''Attila'' is a 1667 play by

Pierre Corneille Pierre Corneille (; 6 June 1606 – 1 October 1684) was a French tragedian. He is generally considered one of the three great seventeenth-century French dramatists, along with Molière and Racine. As a young man, he earned the valuable patronag ...

Summary

The play takes place in Attila's camp, which Corneille locates in

Noricum Noricum () is the Latin name for the Celts, Celtic kingdom or federation of tribes that included most of modern Austria and part of Slovenia. In the first century AD, it became a Roman province, province of the Roman Empire. Its borders were th ...

. Despite his defeat in Catalonia, Attila managed to conclude treaties with emperor Valentinian III and with Merovech; prospective marriages were mentioned and the two concerned princesses visited Atila's camp. In the beginning of the play, Attila is undecided between Merovech's and Valentinian's sisters, Ildione and Honorie. He asks Ardaric and

Valamir Valamir or Valamer (c. 420 – 469) was an Ostrogothic king in the former Roman province of Pannonia from AD 447 until his death. During his reign, he fought alongside the Huns against the Roman Empire and then, after Attila the Hun's death, fou ...

for advice. Each of them is in love with one of the princesses, who reciprocate their affections. Attila prefers Ildione but considers it a political matter, first and foremost. After a variety of events, involving love, politics and death threats, Attila is furious at Honorie, Valamir and Ardaric. He decides to marry Ildione, but dies from

hemorrhage Bleeding, hemorrhage, haemorrhage or blood loss, is blood escaping from the circulatory system from damaged blood vessels. Bleeding can occur internally, or externally either through a natural opening such as the mouth, nose, ear, urethra, vag ...

before the beginning of their wedding ceremony. His death leaves the other protagonists expecting a brighter future. {{Pierre Corneille Plays by Pierre Corneille 1667 plays Plays set in the 5th century BC