AVA RS, AVARES, or AVARI, a name denoting " far distant," was formerly applied to the inhabi tants of the more remote districts of Asiatic Sarma tia, towards the east ; but is now chiefly confined to a horde of -barbarians belonging to the nation of the Ogors or Varchonites, who, about the middle of the century, when resisting an invasion of the Turks, were defeated with the loss of their king, and 300,000 of his subjects. A few, preferring exile to servitude, wandered towards 'the south in quest of new settle ments. Their veryname -inspired terror into the na tions through which 'they passed, and tracing the course of the Volga, they stopped not till they had pitched their -tents at -the foot of mount Caucasus. -Here they.first heard of the rich kingdoms of the 'West, and dispatching ambassadors to Constantinople, they proffered their services in defence of-the empire, and relying on the terror of their name, demanded as their reward, " precious gifts, annual subsidies, and fruitful possessions."—" The whole city," says Gib bon, " was poured forth to behold with curiosity and terror, the aspect of a strange people ; their long lair, which hung in tresses down -their backs, was bound with -ribbons, but the rest of their -habit appeared to imitate the•ashion of the Huns." The emperor Justinian, worn out with -age, and the .exertions of an arduous reign, preferred inglorious f-peace to a doubtful war. .He received the Avars as friends and subsidiaries ; and directed their arms 'against -the enemies of Rome. With savage fury, they overran Germany and Poland. The banks of •the.Danube,•and of the Elbe, cover 'ed with their tents, and many of the conquered tribes were confounded tinder the name and standard of the Avars. Their power was now established in Eu rope, and, from being the friends and allies of the , Romans, they became their most determined foes. The emperor had transferred his friendship to the who;pursuing the footsteps of the vanquish ed Ogors, had appeared in the empire, and branded the Avars with the title of fugitives and rebels. Their embassy was now received with coldness by Justinian II. ; their threats were disregarded, and their ambassadors dismissed with haughty defiance. Dreading, probably,'to meet the Romans in alliance . with their ancient conquerors, the Avars dissembled their resentment,but remembered the insult. Leaguing with the Lombards, they extirpated the nation of the Gepidx, and received as the price of their alliance the country of Dacia, comprehending the fertile pro vinces of Wallachia, Moldavia, and Transylvania. Here they erected an empire, which subsisted with splendour for upwards of 230 years. By the depar ture of the Lombards for Italy, the Avars became masters of their extensive possessions ; and at the be ginning of the seventh century, the dominions of Bai an, their chagan or extended from the mouth of the Danube to that of the Oder. In the plains of-Hungary, he occupied the rustic palace of Attila, whose character and policy he seems to have imita ted. From avarice or caprice, he harassed the em
pire by desolating incursions, or repeated demands of costly presents. After every inroad, the annual sub sidy or tribute was increased ; and he retaliated upon the successors of Justinian the insult which had been formerly offered to his countrymen. The emperor Maurice could no longer brook the insolence of the chagan, and determined to meet the barbarian in arms. In five successive battles Priscus the Roman general was victorious; 17,f..)00 Avars were taken prisoners, and 60,000, with four sons of the chagan, fell in the field. was not allowed to follow up his success, being recalled to defend the capital of the empire. Baian now directed his steps to the fertile plains of Italy. Murder and rapine were the attend ants of his march. The rights of victory were abu sed, and the laws of nations violated with the most wanton brutality. His captives were either slain, or reduced to servitude, and the noblest virgins were abandoned to the promiscuous lust of his barbarous followers. Unsated with blood and plunder, the Avars returned to their predatory warfare in Thrace. The emperor Heraclius attempted to buy their friend ship with intreaties and 200,000 pieces of gold, but the perfidious chagan dissembled his design, and after a fruitless attempt to surprise and take Heraclius pri- • soner, he entered into an alliance with Chosroes king of Persia, and threatened to annihilate the empire of the East. Constantinople was invested by 110,004 barbarians under the command of the chagan, A. D. 626. During ten successive days the assault was re peated, but a scarcity of provisions, and the deter mined resistance of the inhabitants, compelled the to retire ; and the empire was rescued from impending ruin, by the alliance of the Turks, and the bravery of Heraelius. These barbarians, however, still continued to be the scourge and terror of the surrounding nations. About the end of the 8th cen tury, they resisted, for a time, with persevering cou rage and resolution, the mighty power of Charle magne, but were at last defeated in a general engage. ,ment.by Henry duke of Friuli, who took their capi tal Ringa, after an obstinate defence, and carried off treasures, the plunder of the neighbouring countries, which they had been amassing for ages. Their reduction was completed by Pepin king of Italy, who killed the chagan in battle, and put an end to the war. The remainder of this people, under 'their leader Thaudin, submitted to e, gn Charlema were bap.. tised, and received into his protection.
A nation of Avars inheriting the bravery of their ancestors, exists at this day in the mountains of Dag hestan. Living in tents, and wandering from place to place, they have maintained their independence in spite of the repeated attacks of the • neighbouring princes, who have often attempted to subdue them. See Gibbon's Hist. vol. vii. p. 261 ; and viii. p. 176, &c. Mod. Un. Hist. vol. xxiii. p. 148. (p)