The name Avarian refers to the ethnic group which ruled Pannonia (present day Hungary and parts of Austria) from the 6th till the 8th century.
Originating in Central Asia, these nomadic horsemen came to Europe during the (Germanic) migration and settled in areas that had become unoccupied.
As a result of their excellent political and diplomatic strategies as well as their highly developed warfare, their influence and power grew. At the same time as being feared enemies they also were appreciated allies. This authority explains the vast wealth, which was a result of tribute payments, for example from the Byzantine Empire. Evidence of this wealth has been found in archaeological grave diggings and can also be seen in the small part of the Avarian treasure that was captured by the Franconians.
The highest position in Avarian society was filled by a ruler called Khagan. The time of greatest expansion and the predominance over all Europe was between 560 and 583 under Khagan Bajan. After his death and the defeat in the battle for Byzantium in 626, the Avarians began to loose their power. The additional internal political rivalries and separations also extenuated this deterioration. This loss of unity finally made it possible for the Franconians to conquer them resulting in the final defeat of the Avarians.
Important Data:
| 558 | The Avarians first appear in Constantinopel |
| 561/2 | The Avarians reach the Elbe River. King Sigibert I of Franconians defeats them at Magdeburg. |
| 565/6 | Avarians attack eastern Franconians again and defeat Sigibert, who makes a treaty with Khagan Bajan. Bajan has no interest in the Frankonian territory, but rather in having a passage to the Danube river, which this treaty secures. |
| 582-626 | Avarians conquer Sirmium and collect high tribute payments from Byzantium; their siege on Constantinopel in 626 is unsuccessful. |
| 713/14 | Avarians destroy Lorch |
| 774 or 788 | Charlemagne becomes King of the Longbeards and removes Tassilo III of Bavaria from the throne. This makes the Franconians the only neighbouring country to the west of the Avarians. |
| 791 | Summer: Charlemagne decides (in Regensburg) to attack the
Avarians. September: three-day field camp in Lorch. October: they reach the Raab river mouth, but withdraw back to Regensburg via Savaria as a result of a horse-sickness |
| until 793 | Preparations for a new war against the Avarians are made: extensive weapon making and commencement of construction of the Danube-Main-Canal. |
| 793 | New attack: the
Khagan dies; his replacement becomes subject
to Charlemagne, is baptised; he continues to rule as a
vassal Autumn: part of the treasures is captured. |
| after 796 | End of a united Avarian kingdom |
| 799 | Rebellion within the Avarians |
| 803 | Final victory over the Avarians by the Franconians |
| after 803 | Avarians split up into two ethnic groups: Slavs and Magyares. |
Passau’s role in this context:
Charlemagne came through Passau on his way to fight the Avarians. After the decision to go to war in sommer 791 (Regensburg), units of the Franconian Army travelled to Pannonia using the north and south banks of the Danube river as well and travelling on the river itself. They therefore used Passau as a station.
Anecdote:
Charlemagne had the idea to build a Canal between the Altmühl River and the Regnitz River when he was using his war ships on the Danube against the Avarians. This way there would have been a connection between the Danube and the Rhein. The expense would have been too large at the time, but nevertheless it was the first mention of the idea to build a Rhein-Main-Danube-Canal.
Walter Meier-Arendt (Hrsg.): Awaren in Europa. Schätze eines asiatischen Reitervolkes 6.-8. Jhd. (Frankfurt/Main 1985), S. 3-19
edited by: Birgitta
Kastl
translation: Deborah Lindemann
(3.8.2004/11.1.2005)