Legacy of the Huns: Germanic and Turkic Kingdoms in Europe

In the aftermath of the Hunnic invasions, the geopolitical situation in Europe changed drastically. Between 370 and 453, the year of Attila's death, many Germanic and even Iranic tribes such as the Visigoths, Gepids and Alans migrated into Roman lands. The Vandals conquered Carthage and Roman Africa in 439, while Illyria became Ostrogothic territory and Odoaker of the Turkilingi tribe took over Italy in 476. The Western Roman Empire was thus crumbling under external pressure. But the Hunnic Empire had also collapsed after the death of Attila, its last great king. The events further east, however, are often overlooked in contemporary history books. Unjustly so. Because the Huns did not suddenly "disappear".

On the contrary, the people who had migrated to Europe stayed, bringing with them their cultures from Central Asia. The result was the creation of several new state-like entities, from the Hungarian plains to the Danube-Caspian region. Among them was the Onogur Federation. Composed of remnants of the Hunnic Empire as well as new migrants from Asia, the Onogur confederation laid the foundations for a Turkic presence in Eastern Europe, as well as being the predecessors of the Bulgars and perhaps even the Magyars, the ancestors of today's Hungarians and Bulgarians.

Finally, the Onogur federation served as a transition between the Hunnic era and the Göktürk era that would begin a century after Attila's death, as the Onogur presence in Ukraine would also enable a Göktürk presence on the Black Sea coast against Byzantium. It is time to unravel their story once and for all. We will delve deeper into the aftermath of the Hunnic invasions in both Western and Eastern Europe, revealing the legacy of the Huns long after the death of Attila.

Chapters:
00:00-02:10 Introduction: Ending Empires, Starting Kingdoms
02:11-07:53 Dissolution of the Hunnic Empire
07:54-15:13 Germanic Kingdoms
15:14-22:35 Turkic States
22:36-26:12 Dismantling the "Barbarian" Narrative

BOOK 2: [Coming Soon]

[KhansDen]

It's out... phew. FINALLY. With this video, we have had Hunnic documentaries with 100 minutes total runtime published within two months. That was quite a lot of work, but judging from the numbers, I suppose it was worth it.

So thanks for watching! And keep an eye out for the next video – because we are not done yet with the Huns. There is one region that we have not really covered, but had mentioned before, and which was ruled by Hunnic entities for nearly 300 years. Can you guess which region it is?

[magyararcher]

Great video again. Ernak and Irnik names still used in Hungary, name days on March 25th and Ellak on July 8th.

[muchmiller]

Brilliant series. After having watched Ertugrul and other Turkish series I have become fascinated to to know Turkic culture. The references to Tengrism are also very interestng. Do you know if Turkic peoples used any kind of sacred plants in their magical practices? Anamita Muscaria perhaps? Cannabis?

[denizucar]

In my opinion, the name Dengizik derives from Tengiz-teg "Sea-like". As in the names of the sons of Çengiz Khan (Çengiz also most likely comes from Tengiz by the way), the Turkic suffix -teg, -dek, -tey means "like" or "as":
-Çaga-tey = Juvenile-like / Youthful
- Ögä-tey = Glory-like / Famous

But this has a catch. If the name is Deŋizteg, than it can't be Oghuric, because of the missing rhotacism. The oghuric variant would be something like Dengirtek. Sounds similar. Maybe the author of the source did a little mistake or couldn't dfferenciate the turkic sounds.

Or the name is Dengirçik (little Sea) as Männhen-Helfen suggestet.

Could it be that some Huns spoke Oghuric and some spoke common turkic. Quite possible. Or the switch from rhotacism to zetacism wasn't fully completed then? At least in some tribes of the European Huns? Everything is possible.

But every etimological explanation is easily recognizable as turkic, as in the names of Atillas other sons:

Ellac from ilek / elig (ruler / king) - most likely a title

Ernak from Erkek / Erenkäk / Erklig or some variant of it with the meanings of manliness / mightyful / Power

Even today there are plentiful turkic names with "er" man/soldier. (Erhan, Erkan, Ertuğrul, Taner etc.)

There are some turkic dialects, where erŋek means finger or thumb.

Greetings
Deniz

[giiiizmo]

Always waiting with anticipation for your videos! Thank you for your hard work everytime.❤

[billhill]

You added a few extra pieces - I see more of the Big Picture - every time you Post. Thank you!

[graucanal]

Greatt. Thanks from brazil and for subs.

[DNS-FRANK]

When I was in 8th grade I did a history day presentation on the huns. I didn't win anything lol but I learned a lot about the huns because those guys were awesome 💯

[Userjunior]

Super video thanks for your hard work And the comments to the video are high quality adding additional information Thanks to all of you

[schytoyamnaya]

As a Hungarian Archaeologist who specialized in early medieval steppe people, this was one of the most accurate videos I have seen in the topic. However, the over mongolised facial features can be missleading for the watchers, because in reality, these Oghur Turkic tribes (and even the western Xiongnu) had huge local integrated Schytian ancestry in their blood, and even genetical studies show that the majority of the eastern inhabitants in the Avar Khaganate (mostly Kutrigurys, Onogurs under the "true avar leadership") had mixed european-asian ancestry genetically, origanted from the Pontian Steppe. They facial features were likely Europo-mongolid in the leadership, while the commoners, local inhabitants could have been evem totally Europid.

[xrcs]

I'm not sure I found this channel but I love it

[yagmuralksal]

Fascinating work, text, narration and illustration. You're brilliant. I hope a dub in Russian will follow the English one as before, for you know, some children of these great people think and speak in Russian nowadays

[papazataklaattiranimam]

In a manuscript of Otto of Freising's History of Two Cities an editor, seemingly from the thirteenth century, added a marginal note to a passage describing the conversion of a king of the Huns at the time of the Emperor Justinian. This note commented that the Turks' were formerly known as 'Huns' and that Western Huns are now called Hungarians and Avars. This comment, whilst obscure and late, demonstrates that this author at least understood that a link existed between the Turks and Hungarians. 52 There is an earlier source that makes a similar point. This is the Chronicle of Montecassino, which in an account of the First Crusade's crossing of Asia Minor, refers to the Seljuk Turkish ruler, Qilij Arslan of Nicaea, as the 'king of Huns, who now we call Turks'. 53

Morton, N., John, S. (2016). Crusading and Warfare in the Middle Ages: Realities and Representations. Essays in Honour of John France. United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis. p. 59.

[serkankinden]

Wonderful video giving priceless, highly valuable historical informations! Congratulations, you are the best youtuber and history teller ever...

Also, I want to mention about agglutinative linguistic heritage of europe like similarly mentioned as TURCILINGI etc. There is a new language family theory named Dene-Caucasian language family. This family includes both ancient civilizations and modern populations as speaking or have spoken mostly agglutinative languages as listed below:
Dene-Yeniseian (Nadene/Atabasq, Ket, Yeniseian),
Burushaski Hunza,
Elamite-Dravidian (Elamite, Dravidian),
Sumerian,
North Caucasian (Avar Andic, Lezgic),
Tyrrhenian (Etruscan, Raetic),
Vasconic (Basq, Aquitan)...

Especially; tyrrhenian, vasconic languages highly deserve to be mentioned. They were located in west europe, central and south europe as related to modern north italian and basq people. They were Etruscan, Raetic, Basq, Aquitan and I think additionally Saxons, Celts have been related to these tyrrhenian-vasconic people.

Etruscans have lived in north italy in ancient ages as speaking agglutinative languages. They lived for a long time as called themselves as "Rasenna". This name is very similar to Gokturk dynasty "Ashina" and also etruscan mythology includes romus/romulus as descendants of shewolf ("Asena" in turkic mythology).

They had some cities named "Kurt'un" meaning "Wolve's" and "Tarkn'a" meaning "Tarkan's". Also, they have named Rome as "Rum'a" meaning "Grecoroman's". But after they have been defeated by grecoman empire, they have lost their region to grecoromans later and italian language have become an agglutinative + grecoroman mixtures as latin language.

As we can see in this video and history, they did not die or have been assimilated fully. They have protected their agglutinative language partly as named TURCILINGI etc... Similarly, basq people also did not convert to indoeuropean languages fully. Basq people partly protected their agglutinative language as isolate in europe.

Basq people have called themselves as "Eu-Skara" similar to Saka/Sakir or Scythians/Ashkenaz also their name is very similar to Bashkirs which are also direct descendants of Saka/Sakir people in north caucasian, euroasian region. Additionally, Khazars, Balkars are related to Scythians/Ashkenaz in same region.

These people are genetically euroasian, central asian agglutinative speaking people too, who have been partly assimilated or mixed with south caucasian, arian people in caucasia. Even they are speaking or have spoken indoeuropean, they were originally altaian siberian R1a, R1b ydna people genetically.

Additionally, west french aquitan people are related to basq people as having same language sharing vasconic languages. I always think about what happened to those people in west europe and I always get into a conclusion as they have been assimilated to indoeuropean by grecoroman or germanic people.

When we look into many studies, celtic people are stated as euroasian nomads coming from anatolia and/or euroasia. I think celtic people were Saka/Sakir related people having agglutinative languages originally. Also, these people are R1a, R1b ydna genetically originated from altaian siberia.

Moreover, saxons, scots are named similar to Saka/Sakir or Scythian/Ashkenaz, but as migrated to northern side they have been converted to germanic, anglic, nordic indoeuropean languages. These people also have R1a, R1b ydna as genetically related to altaian siberia.

All those dene-caucasian agglutinative language speakers are actually relatives of uralic-altaic agglutinative speakers both linguistically and genetically. Europe has a certain agglutinative speaking heritage and all these people have R1a, R1b ydna genetics originated from altaian siberia.

Also, some people ask me about their reddish hairs after I claim my opinion. I tried to inspect reddish hair and I have realized that most reddish people are Udmurts in euroasia. They have highest T mtdna (upto 40%) as possibly causing reddish hairs because ydna is not related to hair color, eye color etc.

Phenotype is more possible to be related to mtdna haplogroup. (If I am wrong, inform me as scientific) Also Udmurts are uralic, finnic, ugric people who have very high N3 ydna (upto 85%). So meanly, we can see that reddish hairs are also related to uralic-altaic people genetically.

[BGBolyar]

Modern genetic studies of bone material from Bulgarian burials from the period of the early Middle Ages clearly shows that the ethnic appearance of the discovered bodies belongs to the Indo-European group. Archaeologically, the Proto-Bulgarians belong to the Sarmato-Alan cultures.

The Proto-Bulgarians as inhabitants of the lands north of the Caucasus in the 2nd century are mentioned by the Armenian historian Movses Khorenatsi. In his History of Armenia, written in the 80's of the 5th century AD, he speaks about two migrations of Proto-Bulgarians from Caucasus to Armenia. Proto-Bulgarians lived amongst Sarmato-Alan and Slavic tribes for centuries before migrating to the Balkans. However, Turkic elements could also be found due to the influence of the Avars (mostly) and the Göktürks.

Most of the names of the rulers and aristocrats of the First Bulgarian Empire are of Iranian origin.

Names such as Sinnion, Zabergan, Kubrat/Xovrat, Bezmer/Bozmihr, Asparukh, Tervel, Kormes, Sevar, Kardam, Krum, Omurtag/Murtag, Negavon, Okorsis/Korsis, Malamir, Boris, Rasate, etc., are proven to be (Indo)Iranian and generally Indo-European in origin (and etymology) and does not have Turkic analogues. The last pagan ruler of Bulgaria was literally called Persian/Presian.

[kfpmktg]

Odoaker's father was a hun officer. In german language Torkeling means Turkling or dyansty of turks

[AltaicGigachad]

While its true that there was some controversy about the origin of the Huns, the consensus after recent decades is that they were Turks of Oghuric affiliation, mostly based on credible studies confirming that the vast majority of attested Hunnic names, as well as all Hunnic successor clans are of evident Oghur Turkic origin.

All Hunnic tribes (entirely Oghur Turkic) :
Akatziri, Onogurs, Utigurs, Sabirs, Bulgars, Saragurs, Kutrigurs, Barsils, Balanjars

Recorded Hunnic names of Turkic origin :
Aigan = moon prince; from Turkic aï & can
Alp Ilutuer / Ilteber = heroic chieftain; from Turkic alp & iltäbär
Althias = six; from Turkic Alti
Akkagas = white rock; from Turkic ak & kayač
Atakam = elder shaman; from Turkic ata & kam
Balach = calf; from Turkic Malaq
Berik = strong; from Turkic Berık
Basik = governor; from Turkic Bârsiğ
Bleda = wise; from Turkic Bildä
Bochas = either gullet; from Turkic Boğuz; or bull, from Buqa
Dengizich = ocean-like, heavenly; from Turkic teɲez & dêɲri; or, more simply, great lake
Donat / Donatu = horse; from Turkic Yonat
Edeco = good; from Turkic Ädgü
Ellac = to rule; from Turkic el & lä
Emmedzur = horse lord; from Turkic Ämäcur
Eskam / Esqam = companion of the shaman; from Turkic Eŝkam
Hereka / Kreka = pure princess; from Turkic Arïqan
Ernakh / Hernac = small man, heroic man; from Turkic Ernäk
Iliger = prince man; from Turkic ilig & är
Karadach = black mountain; from Turkic Qaradağ
Karaton = black cloak; from Turkic Qarâton
Kursik = either noble; from Turkic Kürsiğ; or belt-bearer, from Qurŝiq
Kutilzis = blessed herald; from Turkic kut & elči
Mundzuk = bead; from Turkic Munčuq
Oebarsius / Aybars = moon leopard, from Turkic Aïbârs; or dun leopard, from oy & bars
Oldogan / Odolgan = either red falcon; from Turkic al & dogan; or chubby, from Tolgun
Oktar / Uptar = brave; from Turkic Öctär
Ruga / Rua = wise man; from Turkic Ögä
Turgun = still/calm; from Turkic Turkun
Uldin = six; from Turkic Alti
Zolban = shepherd star; from Turkic Čolpan.

[MrRockSever]

it'd be great to have an episode detailing down on Göktürk/tengri faith system and it's ethical as well as moral implementations.
Great work m8, it's already amazing to have the depth of content especially integrated with such visuals; amazing use of AI.
Keep 'em coming!

[odilbekb-sarkaev]

What is a royal tamga of the Dulo dynasty? If matches I might explain who they were.

[nenenindonu]

A passage in the Getica of Jordanes, going back to the fifth-century historian Priscus, gives the answer. "Like a whirlwind of nations the Huns swept across the Alpidzuri, Alcildzuri, Itimari, Tuncarsi, & Boisci who bordered that part of Scythia." As we shall see, the first two names stand for one, the Turkish name Alp-il-čur, which cannot be separated from the Hunnic names ending in -cur. The other names will occupy us later. In the present context this one name, *Alpilčur, suffices to prove the existence of Turkish speaking nomads.

Maenchen-Helfen. The World of the Huns: Studies in Their History and Culture. p.23