He therefore left the mountain passes unguarded, but Attila, seeking the hand of Honoria, and part of the Western Empire as dowry, crossed them into northern Italy.

In 452 the Huns entered the plains around Padua, and sacked Aquileia, an important Roman city which had historically been subject to sieges on account of its position on the "gates" of Italy.

[1] After sacking Aquileia in 452, they proceeded through the Paduan plains to Padua, in present-day Veneto.

[2] Following the fall of Padua, the Huns conquered in swift succession Mantua, Vicentia, Verona, Brescia and Bergamo before reaching the former Western Roman capital Mediolanum, which they also besieged and captured.

[3] Legend has it that the Roman survivors of the sieges of Aquileia, Verona, and Padua fled to the Venetian islands, where they founded Venice.