While Attila may have had some of the admirable characteristics of a military commander, the king of the Huns was unquestionably a brutal and ferocious person. Historically, he is said to have risen through the ranks of the Hun army until ascending to the position of commander of the nomadic clan in 434. By this time, the Huns, who originated in central Asia, had conquered the Volga River basin, which is now part of modern-day western Russia, and established them there.  To begin with, he was preoccupied with battling other barbarian tribes for control of territory, as had been the case with his ancestors. However, it was under Attila’s leadership that the Huns started to expand their influence into central European territory. He fought against the troops of the eastern Roman Empire and, after assassinating his elder brother and co-ruler Bleda in 445, he proceeded to trample the lands of the Balkan Peninsula and northern Greece, wreaking havoc along the route. As Attila continued his deadly excursions westward, each Hun fighting with his own weapons and cruel method, he came dangerously close to destroying the roots of Christianity.

Attila and his Huns were beaten at Châlons in northern France in June 451, in a conflict that is considered one of the most crucial engagements of all time. The Romans and the Visigoths joined forces to defeat Attila and his Huns. Once in Italy, Attila and his army devastated the countryside until Pope Leo I was able to persuade the savage king that Rome was not worth sacrificing. Because of these and other factors, Leo was eventually canonized and given the title of St. Leo. In 453, Attila died unexpectedly—and because of natural causes—just as he was prepared to cross the Alps and conquer Italy for the second time.