Dengizich facts for kids

Dengizich (died in 469 AD) was a Hunnic ruler. He was one of the sons of the famous Attila. After Attila's death in 453 AD, his large empire started to break apart. Dengizich and his brothers, Ellac and Ernak, tried to rule the remaining parts. Dengizich became king after his older brother Ellac died in 454 AD. He likely ruled alongside his brother Ernak, but they controlled different areas.

The Huns After Attila

After Attila passed away, the Hunnic Empire faced many challenges. His sons struggled to keep control. Ellac, the oldest brother, was killed in 454 AD at the Battle of Nedao. This battle was a big defeat for the Huns.

The Goths, who had once been part of the Hunnic Empire, began to fight for their freedom. Jordanes, a historian, wrote about these times. He mentioned that Attila's sons saw the Goths as people who had run away from their rule. They attacked the Goths, but the Goths fought back strongly. The Huns were defeated and had to flee.

Seeking Peace and Land

Around 465-466 AD, Dengizich and his brother Ernak sent messengers to Constantinople. This was the capital city of the Eastern Roman Empire. They wanted to make a peace treaty. They also asked for a market where Huns and Romans could trade goods near the Danube River.

However, the Roman Emperor Leo I refused their requests. Dengizich then moved his forces to the lower Danube River. He threatened to attack Thrace, a Roman province, if he wasn't given land and money. Emperor Leo I said he would only help if the Huns came to him and promised to obey Rome.

Battles and Defeats

In 467 AD, Dengizich crossed the frozen Danube River. He hoped that other Hun groups in the south would join him. But instead, large groups of Goths and Scythians moved on their own. Roman generals, including Basiliscus, led armies against these groups.

The Romans managed to trap some Goths in a valley. The Scythians, suffering from hunger, offered to surrender. They asked for land if they obeyed the Romans. During these talks, a Hunnic leader named Chelchal, who worked for the Romans, tricked the Goths. He made them believe the Romans would give land only to the Huns among them.

This trick caused a huge fight between the Goths and Huns. The Romans then attacked the barbarians. Many were killed, but some managed to escape the Roman trap. The war continued for two more years.

In 468 AD, the Goths, who had made peace with the Romans, found they didn't have enough resources. They started to raid nearby peoples. Dengizich, with the few Huns still loyal to him, attacked the city of Bassianae in Pannonia. The Goths quickly turned from their raids and attacked Dengizich. They drove the Huns out of their land.

The End of Dengizich

The war finally ended in 469 AD. Marcellinus Comes, another historian, recorded that Dengizich, Attila's son, was killed. His head was brought to Constantinople. The Chronicon Paschale describes how his head was carried through the city streets. It was then placed on a pole at the Wooden Circus for everyone to see. This marked the final end of Attila's direct line of rulers.