Attila the Hun was the “scourge of God.” He led a ravenous barbarian horde that occasionally forayed into the Roman Empire. The band used hit and run raids to devastate the countryside. By Attila's time, the Western Roman Empire teetered on the brink of collapse. Rather than fight the Huns, emperors generally paid them off. This encouraged more raids. In 452, the Roman army could not stop the Huns and all that stood between Attila and Rome was the papacy. Pope Leo I negotiated with Attila, saved Rome, and increased the church’s power within the terminally ill empire and Western Europe.
Attila seems to have taken control of the Huns in 434. His horde raided into Roman provinces kidnapping citizens and ransoming them off. In the beginning, the Romans negotiated with the Huns and paid them off. The terms which included gold placated the barbarians for a time. After securing their ransom, the Huns turned their attention eastward. After being defeated by the Sassanid Empire, Attila looked westward once more.
In 440, they attacked Roman merchants on the frontier and crossed into the empire violating the treaty. They sacked forts and cities along the Danube. Attila made extravagant demands on the empire. When the emperor refused the demands, Attila escalated his campaign. They took city after city and destroyed Roman armies sent to stop them. Around 445, the Romans capitulated, paid an large indemnity, and the Huns retreated to their own territory.
The Huns were not the only barbarian threat to Rome. Interestingly, the Romans decided to ally themselves with the Huns against other barbarians. Eventually, Attila turned on his Roman allies. In 452, he invaded Italy sacking cities along the way. The Roman military in Italy lacked the strength to defeat the Huns. The emperor sent Pope Leo I and two other envoys to negotiate. After speaking with Leo and the envoys, Attila withdrew.
The Romans paid the Huns to leave the peninsula. Additionally, the Huns realized Italy lacked resources after major crop failures the previous year. Plus, Attila already destroyed cities and plundered the countryside. There was not much more to gain. Lastly, a large Roman army marched toward Italy from the Danube under Aetius who defeated the Attila in 451.
Attila returned to the Danube and plotted an invasion of Constantinople. He died in early 453 after drinking himself into a stupor. While sleeping, Attila suffered a nosebleed and choked to death on his own blood. When word of Attila’s death reached the empire, the people rejoiced.
Christians credited Leo’s intervention with stopping Attila. Pope Leo I stopped the Huns when the army failed. The pope’s negotiations convinced Attila to spare Italy. Once the Hun returned home, God struck him down. According to this early Christian interpretation, Leo is the hero raising the church’s stature and authority. The government and military failed miserably, but the church saved the empire and God spite the pagan invader. This episode dramatically increased the power and authority of the papacy and the church.
The Huns seemed unstoppable. Although Aetius defeated Attila in 451, the Huns consistently defeated Roman armies. When they invaded Italy, nothing stopped them. The emperor sent the pope to negotiate. Leo I satisfied Attila and the Huns returned to their Danube homeland. After returning home, Attila died. The Christians credited Attila’s “defeat” to Leo and God. As the Western Empire collapsed, the Christian Church ascended. Leo I's participation in this episode greatly enhanced the church's prestige and power for he stopped the "scourge of God."
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