when the Goths saw the Gepids defending for themselves the territory of the Huns, and the people of the Huns dwelling again in their ancient abodes, they preferred to ask for lands from the Roman Empire, rather than invade the lands of others with dangers to themselves. So they received Pannonia".[16][14]
After the battle Attila's largely Germanic subject tribes started to reassert their independence.
References
- ^ Maenchen-Helfen 1973, p. 407, 408.
- ^ a b Maenchen-Helfen 1973, p. 144.
- ^ a b Maenchen-Helfen 1973, p. 407.
- ^ Golden 1992, p. 88.
- ^ Pritsak 1982, p. 445–446.
- ^ Given 2015, p. 55.
- ^ a b c Given 2015, p. 56.
- ^ Given 2015, p. 61.
- ^ Priscus. "Priscus at the court of Attila". Retrieved 19 October 2022.
- ^ Given 2015, p. 72.
- ^ a b Heather 2007, p. 354.
- ^ Given 2015, p. 114.
- ^ Given 2015, p. 114–115.
- ^ a b c Given 2015, p. 115.
- ISBN 9780520069831. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
- ^ Maenchen-Helfen 1973, p. 149.
- ^ Heather 2007, p. 446.
- ^ Heather 2007, p. 356.
- ^ Maenchen-Helfen 1973, p. 156.
- ^ a b Maenchen-Helfen 1973, p. 151.
- ^ Heather 2007, p. 355–356.
Sources
- ISBN 9780520015968.
- ISSN 0363-5570. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2016-12-13. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
- ISBN 9783447032742.
- ISBN 9780195325416.
- ISBN 9780199752720.
- Given, John P. (2015). The Fragmentary History of Priscus: Attila, the Huns and the Roman Empire, AD 430–476. Arx Publishing. ISBN 9781935228141.