TALK: Deus Irae: Attila and Leo in Italy, 452
Michael Blodgett (UCSB, History)
Friday, November 3/ 10:00 AM
IHC Seminar Room, HSSB 6056
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Why did Attila decide to abandon his invasion of Italy in 452? Previous arguments have concentrated on practical reasons: his army was suffering plague and hunger, the Eastern empire had sent an army to threaten the Hun kingdom along the Danube, and Pope Leo bribed him to withdraw. All of these are legitimate, supportable reasons, but they do not encompass the Hun view of Attila as a link with divinity. Attila had inherited the sword of Mars; he was, within the context of Hun identity, chosen by the gods, and as such had a normative need to be perceived as a victor (or, to put it another way, no one likes a loving god). The presence of senior senators in the embassy to Attila indicated respect, but the presence of pope Leo I made it possible for Attila to withdraw from Italy without losing the faith of his supporters.

Michael Blodgett is a PhD candidate in the Department of History.

Sponsored by the IHC's Ancient Borderlands Research Focus Group

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