The Eighth Tribe, 1981 (8. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1981-03-01 / 3. szám
Page 6 THE EIGHTH TRIBE March, 1981 THE HUNS THE SEPARATION OF THE HUNS FROM THE MAGYARS Hundreds and hundreds of years passed by, and the descendants of HUNOR and MAGOR increased many-fold. The time came when they were more in numbers than the stars in the sky, the grass blades on the meadows or the sand grains on the desert. There was not enough game left in the forest nor fish in the waters for so many people. The leaders knew that something must be done, so they called a great council meeting and invited the representatives of every tribe and every clan. The number of those who attended this gathering was so great that their tents spread out from horizon to horizon, and their distant campfires seemed to mingle with the stars. One night, when the handle of the Big Dipper pointed upwards, the leaders came to a decision. The HUNS should set out in the direction of the setting sun to seek a new homeland. When the morning, beautifully clad in blue, greeted the sister-nations with lovely bird-songs, the high priests sacrificed an unbroken white stallion to God, the UR, and friends shook hands with friends. The Magyars left the council camp returning to their homes. The one-hundred and eight clans of the Huns chose Bela, Keve, and Kadosa as leaders for the vanguard. Each man selected one thousand of the best warriors and set out Westward on their beautiful horses, with bugles blowing, flags waving, like a great sweeping flood. The entire Hun-nation followed them under the leadership of Bendegúz. The men were on horseback, followed by an endless column of covered wagons, bearing women and children. At the rear, numberless herds of horses, cattle and sheep followed, guarded by barking dogs and whip-cracking herdsmen. Like the ocean waves at high-tide, churning and breaking on the rocky shores, the Hun nation moved forward toward the West Reaching the great river ATIL (Volga), they set up camp. Scouts searched for a safe crossing, while the men carefully checked and repaired their six-wheel wagons. Women secured their treasured belongings and took care of the children. Herdsmen tended the animals. As a safety measure warriors prepared leather bags, to be blown up for the river crossing. They all knew that it would take weeks, even months, for the one hundred and eight clans to cross the muddy, roaring Atil. While the entire huge campsite was filled with excitement and preparation, an unusual quiet surrounded the golden tent of the Chieftain, Bendegúz, for his wife was ahout to present him with a second child. Outside the tent, the people gathered around the campfire, waiting for the big event. As Dusk was preparing the purple bed for Sun-God, all the one hundred and eight clan-chiefs were present, silently drinking from golden cups, all the while searching the sky for signs. Suddenly, Bendeguz’s first-born son, little BUDA, pointed his finger toward the heavens. “Look, Father! Son-God and Moon-God are together in the sky!” he exclaimed. While all looked in astonishment at the sky, the curtains of the Chieftain’s tent opened and a woman appeared with a new-born baby in her arms. “It is a boy”, she said. “A beautiful boy!” According to ancient customs, the father took his new-born son in his arms, held the babe high above the fire and gave him the name ATIL. The old highpriest, Tana, raised his blind eyes toward the sky and spoke. “Sing praises, oh Huns, the Whip of God is born!” the old man cried in a loud trembling voice. The next day the Huns crossed the river and began their glorious journey toward the West, the fame of which is still preserved on the pages of ancient chronicles. There was no power to stop them. Nations along their path either fled in panic or joined with them. It was whispered among the Goths, Vandals and Romans, that? the Huns were not human, but were descendants of witches and devils. Sweeping westward, they crossed the Carpathian mountains reaching the rich fertile plains between the Danube and the Tisza Rivers at Pannonia, the eastmost frontier of the Roman Empire. According to the chronicles, the Romans had heard of the Hun’s advance, and had sent to the aid of Macrinus, the military commander of Pannonia, additional forces under the leadership of the “Barbarian” Detre (Dietrich), of Verona. While Macrinus and Detre were still discussing plans, the Huns crossed the Danube under cover of the night and launched a successful surprise attack on the encamped Roman troops. However, Detre was able to re-group his men on the plain of Tárnok where he defeated the pursuing Hun vanguard. Keve and his warriors lost their lives in this famous battle. The Romans also suffered great losses, and were forced to retreat to the city of Tulna.
