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