Rome and Attila: Rome's Greatest Enemy

Fall of the Roman Empire Book #3

by Nick Holmes

“A skilled storyteller…Holmes presents a riveting account of Rome’s decline” Kirkus Reviews

Attila is a household name. But his true character and impact on the Roman Empire have always remained elusive. Until now.

In the first major work written about Attila in decades, Nick Holmes rewrites the story of Attila and Rome. Contrary to his brutal legend, Attila was a complex and captivating personality. A great warlord who despised ostentation, admired bravery and valued loyalty.

He led his steppe nomads further west than Genghis Khan or Tamerlane. He nearly destroyed the Roman Empire. But his vast ambition undid him. This book is a must read for those interested in Rome, the Huns and military history.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Ancient History, Ebooks

305 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 8, 2024

About the author

Hello, I'm a British author, podcaster, and historian, and welcome to my series of books on the Fall Of The Roman Empire. My passion is Roman history. I've wandered among the ruins of the Roman Forum and wondered what happened to this great civilisation? I've stared into the dome of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, and reflected on how the Roman Empire lasted for centuries after Rome itself was sacked, even when its capital moved to Constantinople. So, I've embarked on writing the full account of this momentous time.

Immerse yourself in this incredible story. It may surprise you to find that those events so long ago are strangely relevant to our modern times, from the changing climate to religion, and from war to peace. Let us listen to the voices from the past.

And if you like podcasts, try mine "The Fall of the Roman Empire", which accompanies my books, and please check out my website which offers a free book and much more at www.nickholmesauthor.com

Reviews

[Mircea Petcu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mega-seceta din stepa asiatică i-a determinat pe huni să caute un teren mai fertil pe care să-și pască turmele de oi și capre. Migrațía hunilor a declanșat un efect de domino prin împingerea triburilor germanice spre vest, în adâncimea Imperiului Roman. Goții lui Alaric vor jefui Roma în anul 410 d.Hr, iar, poate mai important, vandalii vor cuceri Africa de Nord, grânarul Romei și a doua cea mai bogată provincie a Imperiului Roman de Apus, după Italia însăși.
În est, Persia Sasanidă a fost atacată de hunii albi. În timpul unei bătalii din nordul Afganistanului de astăzi, șahinșahul Peroz a fost omorât, imperiul său devenind practic un stat vasal al hunilor. Cu marele rival scos din joc, Imperiul Roman de Răsărit ar fi putut să ajute mai mult fratele suferind din vest, dar nu a făcut-o.

În acest context a avut loc desantul hunilor lui Attila în Imperiul Roman.
Sub asaltul hunilor, armata Imperiului Roman de Răsărit a devenit, paradoxal, mai puternică. Profitând de boom-ul economic, armata și-a putut dubla dimensiunea. Sub împăratul Marcian au suficient de încrezători încât să refuze plata tributului.
În cealaltă parte a Mediteranei, redus la provinciile Italia, Iliria și porțiuni din Galia, Imperiul Roman de Apus era falimentar. Armata era mică și formată preponderent din mercenari barbari.
Cu toate acestea, romanii din Apus l-au oprit pe Attila în bătălia din Câmpiile Catalaunice (451 d. Hr.), de lângă Troyes, cu contribuția decisivă a vizigoților.

Imperiul lui Attila s-a destrămat imediat după moartea sa. Doar o personalitate puternică putea ține unite triburile. Un alt motiv pentru disoluția rapidă a imperiului hunic a fost strategia nesustenabilă a acestuia, ce presupunea aprovizionarea constantă cu aur din tribut și jaf pentru a cumpăra loialitatea supușilor germanici.

Dispariția hunilor nu a însemnat dispariția problemelor pentru romani. Imperiul Roman de Apus va înceta să existe în decurs de o generație. Autorul nu se ferește să găsească vinovații pentru dispariția Imperiului Roman de Apus: deciziile luate de împărații dinastiei teodosiene (cei doi Teodosie, Honorius, Arcadius și Valentinian al III-lea) - "bicisnicul împărat Valentinian".

Recomand

[Liviu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still interesting but not quite on par with the previous two series books.

[BenAbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 3 in the series,
the present volume picks up from where the last one ended, with the sack of Rome by Alaric the Goth and its aftermath. The account takes us through the last death throes of the Western Empire up until 476. The focus is on Attila's presence in this late stage of Roman history and the Hunnic explosion both eastward and westward. We get an interesting perspective on the reaction it caused both in terms of Eastern strategic thinking and the wider political landscape in the West.



The author's main question concerns the east/west split, as in: why did the Western half fall while the East survived?

The decline in the West was palpable even before Attila, and indeed, as the author's last two books argue, it had become irreversible by then. But how come, just two decades after the death of "the scourge of God", the Imperium Romanum was discontinued on that side of the Adriatic?


The author covered a lot (and I mean A LOT) of related events and topics in his attempt to provide an answer. I however, must be brief and sum up my takes in three main points:



1/FIRST, The Hunnic Domino:

The Hunnic appearance on the scene was both good, bad, and, may I add, necessary;

a) Good, because they caused troubles for the Persians as well as for the Romans, which, for the Eastern Roman Empire, meant a period of relative peace and reduced conflict with the Sassanids, who were distracted by their own barbarian problem in the form of the White Huns.
b) Bad, for Attila indirectly led to the loss of North Africa to the Vandals, with Constantinople being distracted by defending its borders along the Danube rather than wasting precious time and troops helping the West wrest its African domains back from the new Germanic state on the shores of the Mediterranean, which for the west was catastrophic due to the accompanying loss of both manpower and tax revenue at a time when both were badly needed.
c) Necessary, because (excuse my French) sometimes it just takes a nice kick to the head in order for one to get his shit together and put ones house in order. This proved to be the case for the East. The Hunnic invasions of Thrace and their European domains led to a project of remilitarization, where the Eastern field armies were increased by two praesental armies . This had massive consequences in terms of deterring Attila (as I mention in my second point below) and for the future in general as the author suggests that this military expansion provided the springboard for the resurgence of Rome later at the time of Justinian.


2/SECOND, Fortress Constantinople:

According to the author, the reason why Attila invaded west after his campaign in the east wasn't because the Huns felt invincible.
Long story short: they drove west because they couldn't force the east into submission. Attila failed to cross the Bosporus, failed to take Constantinople, failed to even get them to keep paying him tribute in gold, and in general failed to break Roman resistance in the east. And even though he won military victories against them, it came at the cost of a bloody nose. Essentially, the Huns met their match east of the Adriatic and went for much easier pickings in the west.


3/ Lastly, Roma Capta:

Even though, for two decades after facing the Huns on European soil, the western half of the empire survived in one shape or another, the invasion accelerated the normalization of barbarian powers in the West. By the time of Flavius Aetius, Rome was negotiating with kings of the Visigoths, occupying what formerly was Roman territory. Barbarians were treated in practice as partners in coalition warfare, instead of subjects or foederati. At times, such as with the Hunnic invasions, the Visigoths were addressed as equals and practically begged by the Romans to join an anti-Attila league. This, in the end, would lead to the petering out of the Western Roman Empire and its replacement by a fractured scene of different barbarian states fighting and competing for political supremacy.

Barbarians, once enemies, became mercenaries, then kingmakers, and eventually, taking off any imperial pretenses by appointing puppet emperors, did away with the entire institution and crowned themselves kings of Italy.



This volume ends with Odoacer becoming the first king of Italy after the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476.



3 books in, 2 to go, and I'm still loving every page of it. So far, so good.




Rating: 4/5.

[Willy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rome and Attila was a great book that attempts to chronicle both the final years of the Western Roman Empire and the impact that Attila the Hun had on the world at the time.

In this, it mostly succeeds. Holmes uses what scant sources we have of the time and tries to present a narrative which he and I both agree with; that Attila the Hun presented the greatest threat to Rome since Hannibal was at the gates more than 6 centuries before.

He presents many interesting concepts in this; that the Huns moved from Asian steppe to European plain because of climate change, that Attila carefully constructed a monstrous image, that the success of the Vandals in North Africa was down to a combination of Attila’s influence, Gaiseric’s skill and finally that Attila had a large role to play in Justinian and Belisarius’s conquests almost a century later.

Though I don’t necessarily agree with everything he says, his concise style and great prose allows for an easily digestible overview of this period.

[Bradford Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read

The author has a style which makes the history of that period very interesting rather than dour. He sometimes also offers his theories on certain events which are very plausible. The historical journal from Priscus offers an idea of what Attila was like, and the chronology of emperors at the end of the book is a good summary.

[Terry Ludwig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rome and Attila, Book 3 in a projected 6-volume series, focuses on the short-but-critical historical time period 410-476 CE, although it also recaps the events of 360-410 CE, which were detailed in Book 2.

I enjoyed meeting all sorts of movers and shakers in the decline of the Roman Empire. Attila receives the primary focus; almost 100 pages of the book are devoted to his life and impact. But a lot of other players also are introduced, including Ataulf, Valentinian III, Aetius, Theodoric, Ricimer, Marjorian, Alaric, Gaiseric, and Odoacer. A number of influential women are also spotlighted, including Galla Placidia, Hypatia, Honoria, Kreka, Aelia Pulcheria, and Aelia Eudocia. Galla Placidia is a particularly memorable.

I was impressed with the way the author juggles the various military powers and their activities. You have Western Roman Emperors, Eastern Roman Emperors, Persians, Huns, White Huns, Visigoths, usurpers, Vandals, and all sorts of Germanic tribes, each carrying out their own agenda. Yet somehow it never became confusing.

I also liked the way other influences are addressed cited in explaining the Rome’s collapse. Climate change caused the Huns to pull up stakes and move en masse eastward. The Huns used Germanic mercenaries to bolster their ranks, and therefore were dependent on Roman tribute to keep their position of dominance. The Persian Empire was beset by other Hunnic hordes, so they became keen on maintaining friendly relations with Constantinople, which spared the Eastern Empire the tribulations endured by Rome.

The occasional “aside” sections were also great. When Rome fell, what happened to the legionnaires stationed in the hinterlands? Who were the Huns, where did they come from, and why did they disappear so quickly and thoroughly upon Attila’s death? How did the lives of ordinary citizens change after law and order collapsed throughout the western Empire? The interludes addressing these questions were both fascinating and informative.


I’ve read all three “Fall of the Roman Empire” and have thoroughly enjoyed each one. I’m particularly intrigued by what the subject matter of Book 4 will be. The remnants of the Western Roman Empire falling into a prolonged abyss called the Dark Ages? The Eastern Roman Empire learning to get along without its European sibling? Or will the focus be on both halves equally? Inquiring minds want to know.

[LPosse1 Larry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rome and Attila by Nick Holmes – ★★★☆☆

This was not my favorite of Holmes’s books, though it was still worth the read. I did learn quite a bit about Attila the Hun—especially how climate change pushed the Huns westward into conflict with the Romans and the Germanic tribes. That background was both informative and interesting, and Holmes explains it clearly.

That said, one of the downfalls of this book is its repetitive nature. Holmes often pulls passages verbatim from earlier volumes, which makes parts of it feel recycled. The overall effect is what I’d call “Ancient Roman History Light.” He tends to skim over important topics, likely due to the lack of source material from this period. Unlike the Republic and early Empire, when writers like Livy were constantly documenting events, here we’re left with far fewer voices—and it shows. No Livy quotes in this one!

In the end, while Rome and Attila has its strengths, I didn’t find it as engaging or fresh as some of Holmes’s other works. It’s a decent introduction to the topic, but not the standout of his series.

[Xavier Ruiz Trullols · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another compelling addition to Nick Holmes' series on the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. In this concise yet deeply informative book, Holmes skillfully navigates the chaotic final decades of the Western Roman Empire, shedding light on the key figures and events that shaped its downfall. The book balances historical narrative with insightful analysis, making it both dynamic and super educational.

However, this is perhaps the most challenging to read so far in the series. Holmes introduces a vast array of names and battles, many of which were unfamiliar to me, making it a bit harder to follow.

What I particularly appreciate is Holmes’ willingness to offer his own theories on certain events, which often feel well-reasoned and plausible. These interpretations add an extra layer of depth to the book, inviting readers to think critically about the history of Rome’s decline.

[Paul A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Holmes' writing is, as always, quite succinct and brief - he has a talent for communicating his arguments with few wasted words. This volume in his projected six-part series relates the life and times of Attila, along with how his actions affected the course of both the western and eastern Roman empires. It's incredible to see how the western half of the empire continued to hold on, even as it lost its armies, its land, and its resolve, guided by the hands of a few, competent leaders. It's often tempting to see steppe empires as being ephemeral and having few lasting effects, but Holmes argues that they have often had more of an impact on settled societies than is immediately apparent. Overall, Rome and Attila is a brief, but informative overview of the last days of the western Roman empire and the life of the man who brought it there.

[Jacob Sim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remarkable

Very Talented writer, just an Awsome series. I'm really looking forward to the next 3 books.

If you're a history buff like myself, you'll love this series :)

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished the 3 volume series. Enjoyed overall. Some material is repeated in V3. I’m reading and thinking “didn’t I read this already”. Sure enough already covered in V2.

[A M Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the 3rd in Nick Holmes' series on the late roman empire which starts from the crisis of the 3rd century and ends with the Arab invasions of the 7th century
As such it covers the decline and fall of the Roman superpower.

this book covers the period from the sack of Rome in 410AD to the abdication of the last western emperor in 476.

it is an exceptionally well written breezy overview of the situation. I think Holmes' strength lies in his ability to synthese a lot of material and to make connections between disperate sources.

there is nothing new here but it feels fresh and some of the conclusions are original.

2 key things for me. Holmes is great at explaining both why the eastern empire survived but also why it wasn't able to offer much help to the west. basically the east dealt with the ongoing barbarian crisis by almost offering the barbarians the easier route into the west.

I think he is also good on the true impact of Attila. Perhaps Atilla didn't have a huge direct impact on Rome but he occupied so much attention and resources that he stopped the Romans from dealing with other issues, such as the Vandals in North Africa.

Holmes also lays bare the poor state of leadership in the west in the 5th century. the 2 key emperors were honorius and Valentinan III who ruled from 400AD to 455AD. Both were useless.

this is proving to be a great series.

[John E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Considerable Insight

Nick Holmes third book on the decline of the Roman Empire investigates the role of the Huns in the destruction of the empire in Western Europe. Holmes’ research reveals that a mega drought in Central Asia forced the Huns to migrate into Eastern and Central Europe. His study reveals the enormous impact the Hunic Empire had on the Western Empire and even the Eastern Empire. Holmes explains why the Huns led to the complete destruction of the Western Roman Empire. Like all of Holmes books, it is insightful, easy to read and not long.

[Patrick Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

4* not so much a book about Attila more Romes response to him which was very insightful. This book goes all the way to the true death of the western Roman Empire in 476 when Odaocer sent the imperial crown and insignia back to Constantinople and said keep them.

I did like Attila the so called Scourge of god, according to Roman accounts he was very humble modest leader. It was the church that spent decades/centuries demonizing him

[Rindis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third of Nick Holmes' books on the end of the Roman Empire covers from the sacking of Rome in 410 through the death of Attila in 453, and then the end of Western Roman administration in 476.

The good news is that the transition between The Fall of Rome and this book isn't as repetitious as between the first two, and I don't know of any books essential to the period that he's missed out on this time.

The bad news is the transition does still have a lot of copy-and-pasted material that someone reading straight through will want to skip, and there's no roadsigns to it. But it's not as extensive, and seems broken up a little by new or rewritten material.

I am gratified to see Ian Hughes' books (most notably Patricians and Emperors) show up in the notes. I have some problems with his books, but they are invaluable reconstructions of what was going on politically in the western Empire in this period. For anyone wanting more on the climatic battle between (effectively) Western Europe and Atilla, I recommend Osprey Publishing's Catalaunian Fields AD 451 (Campaign #286). This is a detailed look at the campaign, and might have informed this book some, but is at a lower level than the bulk of the narrative.

On the other hand, Holmes has definitely fallen in love with one of his sources, Priscus' History of Byzantium; or at least those pieces that survive. The actual work is lost to us, but it extensively quoted in other places, and he presents a translation of parts of those quotes put together at the end of his book. I admit I haven't really read that part, but I certainly commend him for its inclusion.

Holmes does have his own thoughts on the importance of Atilla, and the tribute the eastern Empire was paying during this period. Even better, he has some thoughts on a military recovery in this period. I'd have to see something a little more finely argued, and some counter arguments to come to a real opinion, but he does make an interesting case. Overall, its a good addition to the series, and while I still say don't read it immediately after the previous book, it's still a great starting place on this bit of history.

[Ian Kirk · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this series but, the one thing I did not like was the fact that the first several chapters are almost word for word the same as chapters in the previous book in the series. If you’re only reading the one book it’s not a problem but when you read all 4, it’s annoying to read the same thing over again in the next book.

[Keith Carel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy good stuff

It was,well written ,easy to follow along, poignant, precise and concise. I wad wondering if the one emissary priscus was going to show up. And sure enough he did. .Y

[Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Throughly interesting read about the last days of the western Roman Empire. I knew a tiny bit about 4th-5th century but this gave me a better look into this period

[Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent book! This is one of the best series I have read to date. This is a must read.

[Mark Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want a lot of detail, this is the book. I found it challenging to keep up with the detail myself but for some, this will be ideal!

[Scotty McKenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read. Not as linear at points and the politics. Long explanations regarding the political dynamics mixed with references to policy not yet discussed can make it confusing at points.

[Lyon Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible non-fiction series about the Roman Republic and Empire. Nick Holmes presents history in a way that is both highly accessible and deeply informative. The narrative brings the politics, culture, and military campaigns of Rome vividly to life, while still being grounded in solid research. It’s a perfect introduction for anyone interested in Roman history, but it also offers plenty of depth for readers who already know the basics. I strongly recommend reading the entire series from start to finish — it gives you a clear sense of how Rome rose, flourished, and eventually declined.