The Huns May Have Invaded the Western Roman Empire For a Wedding
Attila the Hun was known for having a number of wives but that did not stop him from wanting another. In 450 the older sister of Emperor Valentinian III, Honoria was set to be wed to a Roman senator on the order of her brother. Valentinian III wanted to wed his sister to a man whom he believed would not use the position to threaten his position as emperor. Honoria was against the marriage and decided to find a way out of it. She sent a letter to Attila the Hun begging him to save her from the marriage and sent her ring as proof of her words.
Attila took the letter and the gift of the ring as a sign that Honoria was proposing marriage to him in order for him to save her. He accepts the proposal and then asks for half of the Western Roman Empire as her dowry. Valentinian III discovered the plan and decides to kill Honoria, who told her brother that she never meant to propose to the barbarian. Valentinian III spares Honoria only at the request of their mother, choosing instead to send her into exile. Valentinian III then sends a message to Attila informing him that the proposal was not legitimate. Attila responds in 451 by sending an emissary to Ravenna. The emissary tells Valentinian III that it was legitimate, that Honoria was innocent and that he would be marrying her and collecting the dowry.
In 451, Attila moved on Italy and the Battle of the Catalunian Plains commenced and Attila retreated. But he was not deterred for long. A second request by Attila in 452 went unanswered and therefore Attila decided to attack Italy. This time he ended up turning back after a meeting with the Pope and the knowledge that Italy was too starved from famine to support his army. He would not have been able to steal or gather the supplies needed to move on Rome. Most historians believe that the marriage proposal by Honoria was only used as an excuse or even as a bonus for plans that Attila had already made for attacking the Western Roman Empire.