The Avars were a heterogeneous confederation, mainly made up of Turkic-Oghuric people who migrated to the Pontic Steppe (an area corresponding to north of Black Sea and Caspian Sea) from Central Asia after 552 ce. They settled in the Huns’ former territory in Europe, eventually succeeding in establishing the Avar Khaganate (= Empire) that encompassed a territory corresponding to modern-day Austria, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria and some parts of Turkey, and lasted until 796 ce when they were conquered by the Franks under Charlemagne. A mixed group of steppe warriors and their families in flight adopts a prestigious name, victoriously moves across thousands of miles and founds an empire, and can thus consolidate itself as a people. When, after a quarter millennium, its identity and institutions lose their motivating force, this people disappears, apparently without leaving a trace. This is the history of the Avars in a nutshell. The first mention of the Avars in Roman history comes from Priscus the Rhetor in 463 ce—when Attila’s Hunnic Empire was in the process of disintegrating—in connection with Turkic Saragurs, Onogurs and Ogurs that were attacked by the Turkic Sabirs, who had been attacked in turn by the Avars.
p. 385: After 796, we can no longer assume a unified Avar Empire.
p. 397:
The next mention appeared during the 6th century when Menander Protector discussed the Avars and wrote about Göktürk embassies to Constantinople in 565 and 568 ce, Turks having been angered by the Byzantines for having made an alliance with the Avars.
The following timeline is from a book by Walter Pohl on Avars. It was first published in German in 1988 and titled Die Awaren: Ein Steppenvolk im Mitteleuropa, 567–822 n. Chr. (3rd edition in 2015). The author himself translated it into English with major revisions and updates. It was published in 2018 by Cornell University under the title The Avars: A Steppe Empire in Central Europe, 567–822.
ca. 463
First mention of central Asian Avars in Byzantine sources (Priscus) in connection with westward migration of Sabirs, Ogurs, Saragurs, and Onogurs
527–565
Emperor Justinian I
552–555
The Turks under Bumin destroy the central Asian empire of the Rouran
Dec. 558/Jan. 559
First Avar embassy under Kandikh in Constantinople; Avars north of the Caucasus
559
Invasion by Kutrigurs under Zabergan stopped outside Constantinople by Belisarius
ca. 558–562
Western Turks under Istemi in alliance with the Persians subdue Hephthalite Empire
559–561
Avars advance north of the Black Sea and defeat Sabirs, Utigurs, and Antes
ca. 560–582/83
Baian, khagan of the Avars
560/61–572
Alboin, king of the Lombards
562/63
First Turkish embassy in Constantinople warns against alliance with the Avars
562
Sigibert I, king of the Franks, repels an Avar attack near the Elbe
563
Avars at the Lower Danube; negotiations about a settlement on Roman territory fail
565–578
Emperor Justin II
Nov. 565
The Avar envoy Targitius arrives shortly after Justin II’s coronation; the emperor refuses to pay further subsidies
566
A second Avar expedition against the Franks under Sigibert I is victorious; he buys off the Avars with foodstuffs and concludes an alliance with them
566
The Gepids defeat the Lombards with Byzantine support, but do not hand over Sirmium to the Byzantines as promised
Winter 566/67
A Lombard embassy concludes an alliance against the Gepids with Khagan Baian, but only under great concessions
567
Decisive victory of the Lombards under Alboin against the Gepids, whose king Cunimund dies in battle; the Avars occupy the land of the Gepids and besiege the Gepid capital Sirmium, which Byzantine troops under Bonus have occupied
567–574
Fruitless negotiations between the Avars and Byzantium for a new treaty
April 568
Lombards and affiliated groups under King Alboin begin to leave Pannonia for Italy; the Avars occupy the land of the Lombards
Late 568
Turkish embassy under the Sogdian Maniakh in Constantinople
569–571
Byzantine embassy under Zemarchus travels to the Turk khagan Sizabulos/Istemi
ca. 570
Victory of Tiberius over the Avars
572
Beginning of the twenty-year war of Byzantium against the Persians; Avar pressure increases
574
Victory of the Avars over Tiberius; Emperor Justin II withdraws from politics, and in December appoints Tiberius Caesar
Winter 574/75
A new treaty of the Avars with Byzantium fixes the annual subsidies at 80,000 solidi
576–577
Byzantine embassy under Valentinus meets the new Turkish khagan Turxanthus, who reproaches them because of the treaty with the Avars; Turks and subdued Utigurs take the Byzantine city Bosporus/Kerch
578
First culmination of Slavic raids in Thrace; Avars attack the Slavic settlement area north of the Danube with Byzantine support after the Slavic prince Dauritas has killed Avar envoys
578–582
Emperor Tiberius II
579–582
Avars besiege Sirmium; the city capitulates after three years
582
The peace treaty between Baian and Tiberius leaves the subsidies at 80,000 solidi plus arrears
582–602
Emperor Maurice
ca. 583–ca. 602/10
One of Baian’s sons is khagan
ca. 582/83
Inner conflicts in the Turkish Empire
ca. 583
The Varchonite tribes Tarniakh, Kotzagir, and Zabender flee from the Turks and join the Avars
583/84
New wave of Slavic raids in the Balkan provinces; Greece is increasingly targeted
Fall 584
After the Byzantines have refused to raise the subsidies, the Avars capture Singidunum, Viminacium, and Augusta and march as far as Anchialus; failed mission of Comentiolus to the khagan
Spring 585
A second Byzantine embassy under Elpidius concludes a treaty with the Avars that raises the subsidies to 100,000 solidi
Fall 586
On the instigation of the fugitive Avar high priest Bookolabras, Maurice interns the Avar ambassador Targitius; the khagan renews his attacks and plunders Aquis, Bononia, Ratiaria, Apiaria, Durostorum, Zaldapa, Pannasa, Tropaeum Traiani, and Marcianopolis
Sept. 586
Avar-led Slavic siege of Thessalonica fails
587
War in Thrace, fighting at Tomis and at Sabulente Canalis; Avar attacks on Mesembria and unsuccessful sieges of Beroe, Diocletianopolis, and Philippopolis; successful intervention of John Mystacon at Adrianople
587/88
Avars and Slavs take Patras and other Greek cities and begin to settle in Greece
591–616
Lombard king Agilulf
591
Peace treaty between Byzantium and the new Persian king Chosroes
592
Slavs attack Singidunum; Avar war, fighting at the Procliana Pass; siege of Drizipera; Avar victory at Heraclea; General Priscus besieged in Tzurullon; renewal of the treaty
592
Bavarian campaign under Tassilo I against Slavs
593
Campaign of Priscus against Slavs north of the lower Danube; victories over the groups under Ardagast and Musucius
594
Slavic raids against Zaldapa, Aquis, and Scopi; Petrus leads a campaign against Slavs, victory over the Peiragast group, and defeat at the Helibacius
595
Campaign of Priscus against the Avars, confrontation at Singidunum; Avar raid on inland Dalmatia
595
Bavarian attack on Slavs; counterattack by the khagan, Bavarian army routed
596–597
Eighteen months of peace along the Danube
596
Avars attack Thuringia; the Frankish queen Brunhild buys them off
Fall 597
Avar campaign along the Danube; Avar army hibernates near Tomi
598
Fighting in Thrace, Comentiolus defeated at Iatrus; Avars capture Drizipera; their army decimated by the plague; Roman envoy Harmaton negotiates a rise of subsidies to 120,000 solidi
599
Offensive of Priscus on Avar territory: victories opposite Viminacium, and over the khagan’s army at the Tisza
ca. 600
Avar peace treaties with Lombards and Franks
601/2
Avars, Slavs, and Lombards raid Byzantine Istria
601
Avar army under Apsikh and Roman army under Petrus face each other at the Iron Gate
602
Avars under Apsikh defeat the Antes; Roman units under Guduin attack Slavs north of the lower Danube, but rebel against the order to hibernate in Slavic lands
Nov. 602
Rebels under Phocas overthrow and kill Emperor Maurice
602–610
Emperor Phocas; new war against the Persians
Aug. 603
A Slavic contingent sent by the Avars helps the Lombard king Agilulf to take Cremona
ca. 604
Avar-Byzantine treaty; subsidies probably rise to 140,000 solidi
ca. 602/10–626/30
Another son of Baian reigns as khagan
604
Slavic surprise attack on Thessalonica
609/10
Avar-Slav raids in Illyricum
Fall 610
Civil war in Byzantium; Phocas overthrown
610–641
Emperor Heraclius
ca. 611
Avar victory over the Lombard dux of Friuli, Gisulf II; capture of Forum Iulii/Cividale and deportation of the captives to Pannonia
ca. 611
Bavarians under Garibald defeated by Slavs at Aguntum; Brunhild’s enemies suspect her of plotting with the Avars
ca. 615
Avars and Slavs capture Naissus and Serdica
ca. 615
Siege of Thessalonica by Slavs under Chatzon
617 or 618
33-day siege of Thessalonica by Avars and Slavs under the command of the khagan
ca. 618
Avar expedition to Thrace
618/19
Avar-Byzantine treaty (180,000 solidi?)
June 623
Failed Avar ambush against Emperor Heraclius near Heraclea; raids inside the Long Walls
623
New treaty with subsidies of 200,000 solidi
623–638
Dagobert I, king of the Franks
623/24
Beginning of the successful rebellion of Slavs in Bohemia/Moravia under Samo
ca. 625–640
Salona abandoned because of Slavic pressure, population moves to Split
Summer 626
Great Avar siege of Constantinople with Persian support fails after ten days
Winter 627/28
The Persian war ends with Byzantine victory; Heraclius in Ctesiphon
630
Frankish embassy in Constantinople
630/31
Throne conflicts in the Avar Empire between an Avar and a Bulgar contender; flight of the defeated Bulgars to Bavaria, where a large part is massacred; survivors under Alciocus flee to the “March of the Vinedi” to Duke Walluc
ca. 631
Large-scale Frankish attack on Samo’s kingdom repelled at Wogastisburc; Lombard victory over Slavs in the Alps
630/35
Bulgar Empire north of the Black Sea under Khan Kuvrat expands against Avars and Turks
636–642
Arab/Islamic expansion to Palestine, Syria, and Egypt
642–668
Emperor Constans II
650s/660s
Death of Khan Kuvrat; dissolution of his empire and rise of the Khazar khaganate
ca. 660
Death of Samo and dissolution of his kingdom
662–671
Grimoald, king of the Lombards
662
The dethroned Lombard king Perctarit, an exile at the Avar court, has to continue his flight because of diplomatic pressures by King Grimoald
663
Emperor Constans II fights the Lombards in southern Italy
663
Duke Lupus of Friuli rebels against King Grimoald; on Grimoald’s invitation, the Avars invade Friuli, and Lupus falls in battle; the Avars leave only when Grimoald arrives with his army
ca. 663
Alzeco comes to Italy with his Bulgars and settles with Lombard consent in the duchy of Benevento
668–685
Emperor Constantine IV
July 677
A conflict with the Slavic prince Perbund leads to a Slavic siege of Thessalonica
678
An Arabic fleet is defeated at Constantinople
678/79
The last attested Avar embassy in Constantinople congratulates the emperor on his victory
680
Bulgars under Asparukh defeat the Byzantines near the Danube delta; Bulgar khanate established in Moesia
ca. 680
Kuver and his mixed group of Sermesianoi break free from Avar Pannonia and settle in the Keramesian Plain; failed plot of Mavros against Thessalonica
685–695, 705–711
Emperor Justinian II
712–744
Liutprand, king of the Lombards ca. 713/14 Destruction of Lorch by the Avars
742
The Carantanians under Boruth repel an Avar attack with the support of the Bavarian duke Odilo; beginning of Bavarian overlordship and Christian mission in Carantania
748–788
Tassilo III, duke of the Bavarians
768–814
Charlemagne, king of the Franks
774
Charlemagne defeats the Lombard king Desiderius and becomes king of the Lombards
782
Avar embassy meets Charlemagne at Lippspringe; an Avar army appears at the Enns
788
Tassilo III dethroned and confined
788
Frankish-Avar War; Avars defeated near the Italian and Bavarian borders
790
Avar embassy in Worms; no consensus on the boundary
Aug. 791
A Frankish-Lombard army takes an Avar fortification at the Italian border
Fall 791
Great Avar campaign led by Charlemagne, departing from Lorch in September and proceeding to the Rába without much resistance; horse pestilence, return via Savaria
791–end of 793
Charlemagne in Regensburg; preparations for an Avar war, works for Danube-Main canal
793–795
Saxon uprising
794/95
Inner conflict in the Avar Empire; death of the khagan and the iugurrus
795
Envoys of the tudun meet Charlemagne at Hliune at the Elbe and offer submission
Fall 795
A Frankish-Slav army under Woynimir advances to the “ring” of the khagans and sacks it
796
The tudun comes to Charlemagne, submits, and is baptized; an army under Pippin of Italy and Duke Eric of Friuli sacks the ring again; the khagan submits; a synod at the Danube deals with the conversion of the Avars
797
Campaign of Eric of Friuli in Pannonia; fights against Slavs
End of 797
Avar embassy meets Charlemagne at Herstelle
798
Bishop Arn of Salzburg is raised to archbishop with a view to the eastern missions
799–803
Great Avar uprising against the Franks
799
Eric of Friuli is killed by the residents of Tarsatica; Prefect Gerold I is murdered during a campaign against the Avars
802
The counts Chadaloh and Goteram fall in a fight against Avars near the castellum Guntionis
802/03–814
Bulgar khan Krum
803
The Franks finally put down the Avar revolt; the tudun comes to Charlemagne at Regensburg and submits
ca.804
Campaign of the Bulgar khan Krum against the Avars
Early 805
The Christian kapkhan Theodore visits Charlemagne in Aachen and asks for land because of Slavic attacks; he obtains the region between Carnuntum and Savaria, but dies soon
Sept. 805
The Avar khagan asks Charlemagne to reestablish his supreme rule; on September 21, he is baptized with the name Abraham in the Fischa river
805
The capitulary of Thionville institutes Lorch as a toll post toward Slavs and Avars
811
A Frankish army mediates in fights between Avars and Slavs in Pannonia; the canizauci, the tudun, and other Avar and Slavic princes are summoned to Aachen
811
Emperor Nicephorus invades Bulgaria and falls in battle; in the Bulgar army, Avars are also attested
814
Khan Krum plans to attack Constantinople; his army is said to have included Avar mercenaries; Krum dies before putting the plan into action
822
Last attested Avar embassy at the Frankish court
828
The administrative reform of the eastern territories of Bavaria removes the Avar tributary principality
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