The Scourge of God’s Rampage
Attila (406 – 453), who ruled a Steppe empire dominated by the Huns, covering Eastern and Central Europe, became known as “The Scourge of God” for his depredations. He invaded Persia, terrorized the Eastern and Western Roman Empires, plundered the Balkans, extorted tons of gold from Constantinople, invaded Gaul, and struck into Italy.
He was born into the Hun royal family, and inherited the crown jointly with his brother Bleda in 434. They purged potential rivals, and when their surviving enemies fled to the Roman Empire, the brothers invaded and forced the Romans to hand over the fugitives, plus an annual tribute of 230 kilograms of gold. They then invaded and plundered the Persian Empire for years, before they were beaten back, at which point they returned their attention to Europe.
Crossing the Danube in 440, they plundered the Balkans and destroyed two Roman armies, then extorted from the Romans a new treaty that paid 2000 gold kilograms up front, plus an annual tribute of 700 gold kgs. Attila then murdered his brother and became sole ruler. In 447, he returned to the Balkans, ravaging them until he reached the walls of Constantinople.
In 450, the Western Roman Emperor’s sister begged Attila’s help to get her out of an unwanted betrothal. He interpreted that as a marriage proposal, accepted, and asked for half of the Western Roman Empire as dowry. When the Romans balked, Attila invaded, visiting his customary devastation, before he was finally stopped at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains in 451.
A year later, he invaded Italy, sacking and burning as he advanced down the peninsula, before he was persuaded by the Pope to withdraw. He planned to attack Constantinople again in 453, but his rampage ended later that year while celebrating his wedding to a new wife. He drank himself into a stupor, suffered a nosebleed, and choked to death on his own blood.