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[[File:Attila.jpg|thumb|250px]]  

[[File:Attila.jpg|thumb|250px]]  

As a young warrior, Attila had been sent as a hostage to Rome, then, after he was released by the Romans, he vowed to return to Rome victorious as king. Relying on seers and “gods”, Attila nearly did conquer the Roman Empire. For five years from A.D. 445 to 450 he devastated the eastern Roman empire, destroying anything in his path between the Rhine and the Caspian Sea. In 451 he amassed perhaps the largest army in the history of the world until that time, a total of a half-million men.  This army was not just comprised of Huns, but other subject peoples like the [[Ostrogoths]] were included.  In fact Attila’s name appears to be not his real Hunnish name, but a Gothic nickname meaning ‘Little Father’, given to him by Ostrogothic mercenaries. His horde began riding towards Rome. He quickly conquered Gaul (present-day France) and devastated any European city in his path. He was not stopped until an alliance of the [[Visigoths]] and Romans surprised the Huns and forced them to retreat by about a hundred miles. One of the most bloody battles in all of history, the [[Battle of Chalons]], ensued. The Visigoths and Romans defeated the Huns there.

As a young warrior, Attila had been sent as a hostage to Rome, then, after he was released by the Romans, he vowed to return to Rome victorious as king. Relying on seers and “gods”, Attila nearly did conquer the Roman Empire. For five years from A.D. 445 to 450 he devastated the eastern Roman empire, destroying anything in his path between the Rhine and the Caspian Sea. In 451 he amassed perhaps the largest army in the history of the world until that time, a total of a half-million men.  This army was not just comprised of Huns, but other subject peoples like the [[Ostrogoths]] were included.  In fact Attila's name appears to be not his real Hunnish name, but a Gothic nickname meaning ‘Little Father’, given to him by Ostrogothic mercenaries. His horde began riding towards Rome. He quickly conquered Gaul (present-day France) and devastated any European city in his path. He was not stopped until an alliance of the [[Visigoths]] and Romans surprised the Huns and forced them to retreat by about a hundred miles. One of the most bloody battles in all of history, the [[Battle of Chalons]], ensued. The Visigoths and Romans defeated the Huns there.

But Attila was clever, and redirected his Huns towards Rome by invading Italy. He was headed towards the heart of the Roman empire: Rome itself. He destroyed everything in his path in the Roman countryside. Unable to stop Attila the Hun by force, a peaceful mission led by [[Pope Leo I]] traveled out to meet Attila in 452 and try to persuade him to spare Rome. Moral persuasion worked where violence had not, and Attila did not invade Rome.

But Attila was clever, and redirected his Huns towards Rome by invading Italy. He was headed towards the heart of the Roman empire: Rome itself. He destroyed everything in his path in the Roman countryside. Unable to stop Attila the Hun by force, a peaceful mission led by [[Pope Leo I]] traveled out to meet Attila in 452 and try to persuade him to spare Rome. Moral persuasion worked where violence had not, and Attila did not invade Rome.