On June 8, 452 A.D, the Huns, led by Attila, crossed the Danube river into Italy and proceeded to conquer multiple cities. The rampage spread destruction and terror throughout the Western Roman Empire. What drove Attila's invasion was a remarkable personal claim — he sought to enforce a marriage arrangement with Honoria, sister of Emperor Valentinian III. She had reached out to Attila for help escaping a forced wedding to a Roman senator, sending along her engagement ring with the letter. Attila interpreted this as a marriage proposal and boldly demanded that the emperor hand over half of the Western Roman Empire as a dowry. Emperor Valentinian III refused, and this rejection ignited hostility between the Huns on one side and Rome and its allies on the other.
As it turned out, a famine gripping Italy at the time derailed Attila's ambitions, ultimately forcing the Huns to retreat. Just a year later, Attila the Hun met an unexpected end — dying from a severe nosebleed on his wedding night.