Attila the Hun - Campaign vs History

An analysis of the Attila the Hun campaign from Age of Empires 2, including its historical accuracy and Easter eggs.
Want to learn more about Attila?
1. Priscus' (Roman) account of meeting Attila people.ucalgary.ca/~vandersp/...
2. thehistoryofrome.typepad.com/t... Episodes 169-173
3. www.livescience.com/44417-att...
4. www.sheppardsoftware.com/Europ...
5. www.biography.com/people/atti...
6. www.ancient.eu/Attila_the_Hun/
7. www.history.com/news/8-things...
Remastered campaign for Forgotten Empires by Turan Khan:
steamcommunity.com/sharedfile...
Spirit of the Law Facebook:
pages/Spirit...
Patreon: / spiritofthelaw
Full intro song: • Spirit of the Law Chan...
Background music from Epidemic Sound: www.epidemicsound.com
Songs in order:
Acoustic Picking 18 (from GarageBand)
Walk Break 3
Simple Pleasantries 1
Thief at the Museum
Minor Indiscretions 4
Choirs of War 2 (Drums only)
Goliath 2 (Drums only)
Romantic Moment 04
Cinematic Drums 15
Goliath 1 (Drums only)
Legendary Walk 1
The Beast 3 (Drums only)
People Falling Down 1
Game: Age of Empires 2 HD with Forgotten Empires, African Kingdoms, and Rise the Rajas expansions

[@HeroDark98]

"Attila, I'm home!" "Hey, hun, I missed ya."

[@lorddervish212quinterosara6]

Get out

[@ZeroNitroMan]

lmao

[@delinard3401]

awfull,but have my upvote

[@eccentrichorse11]

For this terrible joke Attila will hun-t you down

[@Lughrochben]

God Dammit, Marc

[@LetsbeHonestOfficial]

The dude manages to combine old history and a strategy game from 1999 and make it super entertaining

[@dontspikemydrink9382]

Let's be Honest Official eh both are already entertaining

[@scipioafricanus6417]

old history, what do you mean? And aoe 2 hd is from 2013.

[@OrcMarauder]

AoE II HD is just a hd remake of what was made in 1999, doh

[@iwersonsch5131]

The AoC expansion with the Attila campaign came out in August 2000, so 1999 (the release year of the base game) comes a lot closer than 2013

[@HughJazz13]

He's like a Casually Explained for AoE2!

[@eviljoel]

Obviously Attila was an anime character, and the sight of boobs on his wedding night gave him a comically exaggerated nosebleed.

[@dannydevito4184]

He was living in 2018, while everyone else was in 450.

[@ElArto95]

He even had several wives, many of which might have been big tiddy goths

[@TheGloriousLobsterEmperor]

@@ElArto95 *BOOOOOOOOO! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! GET OFF THE STAGE!*

[@shamanazakura]

@@ElArto95 God. Fucking. Dammit.

[@aiaunlimited2672]

well, this explains why he was an anime girl after he isekai'ed to the fate universe. I think.

[@Kawabongahlive]

"The fines historic sources." *opens wikipedia* That killed me lol

[@Michael_______]

Whenever I'm looking at wiki, I tend to use the term "extensive research."

[@ateium2409]

Wikipedia is a good page for finding good sources , not Information ..

[@jlqe3401]

I dunno about you, but I always thought that Father Armand was Attila all along. As in that somehow the Pope converted him to Christianity, and he faked his own death to make a fresh new start as a monk. This being supported not only by the many details that only someone well acquainted with the Huns before the Catalaunian Fields would know, the way at the very end sequence he rolled his eyes and head to spook the living crap of the narrator, his statement that he remembers fondly and sometimes misses the slaughter, and the close likeliness of the drawing of Attila and Father Armand at the very last slide.

[@dontspikemydrink9382]

Jose Luis Qwistgaard Espinal you are onto something here

[@kaalsemulzii1920]

Jose Luis Qwistgaard Espinal That is... very unlikely. He wouldn't have any reason to do it... and it would be possible for Father Armand to grow liking being with the Huns.

[@ahmetilberbektas60]

Jose Luis Qwistgaard Espinal we are talking about the "Scourge of God"(or Tengri),i find it very unlikely that he turn into a Christian

[@scipioafricanus6417]

FBI wants to know your position!

[@rat_thrower5604]

I was under the impression that something spiritual between Attila and the Pope happened which made him turn back. This story sounds much more interesting than just disease.

[@HazmanFTW]

I like the RPG aspect of the Attila scenario I wish there was more RPG elements in AoE2 campaigns.

[@dontspikemydrink9382]

no

[@hfbtrbdfnjbtrjtryg]

Yes.

[@Dzharek]

Fun story about the Repairs of Constantinople Walls, apparently the Chariot Teams were equal to the modern day football teams, and when the Teams started helping the repairs, all their fans joined in and both teams made a race out of it who would contribute more to the wall than the other. And with that effort the Byzantines could reinforce the walls in time for Attila to arrive.

[@saphojuiced6243]

Funny you should make that comparison. So, chariot dudes helped (re)build *the wall* and make it a popular community endeavor. Whereas today's football players kneel in disrespect and parrot anti-border rhetoric, both for self-gain in the mainstream limelight. What a time to be alive, was the 5th century... build the wall, survive the Huns. It was tough times, but folk could be proud of their homeland and be fulfilled.

[@jin10341]

Was the intro the History of Rome podcast reference?

[@Israelyguy14]

I was thinking the same thing :D

[@Israelyguy14]

I mean considering he does link the podcast in the description...

[@juibumgeilheit718]

lul

[@KingAtlon]

Definitely is!

[@pnessi570]

Ive listened to the podcast like 3 times and hearing it gave me ptsd

[@TheAwesomeAlexJr]

can you do the Joan of Arc campaign vs history?

[@Rosielx]

The Awesome Alex definitely one of the best, as there are so many versions of her story as the movies are so wrong in so many levels. AoE campaing? Well, slightly more accurate than expected. La espada de la Hire necesita sangre !!

[@potiabel7395]

I would love Honfoglalás vs history too

[@MALEMization]

Viper's nightmare!

[@dragovern]

Done now!

[@LodgicalThoughts]

He read ur comment ! check it out

[@David73977]

Man you had the history of Rome podcast music going at the beginning getting me all ready for Roman history. I love it.

[@lostfan10000]

I like how the Gothic campaign acts as a prelude to this one. Especially with the final chapter ending off with the foreshadowing of the Huns imminent invasion.

[@yassineassoualma615]

came here for goths overview, ended up learning the whole roman and hun history, typical day at youtube

[@tariqalmahruqi898]

Closed World Cup match to watch Spirit of the law!!! Worth it!

[@DemonofChaos264]

Same lol, boring game anyway as both teams are spent.

[@zeroyuki92]

2-2 on injury time now. Watching SoTL while looking at live feed

[@isaacisaac1130]

And it finished with kindergarten style penalties, Spirit's videos are way more interesting, plus you can learn some history too.

[@zeroyuki92]

Actually quite an enjoyable match due to both sides pulling a great dose of determination to win in it. Thankfully SoTL video is not 120 minutes long so I managed to watch a little bit more of drama in the end

[@Fraggr92]

The question isn't whether or not it's worth to close the world cup to watch SotL... The question is why would anyone ever watch the world cup in the first place? ;P

[@Xenanab]

Few people know but actually the events around Atilla will later became famous in several stories and folkloric tales. Not to mention that The Lord of the Rings is based on "Der Ring des Nibelungen" which is also based on the invasion of the Huns. Just imgaine: The huns are orcs, Rohan are the goths, the siege of Minas Tirith, which is basically the batle of the Catalaunian Plains where their king Theodric died (aka the king of Rohan) and so on. Of course there are a lot of different details but Tolkien retold a fictional tale which is based on true events! It shows again that sometimes the most "epic" stories to be found in entertainment can be roughly based on true events :-) History is awesome!

[@scipioafricanus6417]

lotr is inspired by many histories and tales, to just point at one is false. Rohan for example is more or less "what if the Anglo Saxons had horses?".

[@Xenanab]

That's absolutely true. Can't argue with that. However my final point stands: True historic events made and will always make great impact on a lot storytelling.

[@tetrislunatic4290]

Sorry to ruin your dreams but "Der Ring der Nibelungen" is the great opera work of Wagner about the tale of Siegfried and parts of the nordic Edda-Sagas. But should you actually mean the "Niebelungen Sage" than your right. That's an real mythically adorned Story written in the late 800 AD about the Hun invasion and the "Burgunder". But as its oldest preserved copy was written around 1230 AD the real historical value of the so called Facts in it are very low and its mostly just made-up Story about that time.

[@misteral9045]

Instead of quoting the great Roman leader Julius Caeser, I would instead like to quote the little known brothel owner Flavius Octilius: "I came, I came, and I came."

[@JakeArnet]

His clients certainly could have been expected to exclaime the following after each visit: 'Vidi, Vici, Veni'

[@Tareltonlives]

That's a joke name, sir, like Sillius Soddus or Biggus Dickus

[@ngastakvakis4425]

@@Tareltonlives I missed the joke in the name I guess?

[@ChristopherMB87]

Tareltonlives I have a gweat fwiend in Wome called “Biggus Dickus”

[@ChristopherMB87]

Tareltonlives I have a gweat fwiend in Wome called Biggus Dickus

[@alexp5461]

This brings back happy memories from my childhood.

[@austinguenther7620]

As a avid history fanatic myself this is exactly the series I always wanted. Keep it up!

[@AerowOne]

I must say, this series brings your content to the next level. Visual quality, impressive investigation on your part, funny puns (loved Memb in there) and more. Much respect and love!

[@mariusweber4990]

Yay a new upload! I just recently rewatched some of your old faction overviews, i don't really play AoE 2 anymore but your videos are so nice to watch.

[@Slimesmilie]

like who doesnt?

[@theodoric7335]

Stier _ they are called CIVILIZATIONS you dirty peasant! Jk jk

[@mariusweber4990]

Theodoric D.Va is my favourite DotA champion :3

[@jcpkill1175]

I dont play aoe2 anymore either, but i still enjoy spirits videos.

[@TheScorpionStrike]

With the music at the start, I thought that I was listening to an actual History of Rome episode. The quality of the video and the information contained within it is definitely up there.

[@GovernorMegatron]

The history of Attila and the Huns is probably one of the most interesting to me. I remember studying it through books at the library and actually doing a report for a history grade when I was home schooling. It was great, and still cool to this day.

[@LJL85]

"Still a better story than Twilight" lol!

[@Alok1905]

This campaign taught me the word "hubris"

[@hamood1234fool]

MEAN WHAT?

[@Alok1905]

if you research it yourself you'll not forget it.

[@luyenluyen7763]

Hubris (/ˈhjuːbrɪs/ from ancient Greek ὕβρις) describes a personality quality of extreme or foolish pride or dangerous overconfidence,[1] often in combination with (or synonymous with) arrogance.[2] In its ancient Greek context, it typically describes behavior that defies the norms of behavior or challenges the gods, and which in turn brings about the downfall, or nemesis, of the perpetrator of hubris.

[@kaalsemulzii1920]

Alok1905 What do you mean?

[@hamood1234fool]

A douchebag?

[@Dawnrim]

Love getting back to this and hearing the Duncan’s history of Rome theme and go ‘wowowo.. what is this?’ And then it takes me until the end of the video to remember SotL’s play here.

[@jnb894]

Awesome video, again! You deserve way more views and of course, subscribers! Keep up the good work mate!

[@hbarudi]

Good video about the hun campaign, but did you know that the scenario with the ostrogoths fighting against the romans, alans, and visigoths is also present in age of empires 1 definitive edition with no castles, but with use being able to siege most of them down with juggernaut ships. Last, I am always trying to upgrade the original age of kings and the conquerors campaigns to use the new datafile for the expansions and be able to research the new techs and use the new things, but the problem is that sometimes the ai does not work well at all and even trying to use the old ai, I get error messages suggesting additional development things went into the game campaign files. I succeeded in converting the william wallace campaign and I am think about having the original unaltered experience simply upgraded to the expansions data set, then we can get remakes for the campaign. I hope that when other people make remakes sometimes they make the ai attack with many waves and even on the standard difficulty, they just harrass my economy to the point where I recover less than before when the next deadly wave of soldiers arrive. I will try that attila campaign and hope that it isn't one of those kinds of tight no freedom in your playstyle ultra competitive campaigns.

[@TheStwee]

HELLO,AND WELCOME TO THE HISTORY OF ROME!

[@servernickeiii8157]

Great video SotL. I especially liked the end where you provide links and connect the history to a game mod, very cool.

[@mcstriker]

My favourite thing with Bleda is that if you lure the boar to Bleda then run away, you get the resources and set up a new base then when Bleda dies, you get the archers AND all of the original base + all the tarkans. 2 town centers in the dark age is great.

[@Viddaric]

This is my favorite series from you and I hope you continue it soon.

[@Kazyumi]

This is awesome. I love history and AoE2 set me off on this journey 16 years ago. Though I don't play much since AoEOnline and AoE2HD Forgotten Empires I still watch all your vids. Revisiting the history learned and its facts next to it will be glorious!

[@MrArgurios]

Very great job, the best episod of your serie campaign vs history ! Can't wait for a next one :D

[@saphojuiced6243]

Had a lot of fun with this one, didn't ya? I got a couple of chuckles out of this. Considering the topic, that's something. Especially for me, because I hear about the rapacious deeds of the Huns and it's not just an abstract thought to me. When I played this campaign and the Mongols' as a kid, it made an impression but didn't quite bother me to learn about the successive massacres from so long ago. But nowadays, my mood is dampened when I think about such things or learn about new ones. Not only because it's regrettable they ever happened, but because they're largely ignored and not learned from. The theme music for the Huns is fitting. I would've included those little theme tunes for each civ in this series.

[@BartAcaDiouka]

Instant like ! I love so much these history vs campaing videos and I really enjoyed Atilla's campaing. Thank you so much Spirit Of The Law

[@ReaperCH90]

lol, suddenly a wild memb appears

[@ashmonkey2572]

@MembTV at 8:27 you make your aguasome appearance memb

[@ROFLBOB24]

HAHAHA EPIC!

[@kairos4486]

I always loved this campaign! I might try this remake you mentioned at some point. Thanks, Spirit 👍

[@Aettaro]

Oh I hope we get to see more of these. This is quite a clever idea and something I've always had an interest ever since I was a little kid playing these games.

[@alpuney]

Great video as always. Please do more Campaign vs History

[@MarSHornetsandWasps-v26]

0:54 Moonwalking elephant in the intro:D Made me laugh hard, it should be in all vids!

[@iamalanavery]

Just got into aoe2 de love your content super helpful, thanks for the math and science approach, Very original. Would love to see more history with the different civs

[@felixrr7381]

Still a better love story than Twilight xD

[@-Raylight]

-Is this a Crusade Kings video?- I guess Attila's campaigns were about searching for his dear "Hunie" xD

[@heavyreynald]

I'm checking that revised campaign right after today's Viper-Lierrry match at NAC. And as always, great video!

[@FFtprivate]

Always love watching your videos my dude!

[@sofiamielcitas4224]

This video was great! Please keep on doing these campaing vs history! Its amazing!

[@tim5310]

I love your campaign vs history videos!

[@TheCherryTrader]

This was so good! Could you do the Joan or arc one like this? It was always my favourite.

[@scipioafricanus6417]

burn the witch!

[@TheCherryTrader]

Scipio Africanus mate don't chat shit about the number 1 medieval waifu.

[@ambarishghan5533]

Amazing! I hope you make more of these videos

[@scipioafricanus6417]

Such a lovely introduction of the video.

[@jayrosado5894]

Love these vids, favorite channel hands down

[@caper963]

Thank Spirit for this video ! I always watching your video before sleeping 11

[@temmorijken5762]

All your videos are amazing but liked this one especially

[@maxmurder9686]

I remember reading the back of the CD case after buying this game God knows how many times, Rome has fallen and the world is up for grabs

[@Yamaneko81]

I like how they changed the 9:50 units for actual legionaries in definitive edition

[@usamazahid3882]

8:24 was my favorite and hilarious moment. When the Definitive edition came out, and they redid the Campaign cutscenes for Atilla, I quoted that exact same thing you did.

[@TheGloriousLobsterEmperor]

Campaign vs History: Joan of Arc! The only campaign I can remember all that well.

[@arturat]

AMAZING. Love these series. Thank you so much

[@mafiousbj]

Thank you for doing this!! And putting some much humour into it (the dad jokes kill me). Hope to see these ones coming but i understand they must be time consuming on the research side :)

[@l.p.8041]

Love the reference to the history of Rome podcast by Mike Duncan I'm reading his book

[@xineki6390]

finally a video! good job man! keep it up!!!

[@lifes40123]

love ur history vs campaign videos. do more please

[@yesnes123]

Just watched all of these history vs. Videos last night and wished there were more, BAM! Wish granted

[@delinard3401]

It's been years since the last one but we finnaly have it! MUST WATCH

[@johnchatzis3998]

That was awsome man! I'm now eagerly waiting for the analysis on the Mongol campaign! It has mainy names, it covers a great amount of time, given that Genghis Khan died in his eighties and of course there are some changes in the time order, plus that a lot of information has based its sources on traditions and legends and not pure historical research. Anyway Spirit of the Law thanks for the video! It was great!

[@JRedAoE]

why is the Atilla campaign the best? BECAUSE IT HAS DEATHMATCH IN IT! EDIT: R U FOR REAL!

[@michaelpothoven1041]

JRed Age of Empires Are you for REEAAL?

[@eccentrichorse11]

I am a huge fan by the way.

[@usamazahid3882]

that's frickin hilarious

[@dubiouscollector9763]

also best narrator

[@sharilshahed6106]

Possibly what also elevated the Prithwiraj Campaign for me (in DE) from okayish to actually pretty decent. Dat Deathmatch.

[@richardhnamte3491]

0:33 Mom: Are you wasting time on tat computer? Son: Nope I'm learning histor mom

[@gnarzikans]

nice! i like the mtg reference with the unruly mob image

[@jaishkhan7442]

Man! Thanks for upload I closed Fifa World Cup live stream for this video! Worth it.

[@AceHawk37]

That not so subtle reference to Mike Duncan! So good!

[@axr6327]

I freaking LOVE these series! Thank you!

[@pranavdeshpande4538]

I've been waiting for this Thanks

[@Sotyx1]

Loved this video, please do make more of them!

[@GeoAngelopoulos]

Hi Spirit. I noticed while playing in the editor that the damage you do and receive changes is based on the speed of the game. With 40 Saracen Genitours you bring down a Teuton Castle in 2.56 with 15 Genitours remaining on 1.5 speed but on 8.0 speed you destroy the Castle in 2.32 with 29 Genitours remaining.

[@SpiritOfTheLaw]

You're right to notice something strange going on. I've also found 8.0x speed leads to a lot of weird errors in the game. Besides attack rate, it also messes with unit pathing and villager collection speeds. If you're testing things in the scenario editor I would recommend using 2.0x as the fastest speed you can get away with and still get reliable results. If I REALLY want to be confident in something like a collection rate I'll even try to stick to 1.5x.

[@Tommy-dz3do]

I just wanna say thanks for getting me back into playing AOE2 for the first time in like years. Having soooo much fun with it 😄 cheers xD

[@theuthras5716]

Nice series! Hope you keep it up!

[@TheGreatDanish]

Honestly, the way the game told the story of the Huns was what made me fall in love with history.

[@tosinc6958]

Ahh the good old days.. Genghis Khan and Attila the Hun were my favs ! Glad to be able to relive some of it!

[@tylerbrass4002]

Dude, I know this video is super old, but as soon as I heard the music at the very beginning of the video, I recognized it from "The History of Rome" podcast by Mike Duncan, and I'm kind of wondering if you have listened to it as well. Great podcast. I know it's probably just some stock music, but that's the only other place I have heard it. Edit: At the end I heard you mention the link to the podcast that describes the events for several episodes, and I was like "Yep, he's definitely Listened to it". Haha, you have great tastes man, it's a really digestible way to get a complete timeline of Ancient Rome from start to finish, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and still go back to relisten from time to time.

[@jcpkill1175]

I love how he says "only the finest historical sources' then goes STRAIT to Wikipedia.

[@steampunknoodles]

Joel Patterson WOOOOSSHH

[@ngastakvakis4425]

@@steampunknoodles maybe it's a double woosh

[@jcpkill1175]

Oh i did realise that he was making a joke, funny how i was looking for the huns campeign info and saw this old comment.

[@eviljoel]

Suuure you did, numbnuts.

[@MrDibara]

*Spirit of the Law,* delivering fine jokes like nobody else. 👌

[@Gee_359]

Hello! Thoroughly enjoyable listen! In the first scenario I do remember attacking Sasanids (Red) but in further playthroughs I gave up on them because they were tough to break! I think this amusing as it compares to what the Huns actually did!

[@simonnilsson8375]

I can just imagine the vandals coming to Atillia’s old territory, just to find other there’s been like 7 rebellions over the last year and conquer the land with issues

[@arcomegis9999]

I like the Total War Attila reference. I am also inspired to play the HD version when watching the nostalgia animation of this campaign even though I had the DE version. I'm pretty sure if the developers are willing enough, they could make AOE 2 still playable and new for years to come. More civs and the original campaigns dedicated to them. Sub-campaigns that show stories about great leaders and rulers and generals. Weapons, armaments, armors, mounts variety in color and patterns. Architectural design and the ability to rotate the direction. Farms that surround and fit perfectly to TCs and Mills ( like AOM and AOE DE ). The ability to herd and raise cattles and animals from mills and locations ( like AOE 3 ). Historical accuracy in any aspect as much as possible ( ever wonder why desert peoples and nomadic tribes like Berbers, Saracens, Mongols, Huns... have knights while the knight system is widely favored in Western Europe ? ). The ability to train and retrain hero units in TCs and Castles ( like AOM ). The accurate ingame map that reflect the real geographical situation of the scenario. I am willing to pay a lot everytime they had those updates, patches and DLCs regarding to those issues ( $10-$15, more than that if they combined it into a massive overhaul or big update ). It will be so fulfilling.

[@JM-qv7fe]

I havent watched the video yet. But look, just look at the title man. Love your content!

[@rocwolfe2674]

Age of Empires 2 helped me through my history classes in 7th and 8th Grade. It also helped a bit in high school as well

[@Callaxes]

Holy shit! You used the History of Rome podcast music! I love you!

[@kirk7528]

Never miss a video!

[@cannonkingz]

Ah that's the History of Rome podcast intro music I here playing that I listen to years ago, I see what you did there ;)

[@dannydevito4184]

Would love to see more of these!

[@samorgo220]

More of this serie, Spirit!

[@louisrosenberg21]

Great Video! Cheers from Colombia!

[@symbicort4624]

what a coincidence, I just spend a couple of hours browsing Wikipedia reading about the huns, thank you very much for this video :D

[@jay2thedub]

I would like to see a video on houses. Mainly why people don't think it's worth the time to attack them. I would make the argument that destroying the enemies houses will help you in a fight because they wont be able to make as many unties to defend against you in the midst of an assault.

[@DudeWatIsThis]

This campaign had some _mad_ trigger work. I remember replaying the start of the first mission a bunch of times.

[@bigsmilie07]

Man my absolute campaign vs Joan of ark & the samurai one

[@safe-keeper1042]

So informative. Such a great idea.

[@yeeterskeeter2066]

I love the history of Rome (by Mike Duncan) podcast opening!!

[@theodoric7335]

I thought this scenario would be extra historically accurate as its such a simple line of events but i guess not, still a great scenario regardless

[@ashmonkey2572]

probably still will be the most accurate campaign for the reasons you mentioned.

[@manderveen]

You should do a video on historical unique units! Find out why civilizations have the units they have

[@TheRealAppleboy]

Really enjoyed this video thanks!

[@nemtudom5074]

I wish you'd continue this series