me.

The Huns at this time were ruled by ATTILA, "the Scourge of God." The
portrait of this monster is thus painted. His features bore the mark
of his Eastern origin. He had a large head, a swarthy complexion, small
deep-seated eyes, a flat nose, a few hairs in the place of a beard,
broad shoulders, and a short square body, of nervous strength though
disproportioned form. This man wielded at will, it is said, an army of
over half a million troops.

At the time he received from the son of Clodion the invitation to
interfere in the affairs of Gaul, Attila was already contemplating an
invasion of both the Western and Eastern Empires; but the prospect of an
ally in Gaul, with an opportunity of afterwards attacking Italy from the
west, was too favorable to be neglected.

A march of six hundred miles brought the Huns to the Rhine. Crossing
this, they continued their progress, sacking and burning whatever cities
lay in their route.

The Visigoths under Theodoric, joining the Romans under Aetius, met the
Huns near Orleans. Attila retreated towards Chalons, where, in 451, was
fought a great battle, which saved the civilization of Western Europe.
Attila began the attack. He was bravely met by the Romans; and a charge
of the Visigoths completed the discomfiture of the savages. Aetius did
not push his victory, but allowed the Huns to retreat in the direction
of Italy. The "Scourge" first attacked, captured, and rased to the
ground Aquileia. He then scoured the whole country, sparing only those
who preserved their lives by the surrender of their wealth.

It was to this invasion that VENICE owed its rise. The inhabitants, who
fled from the approach of the Huns, found on the islands in the lagoons
at the head of the Adriatic a harbor of safety.

Attila died shortly after (453) from the bursting of a blood-vessel, and
with his death the empire of the Huns ceased to exist. The VANDALS, we
have seen, had established themselves in Africa. They were now ruled by
GENSERIC. Carthage was their head-quarters, and they were continually
ravaging the coasts of the Mediterranean with their fleets.

Maximus, Emperor of Rome (455), had forcibly married Eudoxia, the widow
of the previous Emperor, Valentinian, whom he had killed. She in revenge
sent to Genseric a secret message to attack Rome. He at once set sail
for the mouth of the Tiber. The capital was delivered into his hands
on his promise to spare the property of the Church (June, 455),