Editing Huns (section)

=== After Attila ===
After Attila's death in 453, the Hunnic Empire faced an internal power struggle between its vassalized Germanic peoples and the Hunnic ruling body. Led by [[Ellak]], Attila's favored son and ruler of the [[Akatziri]], the Huns engaged the [[Gepid]] king [[Ardaric]] at the [[Battle of Nedao]], who led a Germanic coalition to overthrow Hunnic imperial authority. The [[Amali]] Goths would revolt the same year under [[Valamir]], allegedly defeating the Huns in a separate engagement.{{sfn|Heather|1996|p=124}} However, this did not result in the complete collapse of Hunnic power in the Carpathian region, but did result in the loss of many of their Germanic vassals. At the same time, the Huns were also dealing with the arrival of more [[Oghur (tribe)|Oghur]] [[Turkic languages|Turkic-speaking]] peoples from the East, including the [[Oghurs]], [[Saragurs]], [[Onogurs]], and the [[Sabirs]]. In 463, the Saragurs defeated the Akatziri, or Akatir Huns, and asserted dominance in the Pontic region.{{sfn|Kim|2013|p=123}}

The western Huns under [[Dengizich]] experienced difficulties in 461 when they were defeated by Valamir in a war against the [[Sadages]], a people allied with the Huns.{{sfn|Heather|1996|p=125}} His campaigning was also met with dissatisfaction from [[Ernak]], ruler of the Akatziri Huns, who wanted to focus on the incoming Oghur speaking peoples.{{sfn|Kim|2013|p=123}} Dengizich attacked the Romans in 467, without the assistance of Ernak. He was surrounded by the Romans and besieged, and came to an agreement that he would surrender if his people were given land for their herds and his starving forces given food. During the negotiations, a Hun in service of the Romans named Chelchel persuaded the enemy Goths to attack their Hun overlords. The Romans, under their General [[Aspar]] and with the help of his [[bucellarii]], then attacked the quarreling Goths and Huns, defeating them.{{sfn|Maenchen-Helfen|1973|pp=165–168}} In 469, Dengizich was defeated and killed in Thrace.{{sfn|Maenchen-Helfen|1973|p=168}}

After Dengizich's death, the Huns seem to have been absorbed by other ethnic groups such as the [[Bulgars]].{{sfn|Maenchen-Helfen|1973|p=168}} Kim, however, argues that the Huns continued under Ernak, becoming the [[Kutrigur]] and [[Utigur]] Hunno-[[Bulgars]].{{sfn|Kim|2013|p=123}} This conclusion is still subject to some controversy. Some scholars also argue that another group identified in ancient sources as Huns, the [[North Caucasian Huns]], were genuine Huns.{{sfnm|1a1=Kim|1y=2015|1p=136 |2a1=Sinor|2y=2005|2p=4228}} The rulers of various post-Hunnic steppe peoples are known to have claimed descent from Attila in order to legitimize their right to the power, and various steppe peoples were also called "Huns" by Western and Byzantine sources from the fourth century onward.{{sfn|Róna-Tas|1999|p=309}}