Etzel the Hun

Etzel the Hun was ruler of the Huns from 434 until his death in March 453. He was also the leader of a tribal empire consisting of Huns, Ostrogoths, Alans, and Bulgars, among others, in Central and Eastern Europe.

## **Biography**

Etzel was born in 406 as the son of Botelung, one of three Hun chiefs alongside Octar and Ruga who ruled the Huns in the 5th Century. The Death of Etzel's father and uncle Ruga left Etzel and his brother Bleda to take the throne together in 434. At this time the Roman Empire had divided in two. Relations between the Romans and the Huns were cordial. The Huns would be hired as mercenaries by the Romans. They occasionally took Roman hostages during their excursions and made a deal with the Romans to be paid to give them back. The Huns saw this exchange as a tribute to them while the Romans saw this as an acceptable trade deal. Etzel made one such deal with the Roman Emperor Theodosius II. The Huns largely stayed away from Roman territory until they attacked the Sassanid Empire. This ended in failure and the Huns chose to once more attack Europe in 440 and specifically the Roman province of Illyricum. As the Huns attacked, another group, the Vandals, attacked the western roman province in Africa, taking the capitol of Carthage. The Sassanid Empire also invaded Armenia in 441. Roman troops from the Balkans were sent to fight the Vandals in Africa, allowing Etzel to take much of the Balkans going through Illyricum. As the Hun threat grew, Roman Emperor Theodosius was forced to attack the Huns.

Etzel launched a campaign against the Romans in 443., utilizing battering rams for the first time, according to the Romans and massacred the Cities of Ratiara and Naissus. The aftermath of the battle was recorded by Roman Scholar Priscus, who met and recorded much of what is known of Etzel's life. The Hun's then advanced along the Nišava River, the Huns next took Serdica (Sofia), Philippopolis (Plovdiv), and Arcadiopolis (Lüleburgaz) and a Roman Army camp outside Constantinople, but could not breach the City's walls. They defeated a second army near Callipolis (Gelibolu). Roman Emperor Theodosius could not muster an army and was forced to admit defeat and give tribute of 6 Million pounds and an increase on the cost for hostages, the Huns accepted. Etzel's brother Bleda died around 445 as the Huns were leaving Byzantium, allowing Ewtzel the Hun to become sole leader.

### **Kingship**

In 447, Etzel the Hun rode against Rome by marching through Moesia, defeating the Roman Empire at the battle of the Utus. Unopposed, the Huns marched through the Balkans as far as Thermopylae. Hundreds of cities were captured. The Huns would have taken Constantinople itself were it not for the walls, which had been damaged in an earthquake, being repaired just in time. In 450, Etzel announced plans to attack the Visigoth Kingdom of Toulouse and ask the West Roman Emperor Valentinian III for an alliance. The Romans sent General Flavius Aëtius, to negotiate, Flavius had spent some time amongst the Huns while in exile in 433. In 450, Valentinian III's sister Honoria, seeking to escape marriage to a Roman Senator, pleaded with Etzel and proposed marriage which Etzel accepted in exchange for Western Rome. Valentinian III was stopped by his mother Galla Placidia, from having Honoria executed, and she was exiled instead. Etzel sent an emissary to dispute that the marriage proposal was legitimate.

One of Etzel's main rivals was the Arendellian Viking Hagar the Horrible (*Hagar the Horrible*), Etzel took many wives, including the Witch Broom hilda (*Broom Hilda*). Which was a case of mistaken identity as Etzel was seeking the Valkyrie Brumhilde. He instead discovered Kriemhild, whose husband Siegfried had been murdered and her treasure stolen by Hagen von Tronje. He proposed and they were wed. Etzel was convinced to aid in revenge against the Burgundians along with Hagen and Gunther. She succeeded but was killed by the King Old Hildebrand, leaving Etzel to lament her death (*Nibelungs*).

A Roman Noblewoman sided with Etzel to get revenge on the Romans (*"Attila Mon Amour"*). The two would fall in love but Etzel was unaware that his new wife was the goddess Inanna. Etzel was killed by the energy Inanna released during their sex (*The Wicked + The Divine*, 455 AD One Shot). His Roman Wife was killed soon after. Both found themselves revived as immortal Vampires. Attila and her would travel into space (*"Le Fleaudes Dieux"*) . His fierceness was granted to Ibac, a warrior created to counter Captain Marvel's champion, providing the "a" in Ibac's name (*DC Comics*).

Etzel would later die again and be reincarnated in hell, becoming a member of the vampire elite ruling council, along with Nero, Maximillian Robespierre, Oliver Haddo, Caligula, and Rasputin (*Vampire: Requiem Knight*). He gained titles such as the Antichrist, King of Tartarus and Hades, and Commander of the 666 Legions.

A wax figure of him in the Metropolis Museum of Natural History would be brought to life by an Egyptian tablet residing there (Night at the Museum).