Historically, the Huns were a civilization with no discernible origin besides the steppes of Central Asia that was most active in Eastern Europe during the Middle Ages. They are one of the few civilizations that invaded Eastern Europe and displaced many other "barbarian" tribes which caused the Roman Empire to crumble. As a result, their unique unit is the Tarkan, a medium cavalryman armed with a torch that deals high damage to buildings. The most ferocious and courageous Hun warriors were the Tarkans, and they exemplify the Huns as horse riders who raid and pillage buildings. The Huns were known for their irreverence towards artifacts and works of art as well as architectural wonders were no exception. The destruction of Rome brought by the Goths, Vandals, Huns, and other barbarian tribes would later create the term vandalism to describe any senseless destruction, particularly the barbarian defacing of artwork. Their Imperial Age unique technology, Atheism, is a representation of that concept, forcing Wonder and Relic victories to take longer and reducing the cost of the Spies/Treason technology. Being nomads, the Huns have no need for Houses and are only restricted in building units by their resources. The Huns were among the many horse civilizations of Central Asia, and their primacy in battle was because of their horses so their Stables produce units faster. To emulate the fact that their principal fighting force were horse mounted archers, Huns also get cheaper Cavalry Archers. In spite of being nomads, the Huns were skilled in siege warfare, having laid siege to several cities in France, and thus have more accurate Trebuchets.
All in all, the Huns may not seem worthwhile, but, like the Goths, they do what they do extremely well: Rush, raze, and harass the enemy with powerful and mobile forces.
Historically, the Hunnic Empire's lingua franca is Gothic. In-game, the Huns speak Mongolian, since Priscus' physical description of Attila strongly suggested the Huns' North-East Asian origin.
Knowledge about Hunnic language is sparse: With only three attested words, possibly borrowed from the Huns' Indo-European subjects, for two alcoholic beverages medos (cf. Polish miód "mead" < Proto-Slavic *mȇdu̯), kamos (cf. Paeonian kamon barley beer), and funeral feast strava (cf. Polish strawa "meal" < Proto-Slavic *su̯trava).
General dialogue
tiim uu - Yes
zuite
za za
belen baina
bi bodhroy/-o
zasah - Correct
amar menduu - Hello (also means 'How are you doing?')
When playing a random map game against the computer, the player may encounter any of the following Hun AI characters:
Attila the Hun: The ruler of the Huns from 434 until his death in March 453. He was also the leader of a tribal empire consisting of Huns, Ostrogoths, and Alans among others, on the territory of Central and Eastern Europe.During his reign, he was one of the most feared enemies of the Western and Eastern Roman Empires. He crossed the Danube twice and plundered the Balkans, but was unable to take Constantinople. His unsuccessful campaign in Persia was followed in 441 by an invasion of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, the success of which emboldened Attila to invade the West. He also attempted to conquer Roman Gaul (modern France), crossing the Rhine in 451 and marching as far as Aurelianum (Orléans) before being defeated at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains.
Balamber the Hun: A Hun king notable for crushing the Ostrogoths between 370 and 376.
Bleda the Hun: A Hunnic ruler, the brother of Attila the Hun. As nephews to Rugila, Attila and his elder brother Bleda succeeded him to the throne. Bleda's reign lasted for eleven years until his death. While it has been speculated by Jordanes that Attila murdered him on a hunting trip, it is unknown exactly how he died. However, there is an alternative theory that Bleda attempted to kill Attila on a hunting trip, but Attila being a skilled warrior defeated Bleda.
Dengizk the Hun: Alternative spelling of Dengizich, second son of Attila and brother of Ellak and Ernak who ruled the Huns together after Attila's death; died 469.
Ellak the Hun: First son of Attila and brother of Dengizk and Ernak who ruled the Huns together after Attila's death; died 454.
Ernak the Hun: Third son of Attila and brother of Ellak and Dengizk who ruled the Huns together after Attila's death.
Mundzuk the Hun: Father of Attila and Bleda, and brother of Rugila.
Ruga the Hun: Alternative spelling of Rugila, a Hun ruler who ruled over the Eastern Huns during the 5th century AD and the brother of Mundzuk; died ca. 430.