How did the Avars rule the Carpathian Basin?

Between the 6th and 8th centuries, the Avars established a powerful empire centered in the Carpathian Basin, specifically within the plains between the Danube and Tisza rivers.12

They secured their position in the region by intervening in local conflicts, notably allying with the Lombards to overthrow the Gepidae. At its peak in the late 6th century, the Avar state exerted influence over a vast territory stretching between the Adriatic and Baltic seas. Their rule was characterized by nomadic military dominance, which included engaging in wars against the Byzantine Empire and the Merovingians.1

The Avar empire eventually faced internal discord and external pressure, particularly following the rise of the Bulgarian state in 680. Their dominance in the basin was ultimately brought to an end around 800 CE when they were defeated by Charlemagne. Some theories, such as the "double-conquest" hypothesis, suggest that remnants of the Late Avars may have persisted to merge with the Magyars who arrived in the region in the late 9th century.123