Page 7 - GC-Mar-Apr-2026

Meet the Barbarians: The Huns

By Martin Ederer important role in the histories of Hunnic challenge and defeated For starters, Pope Leo’s “res- tribes so much that they increasing-
here are a number of miscon- Germanic Tribes and Roman diplo- them. Not to be denied, Attila’s cue” of Rome from a Hunnic attack ly sought refuge inside Rome’s bor-
ceptions about this bunch of macy alike and shaped the relation- forces went on a punitive expedi- reinforced the growing influence of ders. Some tried to enter legally,
Tbarbarians. For starters they ships between the Germans and the tion, turning southward into Italy the papacy over the political leader- finding out in some cases that the
are not even Germanic, and not even Romans. the following year. The western ship in the West. By this time Cath- legal way mainly led to political and
indigenously European. Yet As far as most ancient accounts emperor Valentinian III, a weak fig- olic Christianity had been the social abuse from the Romans. Oth-
through two world wars the British and more recent scholarship can tell ure ruling from Milan, was beside official state religion of Rome for a ers simply crossed the frontiers—
liked to call the Germans Huns. us, this group of nomadic people himself as the Hunnic onslaught little over a half century, so that was usually more with safety in mind
Nevertheless, the Huns did play an originated in Central Asia, possibly began. As Attila’s troops neared a a dynamic already in progress. But than conquest.
in what is today Afghanistan and panicking city of Rome, Pope Leo I now, it was the pope, not the west- Then there was the much later
Who was John Maynard? Why Pakistan. They were fine horsemen quietly saddled up his horse to meet ern emperor, who made the big play aftershock. When the Magyars
is there a memorial plague? who pursued both herds of animals Attila at his camp. that saved the city of Rome and slashed their way into Europe much
From page 6 as well as other opportunities. Per- We don’t know what got dis- eventually the West from the Huns. later (900s) after Charlemagne’s
Theodore Fontane’ s (1819-1898) haps the best—and very colorful— cussed or what happened. What we This also marked the growth of po- empire had disintegrated, Europe-
poem was first published in 1886 account we have of this people do know is that the imminent Hun- litical theories emphasizing the ulti- ans noted their similarities to the
and is one of many stories about the comes to us from the Roman writer nic attack on Rome inexplicably mate authority of the Church—the earlier Huns: they had come from
worst ship fire on Lake Erie at that Ammianus Marcellinus, but nothing never came, a situation entirely un- God stuff—over any pretentions of central Asia, they were nomadic,
time which had made big headlines about it is flattering. Words like, characteristic given the nature of supremacy on the part of secular always on horseback, and they were
across the U.S. due to its scale of ugly, savage, unsettled, wild and both Attila and his Huns. Historians rulers that would expand and annoy quite brutal. Some European lan-
tragedy. The paddle steamer actual- unreliable tend to dominate his de- have conjectured that Pope Leo much of European Civilization into guages accordingly labelled them
ly named “Erie” caught fire on Au- scriptions. The image is basically bought Attila off with gold and bau- the coming centuries: the church vs. “Hungarians”—people who are like
gust 9, 1841 after a cargo of that of vicious bands of screaming bles. But Attila could certainly have state stuff. the Huns. After German armies
turpentine and paint ignited. The barbarians on horseback seeking to seized even more of the same had he The Huns might have gone defeated the Magyars, they settled,
passenger ship with about 270 peo- maraud, a view based in part on taken Rome. Perhaps moral ser- away, but the whole Hunnic episode even more ironically, into the region
ple on board, including many Swiss Roman inabilities to make reliable monizing from the pope changed had scrambled the tribal map of Eu- that now bears their name: Hunga-
and German passengers, did not or lasting alliances with them. The Attila’s mind: Hardly likely given rope, which had ongoing implica- ry. That is where Europe last knew
reach its destination Chicago. This Romans had pursued such policies what we know about Attila. Some tions for Rome’s growing alien and of the original Huns. In any event
burnt near Silver Creek with 242 for centuries with Celts and Ger- have speculated that maybe the migrant problems. The Roman Em- the Magyars settled in, became
fatalities and only 29 were rescued. mans with a good amount of success. pope arrived in his white cassock at pire would have to continue to grap- Christian, and became a cherished
John Maynard is a fictitious Ruled by a dynamic young dusk, which frightened the mighty ple with those problems into the people in the European family of
name. The poem tells that Maynard King—Attila—since 434, the Huns Attila who thought he saw a ghost. future. The barbarity of the Huns nations.
had sacrificed his life to save hun- slashed their way into Europe from Or was it some miracle that helped had shocked many of the Germanic
dreds of people who were destined the East, becoming first a problem to earn Leo the added title of “the
to die due to an explosive fire on for parts of the later Roman Empire Great”? We may never know for
board. As a helmsman he held tight ruled out of Constantinople. sure.
to the steering so that the ship would Thanks to the East’s opulence, Con- We do know, however, that the
land on the Buffalo beach and peo- stantinople’s government could buy Huns subsequently withdrew from
ple could be saved. the Huns off, also encouraging them Italy, and from there the Romans
It is a powerful, exciting to go to the western half of the Ro- lost track of their whereabouts
ballad that in just a few lines, turns man Empire where they could help somewhere in Roman Pannonia
a pleasant steamboat trip into both a western armies as allies to help fight (present-day Hungary) by 454. By
catastrophe and a heroic tale. John the Germanic Burgundians. that time Attila was dead, the might
Maynard transferred from Mr. No- Once the Huns arrived in the of the Hunnic people also spent.
body to a Hero (or a king – as the West, they realized how weak its Some historians claim an epidemic
poem calls him), by sacrificing his armies were, and reneged on any was the reason. Still, the Huns had
life for others. deals they had made in the East. made their permanent mark on the
It’s funny how things unfold, Attila decided to seize Gaul for him- Roman Empire, Christianity, the
because now while I am writing this self in 451. The Huns had over- other barbarian tribes, and ultimate-
article, I just received a message reached. Western armies rose to the ly all of Europe.
from my childhood friend, Antje,
who’s a teacher in Wuppertal, Ger-
many. She sent me a photo of a
schoolbook – and there, staring
back at me, was "John Maynard."
Many Germans and also Swiss
visitors have come to Buffalo to see
a monument, a statue of that hero
and left disappointed. They were
disappointed that the grave men-
tioned by Fontane with the city's
“thank you” inscription in “golden
letters” on the “marble stone” in
Buffalo, the destination of the ill-
fated ship, could not be found any-
where.
Therefore, in 1997 a memorial
plaque was placed in Buffalo to
commemorate the legend of John
Maynard as well as giving
a reference to the real helmsman,
Luther Fuller who remained at his
post until the end.
This ballad is still important today Exploring Roots Up Close and Personal
– perhaps more than ever. We live Contributing Author: Jim Yagow
in a time marked by division, loud
APPLETON, Wisconsin: With a passion for deepening connections to
opinions, fear of the “other,” and a ancestral roots, Jim Yagow has spent the past 10 years planning and
growing temptation to look away
leading personalized, private tours to Germany. While these tours
when responsibility becomes un- include the typical tourist spots, what sets his tours apart is an “up
comfortable. Fontane’s John May-
close and personal” visit to Old Pomerania, northern Bavaria, and
nard reminds us of a different kind Lutherland.
of strength: quiet courage, steadfast-
A descendant of Prussian-German immigrants, Yagow custom-crafts
ness, and the willingness to hold tours with his own relatives in mind. Contacts with townsfolk nurtured
one’s post when others cannot. over the years make it possible for tour participants to go where the
John Maynard does not argue. He locals go, not simply the places tourists go.
does not seek recognition. He can- Two “Pure Germany” tours are being offered this fall. The first tour
not post a reel. He simply stays – runs from Sept. 8-20, 2026, beginning in Berlin and proceeding to
holding the course so that others Pomerania, Bavaria, and Lutherland. The dates of the second tour are
may live. My grandfather did the Nov. 3-17, 2026, beginning in Berlin, visiting Pomerania, and traveling
same in his own way: holding onto to Prague on an Elbe River cruise.
language, memory, and humanity Those of German descent will gain new insight into personal history
under circumstances meant to erase while everyone will enjoy discovering the history, culture, beautiful
them. And perhaps this is the invisi- countrysides and villages, historical landmarks, and cuisine of one of
ble thread that binds these stories Europe’s most visited countries.
together – the belief that even in the A participant from Yagow’s 2024 tour shared, “We saw places we
darkest moments, human dignity never would have seen on our own. Due to Jim’s knowledge of the area
can be preserved through responsi- and his many connections, it really felt like we were getting an ‘insiders’
bility, compassion, and care for oth- experience.”
ers, which Fontane’s might have For more details, anyone interested is invited to contact Jim Yagow
briefly expressed like this: via jimyagow@aol.com or (920) 809-4445. Explore your roots, up close
“Still there, John Maynard?” and personal.
“Yes, Master, I am.” March - April 2026 • THE GERMAN CITIZEN • 7