The Avars in Transylvania and Pannonia

In order to fully understand the presence of the Avars in this area of Europe and their role there, one needs to be provided with a context first.

~563-567 A.D. The Avars search for a passage into Tranylvania

Here arises a question: Why Transylvania?

The Avars found themselves in a dire situation after their flight from the Asian steppe. Despite their diplomatic success, to a certain extent, with the Byzantine Empire (such as receiving payment to defeat certain tribes inhabiting Scythia), they were still trapped in the aforementioned region. Emperor Justinian denied them passage into Moesia, which the Avars wanted to settle in due to the natural defenses provided by the Danube.

Faced with this setback, they looked towards Transylvania, which was inhabited by the Gepids, an East Germanic tribe. Their kingdom, however, was surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains and a very thick woodland, roughly over 100 kilometers thick. This proved to be an impassable barrier to these steppe people. Despite this, they were so desperate that they started circling the mountains and forests in the search of a passage into the interior.

During this same time, an embassy arrived in Constantinople, bearing valuable details about the Avars. It was an embassy from the Göktürks, the confederation of tribes that had driven them out of Asia. They regarded their enemies as mere slaves and were discontent with the Byzantines due to their diplomatic dealings. Here we discover the numbers of the Avars: ,,about 20 thousand". Of course there is little chance that this number is accurate, but it is nonetheless a significant detail that shouldn't be overlooked.

The Avars clash with the Franks of Austrasia

Austrasia, in the darkest shade of green

After having circled the entirety of the Carpathian Mountains, the Avars came into contact with the Franks of Austrasia, a germanic kingdom. On the river Elbe the frankish forces under Sigebert managed to beat the nomads back, which forced them to return to the Lower Danube.

~567 A.D. The Avars form a military alliance with the Langobards.

Occupation of Transylvania.

With the news that the Göktürks had crossed the Volga in pursuit of their enemies, the Avars became even more desperate and tried forcing their way across the Danube but failed, which prompted them to circle the mountains once more, only to clash with the Franks again, in a battle that resulted in the withdrawal of both forces.

However, soon after these setbacks they found their opportunity. The Avar leader, Khagan Bayan (,,Khagan" being the title for ,,ruler", very similar to ,,Khan") decided to enter into a military alliance with the Langobards under their king, Alboin. This was an agreement mediated by Bayan's former enemy Sigebert. The agreement implied a two-pronged strike against the Gepids, which, if successful, would reward the Avars with all of Gepidia.

Fortunately for the nomads, the Gepids focused solely on the Langobards at first, which allowed them to finally enter Trasnylvania, after which, at a later point, Khagan Bayan met the Gepids in battle and killed their king, Kunimund. Following this success, the Avars were finally able to enter Gepidia and occupy it, forming the Avar Khaganate, which would survive until the 8th century.

Organisation of the new Khaganate. The campaign of 626

Soon after the victory of the alliance, the nomads began occupying their new lands and developing it. They primarily settled in the basins of the Maros and Tisza rivers.

Marked with red are the Maros and Tisza rivers, the main arteries of the early Avar Khaganate

The newly formed organisation was divided into two main centers, one on the Tisza river and one on the Maros river. This is reinforced by findings of stirrups, gold coins from as far as Persia (these have been found in present-day Brasov county, in Romania, yet there is little to no mention of these findings in romanian historiography). The two parts of the Khaganate were united by an old road along the Olt and Sebes rivers. Despite these findings indicating the establishment of the Avars in the region it is clear that the first part of the occupation of the Carpathain Basin was rather sparse, due to the low population in the region. As a matter of fact, this was the worst state in which Transylvania found itself since the end of the roman occupation, population-wise.

This started to change once the Avars entered into open conflict with the Byzantines. The latter had always tried to keep a balance of power among the people north of the Danube, whome they viewed as their subjects. The Khaganate, however, didn't consider itself a subject of the Eastern Romans and began expanding into Moesia and Dalmatia. The culmination of this expansion was the Siege of Constantinople, in which the Avars, together with Slavic and Bulgar allies, as well as the Persians under their generals Shahrbaraz and Kardarigan. The siege failed despite the fact that the byzantine defenders were outnumbered roughly 6/7 to 1, due to the lack of siege experience and technology of the Khaganate.

The Theodosian Walls of Constantinople, which protected the city. These were the defenses the Avars would have faced in 626

Internal turmoil. The Khaganate regains its stability

Due to the failure of the 626 campaign, the Avar Khaganate faced internal turmoil and the power of the ruling dynasty was challenged. Parts of the Khaganate rebelled, such as the Slavs of Dalmatia and the Bulgars of Moesia. Despite these internal conflicts and the loss of territories, the now-settled nomads regained stability and settled in a more solid manner within the Carpathian Basin.

This reinforcement of their power also triggered a migration of the Slavs into their territory, who started working the land and creating their own villages and settlements under the suzerainty of the Avars.

Thus, the Khaganate became a multi-ethnic organisation, encompassing Eastern and Western Germanic people, Slavs, Bulgars and others.

This aspect is reinforced by graves and other findings unearthed in the Pannonian and Transylvanian areas, with cemeteries and graves containing ornaments, weapons, armour or jewelry specific to these diverse groups.

Late 7th century-Early 9th century. Downfall of the Avar Khaganate

After regaining its internal stability, the Khaganate entered into the second part of its existence, during which the Avars started to slowly mingle with the slavic population, evidence of which is shown in the graves and cemeteries that bear evidence of both of these peoples, as well as villages that show Avar influence despite being inhabited by the Slavs.

The ethnic composition of the Avar Khaganate, showing the slavic population

It is important to note that during this period, there isn't much evidence about the decline, other than previously settled areas falling into disuse.

The greatest evidence comes later, towards the end of the 8th century.

During this final period there are findings of graves in areas which carry no other sign of settlement, which indicates skirmishes and conflicts. This theory is furthermore reinforced by the finding of military equipment, such as sabers, spears and armour, as well as horses, within these aforementioned graves.

The most serious blow to the Khagante came between the years 791-795. These years are important because they mark the campaigns of Charlemagne against the Avars, the first one repelled and the second one successful. It was between these years that the Avars were plunged into a civil war between the two leading figures, the Khagan himself and the Jugurrus, his second and ruler of the eastern parts of the realm.

The war ended with the defeat of the latter, but the Khagan had no time to impose his rule once more due to the renewal of the frankish campaigns against his realm. This shattered the Khaganate, and any hopes to rebuild it or regain any authority would eventually be crushed in the years to come by the Bulgars, under Khan Krum, Khan Omurtag and Khan Malamir (Khans of the Bulgars in chronological order). It was during the reign of the latter that the conquest of much of the former Avar Khaganate would be confirmed in treaties with the Franks.

Avar horsemen clashing with their Frankish counterparts

Through successive blows from the Franks and Bulgars, the Avar Khaganate came to an end. The Avars themselves lived on in the area, while some went back to the east to rejoin their kinsmen in the Caucasus, where a sizable population still lives today.

With the coming of the Magyars the last populations of Avars in Transylvania and Pannonia would slowly be assimilated through coexistence, starting with the late 9th century.

About the Bulgars and the Magyars in the next articles coming soon.

Thank you and I hope you enjoyed the history of the Avar Khaganate in Europe.

Kevin Alexander.