ATTILA THE HUN, c. A.D. 400-453

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Troyes, Gaul, Spring A.D. 451'?"""' • 'i' 'K"?'i"YY r -r ?'?<; -r T'YY"?Y'YY'?'i'Y?'i"?'i"'T'Y'Y

THE PEOPLE OF GAUL KNEW THE INVASIONwas coming. Messengers from the east had brought the news to this huge area in western Europe. But even to those expecting it, the army of Attila the Hun must have made a fearsome sight.

A quarter of a million men had made their way up the Danube River from Pannonia, in present-day Hungary. Most of them were bearded, rugged, and.,tou t. Swords swung from their waists. Some carried Iiows and quivers of arrows slung across their backs. 'l'hc foot soldiers walked next to wagons loaded with supplies. The cavalry rode horses with finely decorated sadd les and harnesses.

A s Attila led his Hun army across the Rhine River ln present-day France, he saw the imposing works of the greatest empire on earth. For 500

years, Gaul had been a province of the Roman Empire, and the

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Romans had left their mark there. Christian churches

and cathedrals dominated many towns. A 100-foot-tall

tower made of massive stone blocks guarded the city

of Trier. A huge stone arch led the way into Reims.

Attila marched his men southwest, headed for a

showdown with the mighty Roman army. When his

men got hungry, they stopped to loot undefended

towns for supplies. Most of the countryside was

deserted, the Gauls having fled into the woods to

escape the invading Huns. Those who chose to defend

their homes of ten met a dreadful end. When the

people of Metz refused to surrender to Attila, the

Huns battered down the city's walls and slaughtered

its inhabitants.

With a week's march to go before the two armies

met, Attila arrived at the town of Troyes. His men

entered and began to search the wood and thatch homes

for food.

According to legend, a bishop named Lupus

emerged from the cathedral to negotiate with Attila.

Lupus introduced himself as a "man of God."

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The Hun king supposedly replied, "I am Attila, the Scourge of God."

Lupus is said to have saved the town by

offering himself to Attila as a hostage and guide.

Attila left Troyes standing and moved on to battle

the Roman army over the future of western Europe.

The encounter-or at least the story that

emerged from it-gave Attila a name that stuck

with him for centuries. The Hun king spent most

of his life at war. His expert archers thundered

through the countryside on horseback, spreading

terror wherever they rode.

Christian victims saw the pagan Attila as a dark

force of nature, like a disease or a terrible storm. They

had only one explanation for the suffering he caused:

Attila the Hun must have been a punishment sent by God.

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