The first invasion of the Roman Empire under the Hunnic brother-kings Bleda and Attila came in 441. There had been previous Hunnic invasions of Roman territory since the late fourth century and several had occurred already during the fifth —our sources for them are, however, especially poor. Huns can also be found serving in Roman armies, and diplomatic contact between Rome and the Huns may have been extensive. There may have been a treaty between Milan and/or Constantinople and the new Hunnic kings as early as 435 (or perhaps 438) where the Huns agreed not to invade Roman territory but, when the terms of this agreement expired (or, perhaps, were not met), they did invade.
Although the exact dates and courses of the various Hunnic invasions are difficult to pin down, in AD 441 the Huns seem to have invaded the Balkans, crossing into the Roman provinces of Illyricum and Moesia, sacking several cities. It is difficult, however, to differentiate the victims of this invasion or the next invasion in 443 in the sources. In 441, the Anatolius and Aspar made peace with the Huns for a year, agreeing to pay a single sum of 6000 pounds of gold (almost 2000 kg) and a further 1000 pounds (330 kg) per year as tribute, an increase from the 700 pounds (230 kg) per year apparently agreed in 435. A year of peace followed (442), bought with Roman gold. Purchasing of peace with gold is a consistent feature of
