Siege of Milan

Destruction of the Roman city by the Huns (452 CE)

Siege and capture of Milan

Part of the Hunnic invasion of Italy

The invasion of the Huns in Italy portrayed in an 1887 painting by Ulpiano Checa
| Date| 452 AD

|

Location|

Milan, Western Roman Empire

Result|

* Hunnic victory

* Destruction of Milan

Belligerents
Hunnic Empire|  Western Roman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Attila the Hun|  Unknown
Strength
Unknown|  Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown|  3,000 killed or more

* v
* t
* e

Fall of the Western Roman Empire

* Gothic War (376–382)
* Marcianople
* Willows
* Dibaltum
* 1st Adrianople
* 2nd Adrianople
* Constantinople
* Thessalonica
* Save
* Frigidus
* Revolt of Alaric I
* Gildonic War
* Pictish War
* Revolt of Tribigild
* Gothic War (401–403)
* Asti
* Pollentia
* Verona
* War of Radagaisus
* Florence
* Faesulae
* Vandal–Frankish war
* Crossing of the Rhine
* Ostia
* Rome (410)
* War of Heraclianus
* Massilia
* Gothic War in Spain (416–418)
* Nervasos Mountains
* Roman–Sasanian War of 421–422
* Vandal war of 422
* Roman civil war of 425
* Gothic revolt of Theodoric I
* Arles (425)
* Roman civil war of 427–429
* Mérida
* Frankish War (428)
* Africa
* Hippo Regius
* Carthage
* Roman civil war of 432
* Rimini
* Burgundian Revolt of Gunther
* Arles (435)
* Gothic War (436–439)
* Narbonne
* Battle of Mons Colubrarius
* Toulouse (439)
* Vandal War (439–442)
* Byzantine–Sasanian War of 440
* Vicus Helena
* Utus
* Asemus
* Catalaunian Plains
* Aquileia
* Padua
* Milan
* Rome (455)
* Aylesford
* Gothic War in Spain (456)
* Agrigentum
* Corsica
* Roman civil war of 456
* Garigliano
* Camp Cannini
* Gothic War (457–458)
* Toulouse (458)
* Arles (458)
* Cartagena
* Orleans
* Bergamo
* Cape Bon
* Déols
* Arles (471)
* Rome (472)
* Ravenna (475)
* Pavia
* Ravenna (476)
* Franco-Roman War of 486
* Badon

The siege and capture of Milan was one of the episodes of the Hun wars fought in Italy. It was carried out by Attila and his Huns in 452, it resulted in the victory of the barbarians and the destruction of Milan. Milan, then called Mediolanum, had been the capital of the Western Roman Empire until 402 AD.

## Background

[edit]

Surviving section of the Roman walls of Mediolanum

Attila invaded Italy[1] in 452 to renew his marriage claim to Honoria. Attila launched an invasion of Italy, passing through Pannonia into Venetia, where he laid siege to Aquileia, a fortified city of great strategic importance: its possession made it possible to control a large part of northern Italy.

Attila besieged it for three months but in vain. Legend has it that just as he was about to retire, a white stork took off from a tower on the walls and left the city with its baby on its back. The superstitious Attila at that sight ordered his army to stay: shortly after the part of the walls where the tower left by the stork was located collapsed. Attila was thus able to take possession of the city, which he razed to the ground without leaving any trace of its existence.[2]

He then proceeded towards Padua, which he sacked completely. Before his arrival, many of the city's inhabitants sought refuge in the lagoon, where they would later found Venice. After the capture of Aquileia, Attila's advance to Milan took place without difficulty as no city attempted resistance but all opened their doors to the invader out of fear.

## Siege

[edit]

No chronicles have come down to us that have described the events in detail, but from indirect testimonies, such as the subsequent letter from Massimo II, bishop of Turin, to the Milanese, it is clear that the battle was bloody and the city was almost completely destroyed.[3]

The singular way in which Attila asserted his superiority over Rome has remained famous: in the imperial palace in Milan there was a painting in which the Caesars were depicted seated on thrones and the Scythian princes at their feet; Attila, struck by the painting, had it modified: the Caesars were depicted in the act of emptying suppliant bags of gold in front of Attila's throne.[4]

Flavius Aetius, the Magister militum of the Western Roman Empire had been unable to meet Atilla in battle. Instead he harassed Attila's force, managing to slow the Hunnic advance.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Shelley Klein; Miranda Twiss (2005). I personaggi più malvagi della storia. Ariccia: Newton & Compton Editori. pp. 81–91\. ISBN 978-88-227-1560-9.
2. ^ Jones, William (1880). Credulities Past and Present Including the Sea and Seamen, Miners, Amulets and Talismans, Rings, Word and Letter Divination, Numbers, Trials, Exorcising and Blessing of Animals, Birds, Eggs, and Luck. Chatto and Windus. pp. 395–396. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
3. ^ Pietro Verri (1783). Storia di Milano. Stamperia di Giuseppe Marelli. p. 31.
4. ^ Heather, Peter (2006). La caduta dell'Impero romano: una nuova storia. Milano: Garzanti. ISBN 978-88-11-68090-1.

* v
* t
* e

Huns

History|

* Origin of the Huns
* History of the Huns
* List of Huns

Rulers|

* Balamber
* Uldin
* Octar
* Charaton
* Rugila
* Bleda
* Attila
* Ellac
* Dengizich
* Ernak
* Zilgibis

Military leaders|

* Aigan
* Alathar
* Althias
* Ambazuces
* Apsich
* Ascan
* Ascum
* Basich
* Bochas
* Chalazar
* Chelchal
* Cours
* Elmingir
* Glom
* Hormidac
* Kursich
* Laudaricus
* Mundus
* Odolgan
* Optila
* Ragnaris
* Sanoeces
* Sigizan
* Simmas
* Sunicas
* Tarrach
* Thraustila
* Tuldila
* Turgun
* Tyranx
* Uldach
* Zolban

Noblemen|

* Atakam
* Emnetzur
* Gordas
* Mamas
* Mundzuk
* Oebarsius
* Onegesius
* Ultzindur

Diplomats|

* Berichus
* Edeko
* Eslas
* Scottas

Other notable Huns|

* Adamis
* Donatus
* Eskam
* Ildico
* Kreka
* Vadamerca
* Zerco

Culture|

* Hunnic art
* Hunnic language

Wars|

* Hunnic invasion of the Sasanian Empire
* Battle of the Tanais River
* Siege of Florence
* Battle of Faesulae
* Battle of Arles
* Battle of the Utus
* Battle of the Catalaunian Plains
* Sack of Aquileia
* Sack of Padua
* Siege of Milan
* Battle of Nedao
* Battle of Bassianae

Other Hunnic peoples|

* Alchons
* Hephthalites
* Hunas
* Iranian Huns
* Kidarites
* Nezak
* North Caucasian Huns
* Xionites

Related topics|

* Attila in popular culture
* Akatziri tribe
* Eurasian nomads
* Nomadic empire
* Origin of the Székelys
* Xiongnu

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