Initially Rugila had ruled together with his brother
Octar, who died in 430 during a military campaign against the
Burgundians. In 432, Rugila is mentioned as a sole ruler of the Huns. According to
Prosper of Aquitaine, "
After the loss of his office, Aetius lived on his estate. When there some of his enemies by an unexpected attack attempted to seize him, he fled to Rome, and from there to Dalmatia. By the way of Pannonia, he reached the Huns. Through their friendship and help he obtained peace with the rulers and was reinstated in his old office. Ruga was ruler of the gens Chunorum".
Priscus recounts "
in the land of the Paeonians on the river Sava, which according to the treaty of Aetius, general of the Western Romans, belonged to the barbarian", some scholars explain this as meaning that Aetius ceded part of
Pannonia Prima to Ruga. Scholars date this cession to 425, 431, or 433. Maenchen-Helfen considered that the area was ceded to Attila. In 422, there was a major Hunnic incursion into
Thracia launched from
Danube, menacing even
Constantinople, which ended with a peace treaty by which Romans had to pay annually 350 pounds of gold. In 432–433, some tribes from Hunnic confederation on the Danube fled to Roman territory and service of
Theodosius II. Rugila demanded through his experienced diplomat
Esla return of all fugitives, otherwise the peace would be terminated, but soon died and was succeeded by sons of his brother
Mundzuk,
Bleda and
Attila, who became joint rulers of the united Hunnic tribes. The Eastern Roman politician
Plinta along
quaestor Epigenes nevertheless had to go for adverse negotiations at
Margus; according to
Priscus, it included trade agreement, the annual tribute was raised to 700 pounds of gold, and fugitives were surrendered, among whom two of royal descent,
Mamas and
Atakam probably because of conversion to Christianity, were crucified by the Huns at
Carso (
Hârșova). According to
Socrates of Constantinople, Theodosius II prayed to God and managed to obtain what he sought - Ruga was struck dead by a thunderbolt, and among his men followed plague, and fire came down from the heaven consuming his survivors. This text is panegyric on Theodosius II, and happened shortly after 425 AD. Similarly,
Theodoret recounts that God helped Theodosius II because he issued a law that ordered destruction of all pagan temples, and Ruga's death was
the abundant harvest that followed these good seeds. However, the edict was issued on November 14, 435 AD, so Ruga died after that date.
Chronica Gallica of 452 places his death in 434, "
Aetius is restored to favor. Rugila, king of the Huns, with whom peace was made, dies. Bleda succeeds him". ==References==