The pope who rode out to meet Attila the Hun

In 452 CE, as Attila and his Huns pushed into northern Italy, Pope Leo the Great travelled north and met Attila near the river Mincio, by Mantua. Attila soon withdrew from Italy — ancient and later writers gave differing explanations for why. Three years later Leo led a similar embassy to the Vandal king during the sack of Rome.

One of many fact-checked wonders across eight traditions at The Spring of Wisdom.