The event depicted in this picture has a basis in history even if the details are fanciful. Attila (c406-453) was King of the Huns from 445 until his death. He had been defeated by the Gauls at Chalons-en-Champagne in 451, and as a consequence decided to invade Northern Italy, where he was confronted by Pope Leo I (reigned 440-461).  Attila had already devastated Milan and Padua and it is believed that the Pope bought off Attila with large sums of money before he reached Rome itself. Bloemaert treated the subject with the greatest degree of historical realism possible at the time. Often such large history pictures were veiled allegories of the difficulties which the Dutch themselves had recently faced, when rebelling against their Spanish rulers.

‍