Attila the Hun

This portrait of Attila the Hun was created more than 800 years after his death in 453 BC. It shows a rather unfierce looking representation of Attila sitting on his thrown.

University of Maryland library

Attila the Hun
University of Maryland library

Attila the Hun

This portrait of Attila the Hun was created more than 800 years after his death in 453 BC. It shows a rather unfierce looking representation of Attila sitting on his thrown.

University of Maryland library

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Attila (406 - 453), also known as Attila the Hun or "the Scourge of God" was ruler of the Hunnic Empire from 434 until his death.  The Hunnic Empire streched from Germany to the Ural River and from the Danube River to the Baltic Sea.

During his rule he was one of the most fearsome of the Western and Eastern Roman Empires' enemies: he invaded the Balkans twice and  he marched through Gaul (modern day France).  He reached Constantinople and Rome but refrained from attacking either city.

In much of Western Europe, he is remembered as fiercely cruel.  In contrast, some histories portray him as a great and noble king.