Aigan (Hun commander)

Aigan or Aïgan (late 5th century or early 6th century – c. 534–548) was a Hun general serving as a cavalry commander for the Byzantine Empire, active in the early 6th century.

Biography

Aigan commanded a body of Hun cavalry at the Battle of Dara against the Sasanians, terrifying the Persians.^[1]^[2] He was fundamental in the Byzantine victory.^[3]

He then participated in the Byzantine expedition against the Vandalic Kingdom in 533, being one of the four cavalry commanders under Belisarius.^[4] He remained in Africa to serve under Solomon after Belisarius returned to Constantinople in the summer of 534.^[4]

In 534 he and Rufinus the Thracian fought against the Moors in Byzacena. They ambushed a Moorish raiding party, whom they killed, and released their prisoners. Thereafter they were in turn ambushed by a Moorish army overwhelmingly greater in number (they were possibly 500 against 50,000).^[4] They put up a brave fight but were eventually defeated. His fellow cavalry commander Rufinus was beheaded, and his head was carried off by Moorish chieftain Medisinissas.^[4]

References

^ Kim, Hyun Jin (2013). The Huns, Rome and the Birth of Europe. Cambridge University Press. p. 140. ISBN 9781107009066. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
^ Whately, Conor (2021). Procopius on Soldiers and Military Institutions in the Sixth-Century Roman Empire. Brill. p. 56. ISBN 9789004461611. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
^ Kim, Hyun Jin (2015). The Huns. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781317340904. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Martindale, John R., ed. (1992). The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire: Volume III, AD 527–641. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 1098. ISBN 0-521-20160-8.

[1] Kim, Hyun Jin (2013). The Huns, Rome and the Birth of Europe. Cambridge University Press. p. 140. ISBN 9781107009066. Retrieved 25 October 2022.

[2] Whately, Conor (2021). Procopius on Soldiers and Military Institutions in the Sixth-Century Roman Empire. Brill. p. 56. ISBN 9789004461611. Retrieved 25 October 2022.

[Kim-3] Kim, Hyun Jin (2015). The Huns. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781317340904. Retrieved 25 October 2022.

[Martindale-4] Martindale, John R., ed. (1992). The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire: Volume III, AD 527–641. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 1098. ISBN 0-521-20160-8.

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v t Huns
History	Origin of the Huns History of the Huns List of Huns
Rulers	Balamber Uldin Octar Charaton Rugila Bleda Attila Ellac Dengizich Ernak Zilgibis
Military leaders	Aigan Alathar Althias Ambazuces Apsich Ascan Ascum Basich Bochas Chalazar Chelchal Cours Elmingir Glom Hormidac Kursich Laudaricus Mundus Odolgan Optila Ragnaris Sanoeces Sigizan Simmas Sunicas Tarrach Thraustila Tuldila Turgun Tyranx Uldach Zolban
Noblemen	Atakam Emnetzur Gordas Mamas Mundzuk Oebarsius Onegesius Ultzindur
Diplomats	Berichus Edeko Eslas Scottas
Other notable Huns	Adamis Donatus Eskam Eskam's daughter Ildico Kreka Vadamerca Zerco
Culture	Hunnic art Hunnic language
Wars	Hunnic invasion of the Sasanian Empire Battle of the Tanais River Siege of Florence Battle of Faesulae Battle of Arles Battle of the Utus Battle of the Catalaunian Plains Sack of Aquileia Sack of Padua Siege of Milan Battle of Nedao Battle of Bassianae
Other Hunnic peoples	Alchons Hephthalites Cadiseni Hunas Iranian Huns Kidarites Nezak North Caucasian Huns White Huns Xionites
Related topics	Attila in popular culture Akatziri tribe Eurasian nomads Nomadic empire Origin of the Székelys Xiongnu

Aigan (Hun commander)

Biography

References

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