In 558 AD, a nomadic Avar envoy arrived in Constantinople to meet Justinian the Great (and to see the wealth of Byzantium). Their realm far to the East had been conquered by a Turkic people and like many other groups migrating westwards they were seeking refuge. These Avar arrivals to Europe were a mixed people and organized as a Khagante which is a federation of tribes ruled by a single Khagan who was surrounded by a circle of powerful nobles. What made the Avar Khagante stronger than other nomadic groups before was the strength and cohesion of the entire Avar Elite who also wielded power and wealth, rather than being centered on the Khagan himself. The Avars allied with the Longobards to defeat the Gepids in the Cartpathian Basin to create a new home while the Longobards headed towards northern Italy.

The Avars resettled people from the regions surrounding the Pannonian plains to work as laborers under their authoritative rule. As long as these people paid their tribute they were respected by their Avar overlords and allowed to keep their customs and way of life. While often being at war with Byzantium, the Avars preferred to stay in the periphery rather than raid their heartland. The economy was based on military successes and as long as their Byzantine neighbor remaiend rich they could raid for goods and tribute. This model for controlling the Pannonian plains worked quite well until the landscape began to change.

In 624 AD Emperor Heraclius left Constantinople to launch a counter-offensive against the Sassanid Persians. The Avars seized this opportunity and captured Byzantine Sirmium and began to overrun the Balkans. In 626 the Avars arrived with 80,000 soldiers on the western side of Constantinople with heavy siege equipment. Just as the massive Avar and Persian forces were preparing a final assault, the 12,000 Byzantine defenders prayed for a miracle behind the Theodosian Walls. Suddenly a great storm with huge tidal waves appeared and destroyed most of the attacking fleets. The Avars and Persians were discouraged and were forced to retreat - this defeat marked the decline of Avar prestige and power.

Eventually the Slavic subjects of the Avars rose up against their Khaganate masters. In 635 they were again defeated by the upcoming Bulgars. Charlemagne dealt the final blow to the defeated Avars in the late 8th century when Francia wiped out the Khagante completely. The Avars adopted the local customs of the people in Hungary and Bulgaria and were assimilated into the populations after 250 years of rule over the Pannonian plains. The items shown above are examples of the vast wealth of the Avar Elite. Most of the spotlight samples were found with gold plated weaponry and armor, engraved belts, decorative horse harnesses as well as valuable grave goods. The wealth of these Avar Elite reflected their success in battle.