Aigan or Aïgan (late 5th century or early 6th century – c. 534–548) was a Hun general serving as a cavalry commander for the Byzantine Empire, active in the early 6th century.
Aigan commanded a body of Hun cavalry at the Battle of Dara against the Sasanians, terrifying the Persians. [1] [2] He was fundamental in the Byzantine victory. [3]
He then participated in the Byzantine expedition against the Vandalic Kingdom in 533, being one of the four cavalry commanders under Belisarius. [4] He remained in Africa to serve under Solomon after Belisarius returned to Constantinople in the summer of 534. [4]
In 534 he and Rufinus the Thracian fought against the Moors in Byzacena. They ambushed a Moorish raiding party, whom they killed, and released their prisoners. Thereafter they were in turn ambushed by a Moorish army overwhelmingly greater in number (they were possibly 500 against 50,000). [4] They put up a brave fight but were eventually defeated. His fellow cavalry commander Rufinus was beheaded, and his head was carried off by Moorish chieftain Medisinissas. [4]
Aigan or Aïgan (late 5th century or early 6th century – c. 534–548) was a Hun general serving as a cavalry commander for the Byzantine Empire, active in the early 6th century.
Aigan commanded a body of Hun cavalry at the Battle of Dara against the Sasanians, terrifying the Persians. [1] [2] He was fundamental in the Byzantine victory. [3]
He then participated in the Byzantine expedition against the Vandalic Kingdom in 533, being one of the four cavalry commanders under Belisarius. [4] He remained in Africa to serve under Solomon after Belisarius returned to Constantinople in the summer of 534. [4]
In 534 he and Rufinus the Thracian fought against the Moors in Byzacena. They ambushed a Moorish raiding party, whom they killed, and released their prisoners. Thereafter they were in turn ambushed by a Moorish army overwhelmingly greater in number (they were possibly 500 against 50,000). [4] They put up a brave fight but were eventually defeated. His fellow cavalry commander Rufinus was beheaded, and his head was carried off by Moorish chieftain Medisinissas. [4]