His empire was at its height for a mere eight years, never included more than a few acres of Roman soil, and vanished instantly after his death in 453. Yet given what he achieved, it is hard to understand why, says John Man. Some hinted at Attila’s involvement and, whilst there is no direct evidence, dispatching his brother in a bid for power would certainly fit what we later know of his character.
We don’t know how Bleda and Attila got on, but they seem to have at least tolerated each other, successfully co-ruling for over a decade. When King Rugila died in 434, he was succeeded by his nephews.
