FLAVIUS AETIUS (391-454 AD), magister militum of the Western Roman Empire, who defeated Attila the Hun at the battle of the Catalaunian Plains (today in northern France, 451 AD). Aetius was born near the Black Sea, and during his youth he was kept as hostage, first at the court of the Visigoths and later at the court of the Huns, where he learned much about the customs and military strength of the barbarians. He spent his military career fighting the invading Germanic tribes at the service…