ON THE DEATH OF THE HUN KING RUGA

This paper refers to the history of the Huns in the period 420–440, with a special regard to the circumstances of King Ruga’s death. Based on the reports of the ecclesiastical historians Socrates, Theodoret and John of Nikiou, Ruga’s death was due to Emperor Theodosius’ prayer and to divine aid. The common source was the lost speech of Patriarch Proclus, in which he linked Ruga’s name to the people of Rhos, in Ezechiel’s prophecy. The Hun King suddenly died in 434, most probably before the start of his campaign against eastern Rome.